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.”

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1 Samuel 28 KJV

¹ And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. ²And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. ³ Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. ⁴ And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. ⁵ And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. ⁶ And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. ⁷ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. ⁸ And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. ⁹ And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? ¹⁰ And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. ¹¹ Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. ¹² And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. ¹³ And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. ¹⁴ And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.  ¹⁵ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.  ¹⁶Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? ¹⁷ And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:   ¹⁸ Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. ¹⁹ Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. ²⁰ Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. ²¹ And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. ²² Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. ²³ But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. ²⁴ And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it , and did bake unleavened bread thereof: ²⁵ And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.