1 Samuel 28
IT is significant that King Saul, unlike most or all of those who have become eminent in the Lord’s service, enters upon his kingdom without that training which these are called to pass through.
It is to the lack of this that we are inclined to trace the lack of control, the jealousy, the self-consciousness, and the disobedience Saul manifests. One thinks of Moses at “the backside of the desert,” of Elijah at the brook Cherith, of John the Baptist in the wilderness, and with great reverence, be it added, the greater part of our blessed Lord’s life was spent in private.
We may depend upon it that time spent in private with God is not wasted. Far from it. David, too, previous to slaying Goliath in the valley of Elah, had slain the lion and the bear in the wilderness, and we know how great and varied were the trials and experiences he passed through previous to his occupation of the throne.
A great loss now comes upon Israel. Samuel, that man of prayer, dies (ch. 25:1). The people possibly but little realize how great their loss was, and we are disposed to think that we do not know how much we owe to the prayers of others. But to speak of Saul. He had in his zeal “put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.” Yet now we find him, inconsistently enough, seeking a woman with a familiar spirit of whom he may make inquiries.
Think of the state of his heart at this time. Think of the serious position he stands in, for we read “that the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by vision, nor by prophets.” He called, and receiving no answer, humiliation should have been produced, and heart-searching before the Lord. But no, he resorts to dealing with evil spirits.
Samuel appears to him by the permission of the Lord. The witch of Endor realizes a power superior to her own, and fear seizes her. This woman did not expect to see Samuel.
As might have been expected under the circumstances, Saul receives no comfort from Samuel, who asks the unhappy king why he consults him, seeing that the Lord had departed from him. How solemn all this part of Saul’s history is!
Samuel refers to the king’s flagrant disobedience. He is now but a derelict upon a restless and troubled sea, left miserably without light or guide. What a lesson! Darkness has come upon him, and we behold him stumbling upon the dark mountains, and while looking for light it is turned into the shadow of death, and made gross darkness (see Jer. 11:1616The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken. (Jeremiah 11:16)).
It is enough to make one weep; to behold such a spectacle, such a fall of one who had begun so well. That God is gracious is perfectly true, but He cannot be disobeyed with impunity or mocked, and whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.
W. R. C.