1 Sam 28:3-28:25, What place is God's word in our life?

1 Samuel 28:3–7 (ESV) — 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”


• The author sets the stage for this whole chapter. What is the key point and why is it so important?
• Samuel has died
• Saul had leaned on Samuel
• It is clear that Saul had leaned on Samuel at some point, but what do we know about the relationship between Saul and Samuel
• After the disobedience against the Amalekites (15:35), they did not meet again until the day of his death
• Also, Samuel's death was recorded in chapter 25
• Saul needed someone to go to for answers from God, why?
• Because God did not answer, why?
• Because Saul never develop a relationship with God on his own
• Why is Saul calling on God now, and how then does Saul see God?
• Saul is in crisis
• Saul calls on God to meet him in his crisis but ignores him in his everyday life
• What does that make God to Saul?
• God was Saul's servant. But God did not respond when Saul called to him because he is not anyone's servant
• Saul was supposed to be God's servant
• What else do we notice about this incidence with the medium or witch?
• Saul has the appearance of faith. Saul is religious. Saul does do the right things. But Saul has no relationship with God
• Saul is a hypocrite, because when following God's law no longer suits him, he changes the rules
• APPLICATION: Do we see ourselves as a servant to God or God as our servant? How can we tell the difference?


1 Samuel 28:11–19 (ESV) — 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”


• This is a tough passage but let's move through it slowly. Saul requests to talk to Samuel. How does the woman respond to the request and how does the woman respond to the actual appearance?
• There is no commentary on the request suggesting she had no issue
• But, her response is very atypical for someone who should be use to this business
• What does the woman's response to Samuel suggest?
• One, this was all make believe and fake, but now real
• Or two, she met with demons and they looked quite different
• Samuel is called a god, but the term can be used for a judge
• The color contrast made have made a difference too
• Either way, this was all quite surprising even to her. Therefore, it is quite possible this was actually Samuel
• Why does Samuel come up from below?
• In the OT, everyone went to Sheol (also called Hades)
• There are two compartments in Sheol
• One is Abraham's bosom or Paradise
• The other is the place for the unrighteous. This place has three parts
• Hades Proper (Hell) for humans
• Abyss, a temporary place for fallen angels
• Tartarus, a place for angels who sinned in Genesis 6
• Jesus removes the occupants of Paradise and takes them with him to Heaven during his resurrection
• Ephesians 4:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
• Let's assume this is Samuel, what does he say?
• Samuel repeats his previous prophecy (nothing has changed in God's judgement)
• Samuel adds that God has become his enemy -- far from being his servant, God was against him, why? Because Saul did nothing to bring God glory. Being religious does not bring God glory, only a relationship with God can truly change a person
• Samuel also adds a prophecy that Saul and his sons would die that day
• APPLICATION: Do we have a relationship with God? Or are we just religious?


1 Samuel 28:20–25 (ESV) — 20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.


• You have to ask yourself, is this section really important. Scripture seems to be very abridged and to the point, yet we have this seemingly innocuous passage. Let's assume it has a purpose, what might that be?
• This all started when Samuel chose to disobey God and perform the sacrifice himself
• He participated in worship but did it on his own terms
• Here, he shares a meal with a medium. The term slaughter is the same term as sacrifice
• As he ends his life, he is sharing a meal with the unrighteous and clearly in disobedience to God
• The passage is a contrast and puts the final stamp on Saul's life. He failed to follow God. He had no heart for God. He had no relationship with God. He lived a duplicitous life. How could he have avoided such a painful ending? What did David do differently (and David made mistakes as well)?
• David loved God's word
• David loved God
• David was obedient to God's word in his life. He applied it
• APPLICATION: The beginning of wisdom is always God's word -- how do we treat God's word in our life? Is regular daily time in God's word a priority for our life?

1 Sam 26:1-27:4; Wait or act--what is God telling us or have we even asked?

1 Sam 26:1-12 (ESV) Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?" 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 And David said, "As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11  The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.



