SAUL’S DARK DECISION

SETTING UP THIS MESSAGE

• As w continue studying strange stories from Scripture, let’s keep moving backward in time. We saw Jesus fight an army of demons and Ezekiel envision an army of skeletons.

• Now, we are going to look at a man left on his own.

• No army.

• No support.

• No friends.

• After the era of Judges, Israel demanded that God give them a king like other nations. The prophet Samuel resisted, but Israel elected Saul to be their ruler.

• Finally, Israel was going to experience peace, prosperity, and victory, right? Wrong. Saul’s reign was marked with failure on a catastrophic scale, so God made it known that His reign was coming to a swift end.

• Saul’s terrible reputation made Israel the perfect target for attack. Like a lion prowling after a wounded zebra, the Philistines circled Israel with fury in their eyes. God’s people were about to go to war, and Saul had no clue what to do.

TENSION

• In trying times, Saul usually went to Samuel, his head prophet, for guidance.

• There was only one problem: Samuel was now dead.

• What was Saul supposed to do without his right-hand man of God? He did what any crazy person would do.

• King Saul sought out a person who claimed they could speak to the dead in an attempt to access Samuel’s trusty and godly advice.

CONTEXTUALIZING THIS PASSAGE

• This strange story certainly has all the hallmarks of a campfire story to me. It’s part of King Saul’s downfall, and it begins bizarrely.

• He went where?

• To meet with whom?

• He did what?

• I don’t know about you, but this passage perplexes me.

• The strange story of King Saul meeting with a medium begs three questions.

• First, why was the medium so frustrated when she discovered Saul was standing before her?

• Wouldn’t most people be ecstatic to serve a king? Well, not her, and for good reason. Saul was her sworn enemy.

• As the ruler, he had every psychic and medium driven out of Israel. Why? Because God had strictly forbidden any fortune-telling and witchcraft. With that in mind, Saul’s decision seems even crazier.

• He sought God’s guidance using a process that God had forbidden. By making this dark decision, Saul had disobeyed both God and his own decrees.

• Second, was this actually a ghost encounter?

• Probably not, but this experience certainly filled Saul with the same fear you’d have from seeing a ghost.

• Candidly, it’s startling to me, too. At first glance, it seems a medium orchestrated a visitation with the dead.

• We have no idea what actually happened, though.

• Perhaps it was a mere vision like Peter experienced (Acts 10).

• Maybe it was a visit from a dead person’s soul, like on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17).

• Whatever transpired, Saul was spooked.

• Third, did Samuel’s prophecy come true?

• Saul was so shaken after the encounter that he passed out on the floor. Once he regained his composure, he returned home to lead the army into battle with the Philistines.

• Just as predicted, Saul and his sons were killed at war (1 Samuel 31).

• How on earth do we apply this strange story to our spiritual lives?

• Saul’s experience is strange, but there is also an applicational message in the mystery.

• Let’s discuss two lessons from this story.

Things get dark when we try to solve our own problems.

• Saul triggered a war; then, he struggled to solve his own problem. What did he do? In direct disobedience to God, he sought a medium in the middle of the wilderness.

• You just saw what happened next.

• Shivering in his flip-flops, Saul came face to face with a dead man and fainted.

• Ultimately Samuel gave him a miserable message—God would not help him anymore.

• While we scoff at King Saul’s foolishness, we can fall into a similar trap. In times of desperation, we are tempted to take things into our own hands instead of obeying God.

• Let’s say you are tired of waiting for a relationship, so you rush into one you know God wouldn’t want for you instead of waiting on His perfect timing.

• Perhaps you’re sick of the endless parade of difficult thoughts, so you use an unhealthy coping mechanism to numb your feelings instead of working through them with God.

• Maybe you want to see justice served to the person that hurt you, but you can’t wait any longer. Instead of letting vengeance and justice stay with God, you take matters into your own hands and begin trying to ruin this person’s life.

• While none of those are as dramatic or dark as seeking a medium in the desert, they’re still dangerous.

• Fortunately for us, thanks to King Jesus, God’s assistance is persistent.

• Embrace that.

• Quit trying to solve things on your own. Your resolve can get you far, but God can get you farther.

• Your skills will help, but God’s power is far greater.

• Self-help books will teach you, but God will transform you.

• Whatever problem sits before you, refuse to solve it on your own.

• Follow God’s lead, discern from His Word, obey him, and you will go far.

• If you resist, things may get more frightening than a phantom prophet.

• You may deal with some of life’s authentic nightmares—regret, guilt, sorrow, and shame.

• But don’t take the enemy’s bait.

• Jesus came to set you free from all of that. Since God wants to liberate you, lean on Him.

God can use anything, even evil, to achieve His purpose.

• There is no question that what Saul did was wicked. He directly disobeyed God and attempted to seek out counterfeit power from a medium.

• It goes without saying, but let’s just say it. Believers have no business practicing witchcraft.

• Saul was supposed to lead God’s chosen people, but he couldn’t even obey God’s precepts.

• Regardless of all that, God delivered one final prophecy to Saul. Horrific for Saul? You bet.

• Hopeful for Israel? Absolutely.

• In Saul’s absence, King David would usher in a new era marked by worship, devotion, and God’s favor. Referring to David, Saul’s own son prophesied, “The Lord is witness between you and me and between your descendants and my descendants forever” (1 Samuel 20:42).

• You’ve heard that God works in mysterious ways. Of all those mysteries, one is most mesmerizing.

• Throughout the Bible and our lives, God uses evil to accomplish his mission.

• Joseph was sold into slavery, but God promoted him to prime minister.

• Daniel was thrown into a pit of lions, but God proved His power.

• Egypt was charging after Israel, but God parted the Red Sea.

• Jesus was murdered, but He defeated death to save the very people who killed Him.

• God can use anything, even evil, to achieve great things.

• God does not create evil, but He does take control of it. He’s not the architect of sin but can leverage sinful situations for His intentions.

• So when people harm you, know that God will help you. When situations try to barricade you, know that God will make a way.

• God takes evil incidents and gives them eternal significance.

Landing: All in all, there is no need to fear because God is near.

• As we have explored the Bible’s strange stories, one thing reigns true.

• Every strange story points us to our sovereign Savior

TALK IT OUT

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week and the lowest part of your week?

Q1: What stuck out from the message?

Q2: Why do you think the Bible writers included strange stories in Scripture?

Q3: What are some ways we can take things into our own hands instead of relying on God?

Q4: What are some examples of good things coming from evil circumstances?

Q5: What is the difference between being religious and having a relationship with Jesus?

Application: Strive to grow in your reliance on God, especially in scary situations. Ask God to help you surrender even when it feels difficult.

READING PLAN READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Isaiah 1:18

Daniel 9:9

Micah 7:19

Acts 3:19

Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 4:32

Colossians 1:13-14 

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.