1 Samuel 28:5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.

March 2nd, 2010 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Years earlier the Prophet Samuel had clearly warned Saul to only fear God not people. In I Samuel 12:24, “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” But Saul had not heeded that advise and took matters into his own hands over and over again. God does not answer him because Saul had killed 84 innocent priests and the high priest at Nob for innocently helping David. Saul even had the wives and children of the priests killed there. Saul had removed God’s men from his own life so that now he had no where to turn for honest godly counsel. Because of his own temper and rebellion Saul had no one spiritually to whom he was accountable.  Now he walks in even greater foolishness by seeking out the very ungodly resource (a medium) he had previously removed from the land. No doubt she normally tricked people into believing she had contacted dead, but this time God allows Satan to pull off a counterfeit miracle that frightens Saul to his core… but not enough for him to truly repent and turn back to God. It is amazing to see to what great lengthens God goes to hoping to draw a man back to Himself.  The gifted British Pastor Spurgeon loved to tell this story to emphasis the truth that it is never too late. Some years ago a vessel sailing on the northern coast of the South American continent was observed to make signals of distress. When hailed by another vessel, they reported themselves as “Dying for water!”  “Dip it up then,” was the response. “You are in the mouth of the Amazon river.”  There was fresh water all around them, and they had nothing to do but to pull it up. Yet they were dying of thirst because they thought themselves surrounded by seawater. Jesus is always available and near the honest seeker even when adrift on an ocean of doubt. We sinners only have to reach down and drink to live.  Salvation is close at hand.