• What about the start of this passage seems familiar?
• This is the second time the Ziphites betray David
• Previous passages: 23:19 -- but an attack by the Philistines saves David
• Why does David even suggest going down into the camp with only one man?
• It is done after seeing the situation (vs 5)
• Apparently he recognizes the fact that everyone is asleep
• NOTE: Saul probably had about 3,000 men to David's 600
• What are some impressions we get about Abishai?
• He is very brave
• He is carnal. He sees things from a worldly perspective. You have to seize your opportunity
• He does not recognized God's anointing as special, or he does not look at the spiritual side of life
• David understands that Saul must die before he can be king or probably even stop hunting him. Yet he sees that God must remove Saul and even suggests how God could do it. What were David's thoughts?
• The Lord will strike him down
• His day will come to die
• He will go down in battle and perish
• They take the spear and the water jar, why?
• The spear was almost like a scepter for Saul, and the water jar would have only been for the King's use
• Three times, Saul had thrown the spear at David
• He needed proof, something that would be unmistakable
• APPLICATION: Do we see ourselves as the primary determiner of our future, or do we trust God? We still need to be prudent. We can't' be lazy, but we also need to trust God for our future
• How do you decide when to act (be prudent) or when to wait upon God? In this passage, when a clear command of God would be violated by action. Or likewise, if God has made it clear to you to wait
• We don't wait just because it is the spiritual thing to do
• We do (or should) ALWAYS pray -- that is the spiritual thing to do


1 Sam 26:13-25 (ESV) Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?" 15 And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head."

17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." 18 And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22 And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23  The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.



• Why does David call to Abner?
• It really is a rebuke
• Abner should never have fallen asleep
• He was the commander of the Army, it was his responsibility to protect the king
• Although in Abner's defense, the sleep was a supernatural event (verse 12)
• Also, the contrast is that David did what Abner did not -- he protected the king's life
• Saul recognizes David's voice. What is David's argument to Saul?
• David argues that he had done nothing wrong
• If he did something wrong, then at the worst it is sin that can be atoned by sacrifice
• But he has done nothing deserving death
• His life or transgression is not worth a king's attention
• What would be worth a king's attention?
• A usurper -- but what does David's action show? David's actions prove that the king has nothing to fear
• Technically, David has just proved that he will not kill the king (for the second time), therefore he is not a threat. But, his line is a threat, not only to Saul's line, but to all of Benjamin. Therefore, Saul is being pushed by the tribe of Benjamin to eliminate the threat of David, and of their prominence
• 1 Sam 24:21-22  Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
• Once again, what is the effect of David upon King Saul?
• Saul confesses his sin
• He repents (temporarily)
• He asks David to come back
• Saul blesses David
• APPLICATION:
• What effect do we have upon others? Do we bring out the best in others? Is our presence in our work place a positive thing?
• Others were pushing Saul, and he was wishy-washy. Unlike David's example later, he was grounded in the word


1 Sam 27:1-4 (ESV) Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand." 2 So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.



• Interestingly, David does not seem to believe Saul, why?
• Saul has not held to previous promises
• Trust in God does not mean you can be foolish
• The previous plan does not seem to be working
• Was it God's will for him to go to Philistia?
• The text is surprisingly silent of the mention of God's name. In fact, the implication of verse 1 is that he talked to himself
• Possibly this is a moment of weakness for David. He has tired of playing hide and seek with Saul
• It might explain God not protecting David's camp (later in chapter 30). If so, it is one of a few major failures in David's life. In other words, he wasn't perfect. What made David unique was not that he did everything right (he fails in trust), but that he wanted to do everything right (and technically he did not sin)
• Why the Philistines?
• They are the other dominant power
• Saul can't get to him without defeating the Philistines, which he hasn't done yet
• It does seem unusual since the Philistines epitomize the enemy of God
• Why do the Philistines accept David?
• Possibly because they also recognize Saul's hatred
• APPLICATION: We don't know if it was God's will for David to go to Philistia or not, but it doesn't really matter--what matters is the heart--and David's heart was to know God. How can I develop a heart for God? I think it starts with spending time in God's word on a regular basis