And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
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? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 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: (1 Sam. 28:4-5, 9-11, 16-17)
Saul’s fear of the Philistines and his dependence upon Samuel to give him a Word from the LORD has caused him to seek out a woman who deals in spirits, despite his ruling to remove them from Israel. At Endor he finds a woman that attempts to bring a spirit of Samuel, but when the real Samuel shows up, not only is Saul exposed for his treachery but also the woman is genuinely shocked and surprised by Samuel. Saul entreats Samuel for a word but only hears the judgment of God upon him and the kingdom because of his disobedience.
Saul had sought to rid the kingdom of those who worked the dark arts and conversed with spirits, in reality demons when it is not illusion and trickery. The woman at Endor was in fear but Saul convinced her to attempt to bring up his mentor and advisor, despite God’s commandment on such and his decrees concerning those who practiced such magic. The woman expected one of her spirits to act as Samuel, or would have convinced Saul that whatever came was Samuel, but the real Samuel shows up before them and all but Saul are taken aback. Saul is revealed and the woman fears for her life because she is guilty and Saul seems to have snared her with his duplicity. Saul really wanted to speak to Samuel and assures the woman that she is in no danger, then speaks to Samuel for a word of assurance. Samuel reminds him of the condemnation which is upon him, and which he has added to since, and declares God’s judgement and adds Saul’s imminent death to the pronouncement.
God’s judgment and justice might be delayed by his mercy and grace, but it will not be ignored. God must punish sin, and direct disobedience to Him has already made all mankind guilty before Him. Saul could not avoid God’s pronouncement that the kingdom was rent from him and we cannot ignore God’s claim upon us as Creator that we have sinned against Him and are guilty. Unless our sin is transferred to Jesus Christ through repentance of our sin and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary we will stand before God in our sins and be unable to pay sin’s debt. Only the death of Jesus Christ who was not guilty and was without sin can satisfy the wrath of God for our guilt and sin. God’s grace transfers our guilt and shame upon Him and His righteousness upon us that we might be born again and made a new creature in Christ to live in Him and serve Him as His reconciled children and ministers of the Gospel. Continued sin for the Christian can mean the loss of ministry, the loss of fellowship, and as seen with Saul, the loss of life, when God, in His time, holds all who are His accountable for their walk with Him. The one who is not yet in Christ is given mercy and grace in that they do not die the moment they sin, but they will not be held guiltless who sin against God and die in their sins. Those who are His must go and tell all who will hear of the Good News of Jesus Christ, reaching the lost with the power of God. We must go and tell His Word at every opportunity to teach the nations all that He has commanded. We must go and tell, preaching the Word of God, in season and out, until all have heard and He is done with us.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Saul had sought to rid the kingdom of those who worked the dark arts and conversed with spirits, in reality demons when it is not illusion and trickery. The woman at Endor was in fear but Saul convinced her to attempt to bring up his mentor and advisor, despite God’s commandment on such and his decrees concerning those who practiced such magic. The woman expected one of her spirits to act as Samuel, or would have convinced Saul that whatever came was Samuel, but the real Samuel shows up before them and all but Saul are taken aback. Saul is revealed and the woman fears for her life because she is guilty and Saul seems to have snared her with his duplicity. Saul really wanted to speak to Samuel and assures the woman that she is in no danger, then speaks to Samuel for a word of assurance. Samuel reminds him of the condemnation which is upon him, and which he has added to since, and declares God’s judgement and adds Saul’s imminent death to the pronouncement.
God’s judgment and justice might be delayed by his mercy and grace, but it will not be ignored. God must punish sin, and direct disobedience to Him has already made all mankind guilty before Him. Saul could not avoid God’s pronouncement that the kingdom was rent from him and we cannot ignore God’s claim upon us as Creator that we have sinned against Him and are guilty. Unless our sin is transferred to Jesus Christ through repentance of our sin and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary we will stand before God in our sins and be unable to pay sin’s debt. Only the death of Jesus Christ who was not guilty and was without sin can satisfy the wrath of God for our guilt and sin. God’s grace transfers our guilt and shame upon Him and His righteousness upon us that we might be born again and made a new creature in Christ to live in Him and serve Him as His reconciled children and ministers of the Gospel. Continued sin for the Christian can mean the loss of ministry, the loss of fellowship, and as seen with Saul, the loss of life, when God, in His time, holds all who are His accountable for their walk with Him. The one who is not yet in Christ is given mercy and grace in that they do not die the moment they sin, but they will not be held guiltless who sin against God and die in their sins. Those who are His must go and tell all who will hear of the Good News of Jesus Christ, reaching the lost with the power of God. We must go and tell His Word at every opportunity to teach the nations all that He has commanded. We must go and tell, preaching the Word of God, in season and out, until all have heard and He is done with us.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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