1Sa 28:6 | KingComments | STEP | Here again the death of Samuel is pointed to. Samuel’s death also ends the prophetic revelations of God. This does not mean that they are no longer there at all, but they are no longer there for Saul. This fact is repeated to understand the rest of the chapter. The same goes for the remark that Saul has removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. One of them will also be discussed later in this chapter. Saul did a big clean up of mediums and spiritists. However, this chapter shows that this must only have been an act of compensation for his disobedience. It is not the result of Godliness. His removal of those connected to demons seems to have been an action to save his face. He does not take God into account, but through such purification he can silence his conscience. This good deed is done with a wrong motive. It is nothing more than ‘refurbishing the flesh’. Therefore, Saul can go there later, if he must and will have a word from the invisible world. Then it turns out that his work was not a work he did with conviction for God. When Saul sees that the Philistines are preparing to wage war against him, he becomes terrified. He sees himself forced to consult the LORD. But God no longer reveals Himself to him. The ways along which this could happen are closed. God does not reveal Himself directly to him through a dream. The way of the Urim is also closed. That is what Saul himself did by murdering the priests. Through the prophet Samuel there will be no revelation because Samuel has died. Saul is all alone. The LORD, and all that is of Him, is with David. Saul does not receive an answer from the LORD because he does not come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. God cannot be consulted by those who think of things in their hearts other than what He has in mind ( ). How could he also expect the LORD to answer him, when he did not listen to Samuel during his life and still hates and persecutes David? Is God not listening to prayer? Yes, but not to the prayer of those who consciously turn away from Him and do not want to listen to Him: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination” ( ). As soon as someone comes to Him with repentance, He listens immediately.

‏ 1 Samuel 28:6

The LORD Does Not Answer Saul

Here again the death of Samuel is pointed to. Samuel’s death also ends the prophetic revelations of God. This does not mean that they are no longer there at all, but they are no longer there for Saul. This fact is repeated to understand the rest of the chapter. The same goes for the remark that Saul has removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. One of them will also be discussed later in this chapter.

Saul did a big clean up of mediums and spiritists. However, this chapter shows that this must only have been an act of compensation for his disobedience. It is not the result of Godliness. His removal of those connected to demons seems to have been an action to save his face. He does not take God into account, but through such purification he can silence his conscience. This good deed is done with a wrong motive. It is nothing more than ‘refurbishing the flesh’. Therefore, Saul can go there later, if he must and will have a word from the invisible world. Then it turns out that his work was not a work he did with conviction for God.

When Saul sees that the Philistines are preparing to wage war against him, he becomes terrified. He sees himself forced to consult the LORD. But God no longer reveals Himself to him. The ways along which this could happen are closed. God does not reveal Himself directly to him through a dream. The way of the Urim is also closed. That is what Saul himself did by murdering the priests. Through the prophet Samuel there will be no revelation because Samuel has died. Saul is all alone. The LORD, and all that is of Him, is with David.

Saul does not receive an answer from the LORD because he does not come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. God cannot be consulted by those who think of things in their hearts other than what He has in mind (Eze 14:3). How could he also expect the LORD to answer him, when he did not listen to Samuel during his life and still hates and persecutes David? Is God not listening to prayer? Yes, but not to the prayer of those who consciously turn away from Him and do not want to listen to Him: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Pro 28:9). As soon as someone comes to Him with repentance, He listens immediately.