Day 114, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 1Samuel 28:3-25; 1Samuel 30
God or the Occult–where should we turn when we do not know what to do?
Look into a crystal ball and see the future? Ridiculous! Yet, some people follow horoscopes daily to help them decide. Are they reliable? Should we read and follow them?
In times of trouble or stress, many also seek mystical help from tarot cards, ouija boards, seances, and even black magic. Are these just innocent curiosities? What does God say about them?
Saul Consults a Witch
In today’s Bible reading, King Saul faces the Philistine army, and he’s paralyzed. He seeks spiritual help, but God doesn’t answer him. Because of Saul’s disobedience, he’s not in tune with the LORD.
Samuel, God’s prophet, is dead. Not knowing what to do, the king seeks a witch to conjure up the old prophet. In better times, when Saul was in favor with God, he banned witchcraft from the land. Now, the LORD has removed his blessing and will not answer him. Saul doesn’t humble himself and turn from his sins, but he still wants spiritual intervention in his battle with the Philistines.
God’s not pleased when we explore mystical things instead of relying on him.
He rejects the proud and exalts the humble and obedient.
The witch calls up the prophet Samuel’s spirit from Hades (much to her astonishment). Samuel tells Saul that he and his sons (including Jonathan) will die in the battle with the Philistines and join him.
David Consults the LORD
David is also a man under a lot of stress. Because of Saul’s hot pursuit, he sought refuge for himself, his family, his army, and their families in Philistine territory. David feigned loyalty to King Achish. He was so convincing that the king now wants David’s army to fight alongside the Philistine army against Israel.
King Achish puts David between a rock and a hard place. He wants to appear loyal, but he doesn’t want to fight against his people, King Saul, and his best friend, Jonathan.
Fortunately, God solves the problem for him. The Philistine commanders tremble at the thought of David and his men betraying them, fearing the possibility of losing their heads in retribution. Achish reluctantly gives in to their will and sends David and his army back home to Ziklag.
When David and his men return to Ziklag, they find the town burned, looted, and their families taken captive. “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God,” (1Samuel 30:6, NIV).
David does not consult with a witch, as Saul has done. He seeks counsel from God through an ordained priest and the approved instruments of the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:30).According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, the words Urim and Thummim mean “Lights and Perfections.” These two unique stones helped priests determine God’s will. The rocks (or jewels) were in the Ephod’s pocket, which was the breastplate the priests wore. We have no such devices today.
We have the completed Word of God to give us his directions under the guidance of his Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The LORD tells David to pursue the raiders of their town because they will certainly overtake them, kill them, and recover everything they have lost, including their families. Along the way, 200 hundred of David’s 600 men are too exhausted to continue the pursuit, so David assigns them to guard their supplies until they return.
When David and his 400 men approached the Amalekite raiding party,
David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, "This is David's plunder." (1Samuel 30:17-20, NIV)
After David loots those who looted them, he shares some of the booty with the 200 men who stayed with their supplies. He also shares some with the leaders of towns in the tribe of Judah, where he will soon begin his reign.
God gives victory and blessings to those who rely upon him. (more...)
End Notes:
1. Hades was a place located somewhere in the center of the earth. It was comprised of two compartments—paradise where the spirits of righteous men dwelled, and hell, a place of punishment for all wicked people. Samuel came up from paradise.
2. The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p. 152
Discussion
Where should we go when we are in trouble or need spiritual answers—God or the Occult? Why?
What part does the Bible play in determining God’s will? Why?
Focus Verse
2Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod (the author)
Looking Ahead: Saul fails and loses his life because he doesn't tend [his] spiritual garden. David, however, sets a different example. Learn more in our next lesson.
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