Death of Saul
Saul died because he put his trust in the dead instead of the LORD. This lesson teaches us all that when you need to know something about the future you need take it to the Lord in prayer. You need to be reading your Bible every day and learn the way of the Lord and rely on His Grace and love.
1 Samuel 28:1-25.
The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare to fight with Israel. The king of the Philistines said unto David and his men shall go out with him into battle. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
When Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. When Saul asked of the LORD the LORD did not answer him. Not my dreams, nor by urim (stones kept in a pouch on the high-priest’s breastplate, used in determining the LORD’s decision in certain questions and issues), nor did the prophets speak to Saul.
The prophet Samuel was dead and all Israel was very sad and they buried him in Ramah which was in his city. Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
Saul sent his servants to seek a woman that had familiar spirits. The servants found a woman at Endor that had a familiar spirit. Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto you.
The woman with the familiar spirit knew Saul and knew he had killed those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land and she thought he was setting a trap for her.
Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying: “As the LORD lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.” The woman asked who Saul wanted to bring back. And Saul told her to bring up Samuel. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, ìWhy have you deceived me? For you are Saul.
King Saul said unto her: “Be not afraid: for what did you see?”And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. She saw an old man coming up and he was covered with a mantle. Saul perceived it was Samuel and stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am so distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: and that is why I have called you, that you may make known unto me what I shall do. Samuel told Saul that LORD has departed from him and has become his enemy. Samuel continued to tell Saul that the LORD had taken his kingdom out of his hand and given to his neighbor and to David.
This was because Saul had not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor executed his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore has the LORD done this thing unto you this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with Saul into the hand of the Philistines: and the next day shall Saul and his sons be with Samuel: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Saul was so frightened that he fell down and he had no strength in him because he had not eaten all day or all night. The woman offered to fix Saul a morsel of bread to give him strength before he went on his way. Saul refused and did not eat but his servants; together with the woman compelled him to eat and then they rose up and went away that night.
The story of Saul ended the following day with his battle against the Philistines. His three sons died with him. The battle against Saul went badly and the Philistine archers hit Saul and he was badly wounded. Saul asked his armor bearers to finish killing him but the refused and Saul took a sword, and fell upon it and died. (1 Samuel 31:1-8).
What Can This Story Teach Us?
Saul went to a woman who had a familiar spirits we would call them a witch or one who called the dead a necromancer. Saul decided to go to her instead of listening to the LORD. Saul knew what he had done was wrong. He did not confess his sin nor was he sorry for his sin. King Saul had a lack of faith.
Saul put his faith and trust in a dead man and not with the living LORD. It is really sad when you think about today people doing the same thing. People will use Ouija boards to predict the future. Or they may even go to the newspaper and read their horoscope.
There are fortune tellers today who make it seem so much fun to tell your future. They could read tarot cards, or use a crystal sphere, read tea leaves in a cup, reading the palms or contacting the dead. These are not fun innocent games. These are dangerous because they are not putting faith in the Lord.
When you need to know something about the future you need take it to the Lord in prayer. You need to be reading your Bible every day and learn the way of the Lord and rely on His Grace and love. Saul died because he did not trust in the LORD God he trusted in a dead prophet. We can never be put in that position or we will die as well.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne ” Death of Saul:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1979,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2006, January) ” Death of Saul:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1979,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) ” Death of Saul:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1979, (accessed).
