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

June 6th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

At the beginning of Saul’s reign, the prophet Samuel clearly warned Saul to fear God only and not people: “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” (1 Sam. 12:24). But Saul did not heed this advise and instead took matters into his own hands over and over again. God did not answer him in this chapter because Saul had killed the high priest and 84 other innocent priests at Nob, because they had innocently helped David. Saul even had the wives and children of the priests killed. Because of his own rebellion and temper, he had removed God’s men from his life and had nowhere to turn for honest, godly counsel. He had no spiritually accountability. Saul was now walking in even greater foolishness by seeking out the very ungodly resource of a medium, which he had previously had removed from the land. No doubt the medium normally tricked people into believing she had contacted the dead, but this time God allowed Satan to pull off a counterfeit miracle that frightened Saul to his core, though not enough for him to truly repent and turn back to God.

It is amazing to see what great lengths God will go to in an effort 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 making signals of distress. When hailed by another vessel, they reported themselves as “Dying for water!” “Dip it up then,” came the response. “You are in the mouth of the Amazon river.” There was fresh water all around them, and all they had to do was pull it up. 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.

“Thank you, LORD, for living water. Help us to give it away to others today.”