BIG IDEA:
FEAR OF THE FUTURE INTENSIFIES WHEN ONE LOSES ALL CONNECTION WITH THE LORD AND TURNS INSTEAD TO PHYSICS
(:1-2) INTRODUCTION: PERILOUS PROMOTION = BIG TIME CONFLICT OF INTEREST
(More of an Aside in preparation for future dilemma than an Introduction to Saul’s hitting rock bottom in Chap. 28)
– Achish impressed by David’s exploits and skill in warfare
– Achish determined to secure David’s loyalty and keep better tabs on him
– Achish requires David and his men to fight with the Philistines in upcoming battle against Israel
– Achish makes David his own personal bodyguard for life
I. (:3-7) PROPHETIC INSIGHT REPLACED WITH PAGAN FORTUNE TELLING
A. (:3) Tremendous Void in Prophetic Resources
1. Godly Resources — Prophet Samuel no longer around
“Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah his own city.”
2. Pagan Resources – Fortune Tellers Removed
“And Saul had removed from the land those who were mediums and spiritists.”
Roe: “First, Samuel, Saul’s last pipeline to Yahweh, who will not answer Saul, is dead. Secondly, apparently to cultivate Samuel, he destroyed all mediums and all wizards in Israel. Any person in Israel who either practiced occulthood, or even went to someone who did, was to be slain. Both the Deuteronomy and Levitical teachings were very definite. God did not want any of them in the land. They were both defiling and detestable to Jehovah. And so Saul obeys God, apparently in order to curry favor with Samuel. He does remove from the land the mediums, the wizards, the witchcraft and the necromancers, those that raise the dead. So now here he is without Samuel as the pipeline to God and without an occult system to find out about the future.”
B. (:4-5) Tremendous Need for Prophetic Resources
1. Philistines and Israel gathered together for Battle
“So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped in Shunem”
“and Saul gathered all Israel together and they camped in Gilboa”
2. Saul Shaking in His Boots
“When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.”
Did Saul know that David and his men were included in with the ranks of the Philistines? Did this cause him even greater consternation?
C. (:6) All Connection with the Lord Has Been Lost
“When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.”
D. (:7) Saul Contradicts His Own Convictions in Seeking a Medium
“Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
Wants to talk to one who can make connection with the dead in a type of séance.
cf: Exodus 22:18
Leviticus 19:31; 20:27
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Deffinbaugh: Problem: The Philistines are camped in Shunem; Saul and the Israelite army are camped in Gilboa. En-dor is approximately eight miles north of Gilboa, and to get there, Saul has to go around the Philistines.
II. (:8-19) FORTUNE TELLING CAN CONVEY A HARSH DOSE OF REALITY — SAUL’S WORST FEARS CONFIRMED
(We are used to nice platitudes in our fortune cookies; or innocent sounding horoscopes)
A. (:8-14) Connection Established with Samuel Through the Reluctant Medium
1. (:8) Saul approaches medium in disguise (acting with bad conscience)
“Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night”
– did not want the medium to recognize him
– did not want his fellow Israelites to know what he was doing
2. (:9) Medium is fearful of prosecution
“Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”
3. (:10) Saul grants immunity (directly against the law of God)
“there shall no punishment come upon you for this thing”
4. (:11-14) Connection established with Samuel
a. (:11) Saul Requests Connection with Samuel
“Bring up Samuel for me”
b. (:12) His Identity as King Saul Exposed
“Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”
c. (:13-14) Appearance of Samuel
“And Saul knew that it was Samuel”
B. (:15-19) Communication of God’s Judgment Confirms Saul’s Worst Fears
God’s message stays the same … He is true to His Word —
1. (:15-16) Confirmation that God has Departed from Saul
“the Lord has departed from you and has become your adversary”
2. (:17) Confirmation that the Kingdom has been Transferred to David
“for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David”
3. (:18) Vindication of the Lord’s Justice
“As you did not obey the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the Lord has done this thing to you this day.”
4. (:19) Prophecy of Impending Doom – both personally and for the nation
“Moreover the Lord will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the Lord will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
III. (:20-25) PERILIZING FEAR CAUSES ONE TO BECOME DYSFUNCTIONAL
A. (:20) Panicky Fear Hits Immediately
“Then Saul immediately fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid”
B. (:21) Temptation to Trust in the Flesh
Don’t Kill the Messenger – Instead, Trust me and let me Help you …
Medium Wants Saul to put confidence in the Flesh …
“I have taken my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me”
C. (:22-25) Distraction of Futile Provision of Physical Hospitality
(But physical comfort and compassion cannot alleviate the spiritual dysfunction)