Walk of Rebellion – 2

WALKING WITH GOD. No.22

1 Sam 28:8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

The story of Saul and David is a story of contrasts. Saul is a man head and shoulders taller than most (1 Sam 10:23), a man who ‘looked’ the part. David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). Saul was a ‘head’ man, David was a ‘heart’ man. When it came to difficulties David sought the Lord (1 Sam 23:10-12). When Saul got into difficulties he reasoned what should be done and ended up taking the role of a priest (1 Sam 13:9-13) and was rebuked for it, only referred to the Lord as a second thought (1 Sam 14:36), makes a bad judgement (1 Sam 14:44,45), and was only partially obedient against the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:9-19). No wonder he was rejected by God.

We are now some time on and Samuel has passed away and Saul is left without any counsellor. Once again the Philistines gather to come against Israel (v.4) and Saul is afraid. He enquires of the Lord but the Lord is silent, because He has rejected Saul and Saul has not the sense to stand down. More than that he has not the sense to call for a time of national repentance which he should lead and seek God’s mercy. That would have been the right course of action. Instead Saul thinks, what other way is there of getting guidance? I have no counsellor, God is silent, what about the spiritists? Ah, under Samuel I got rid of them from the land – yet there is one at Endor I’m told.

Now the Law of Moses expressly stated, “Do not practice divination or sorcery” (Lev 19:26) and “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” (Deut 18:10,11). Occult means ‘hidden powers’ and all of these sorts of things were hidden powers that excluded God and were thus clearly forbidden by God. There is no question in Scripture that spiritism or spiritualism (whichever you prefer to call it) is forbidden by God, but here we find Saul contemplating this very thing.

Now we don’t need to go into the detail of what followed; we are more concerned with Saul’s walk of rebellion against the will of God as decreed in the word of God. Later on king Manasseh’s activities were described: “He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.” (2 Chron 33:6) His occult activity provoked God to anger. God IS angry with occult activity because such activity is a) demonic, b) deceptive and not truthful, and c) denying God. It was in the ensuing battle with the Philistines that Saul died. The record in Chronicles reads: “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD ; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” (1 Chron 10:13,14) What a statement of condemnation and this episode of going to a medium is seen as a key factor in his death which was the judgement of God on him.

The warning is therefore very clear to us today. Whatever the reason, we may never consult mediums. It is a walk of outright rebellion and rejection of God. If God is silent, seek Him more. Isaiah was later to ask, “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God?” (Isa 8:19) The Biblical message is quite clear. For the people of God who need guidance God, and NOT mediums, is to be their source.

It is an interesting point of note, that those who have consulted mediums find it more difficult to come to God. Why? Because they have been tainted by the demonic unseen powers and darkness makes it harder for them to receive the light. If you have consulted mediums in the past, seek God’s face in sincere repentance and ask Him to cut you off from any lingering influence that activity may have left in you. This is one of those times when John’s words are particularly important, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9). We need purifying from such occult darkness. If you have never been down that path, don’t ever be tempted to go down the path of rebellion. Stay clear, stay clean.