MONDAY September 30, 2019
Instability
Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.” So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”
1 Samuel 28:7-8
Saul had forbidden mediums and sorcerers–– those who contacted demons. He removed them from the land of Israel. He made rules, but then broke his own rules! He sought out a medium. He went by night––sneaking around. Why did Saul do this? When the Philistines gathered for war, Saul no longer received direction from God. The Lord was deaf to Saul. He stopped speaking to him, and that brought Saul great fear as he faced his enemy.
God no longer communicated to Saul through the prophets or through the Urim and Thummim–– objects on the High Priest’s breastplate usedto confirm God’s will. In the beginning of his kingship, Saul trusted the Lord; but because of his disobedience, foolishness, and rebellion, God had forsaken Saul. Instead, an evil spirit troubled him (1 Samuel 16:14-15).
Saul no longer heard God’s voice, and because of that, there was a lot of instability in his life. It would be like walking through a deadly minefield without knowing when he was going to step on a mine! There are no sensors to help him and no detection for where they might be. This was exactly how Saul felt, and why he became so afraid of his enemy.
Can you imagine what kind of feeling that must have been like, when there is no connection with God, and nothing is going right? Imagine facing a tremendous trial, asking, “God, are you with me?” and there is no answer. What a terrible place to be in!
We cannot enter into the presence of God while we are rebelling against God.
~A. W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!