1 Samuel Chapter 28: Verses 5 -7 (NIV)
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”
“There is one in Endor,” they said.
1 Samuel Chapter 28: Verse 9 (NIV)
But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
1 Samuel Chapter 28: Verses 17 -19(NIV)
“ The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today.”
Saul knew it was wrong to consult mediums. When he walked close with God he had even outlawed them. But he got no answer from God anymore – at least, in my view, because he only wanted to hear what suited him. I don’t think he ever genuinely wanted to repent of his behaviour and that’s why he could no longer sense God speaking to him. He had consulted the medium in the vain hope that Samuel would tell him what he wanted to hear, but Samuel only confirmed what God had already said some time before.
When we don’t get the answer we want to our prayers, or worse, if we’re not prepared to genuinely listen and act on what God says, we can be heading down a dangerous road. If we subsequently turn around with a sincere desire to mend our ways and be obedient, then thankfully, because of the blood shed by Jesus, God will forgive us. But we cannot fool God. He knows when we are being real and honest. We should never forget that it is God we are dealing with, and He is holy.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace and mercy to me through Jesus. May I never take it for granted and always be open and honest before You, even with regard to my mistakes and failures, so that I never lose the cover of that grace and mercy. I ask this humbly in Jesus’ Name. Amen.