Whisper Of God Ministries

The Witch of Endor
This week we cover chapters 24 – 30 in I Samuel. I want to remind you that if you are reading the entire Bible this year or the shorter version, you can find reviews and overviews of all the books of the Bible on our website – www.WhisperofGod.org. These will help you get a sense of the big picture of each book before you begin reading. Take advantage of our website to ask questions or post comments as well.

These chapters in 1 Samuel cover a variety of events. Most of the section centers on Saul’s pursuit of David in an effort to kill him. Saul has already made a couple of attempts and seems preoccupied with eliminating David. He knows that God has taken the kingdom away from him and given it to David. In his jealousy, Saul assembles his army to hunt David down. David and his men hide and find refuge wherever they can. On two occasions in our section this week, David has the opportunity to kill Saul. In both situations, he spares the one who has been anointed king over Israel by God. David understood that even though God was sorry that Saul was king, Saul still represented a God chosen regent for Israel.

Chapter 28 presents an interesting event that has caused great discussion and mystery among commentaries and readers alike. That event is known as Saul and the Witch of Endor. Under Samuel’s influence, Saul had issued a decree to rid the land of all mediums and spiritists. These were people who tried to contact the dead through a variety of means. This decree was certainly in line with the Torah. God had outlawed this type of behavior. But Samuel was now dead. The writer has already told us this information in chapter 25 but repeats it for emphasis now. As the Philistines gather for war against Israel, Saul gathers his army at Gilboa. When he sees the size and strength of the Philistine forces, terror filled his heart.

At this point, Saul does the right thing – he inquires of the Lord. But the Lord does not answer him by dreams or Urim – that is revelation to the priest, or by the prophets. Saul has already killed most all the priests and the one Aaronic priest left had fled to David. Saul had cut himself off from God by his own disobedience. Without an answer from God, he turns to his evil ways again. He tells his attendant to find him a medium so he can inquire of her. How often we all turn from God when we don’t get an answer immediately from him.

Interestingly, the writer tells us that Saul goes to see this woman in a disguise so he is not recognized. He also waits until dark to seek out this witch. So under the cover of darkness and in the clothes of a peasant, Saul finds his witch and completes his utter disobedience to God and his law. His last act of blasphemy is to tell the woman, who believes this may be a trap to catch her that no harm will come to her. He actually swears using the Lord’s name that no harm will come to her for disobeying the Law. Incredible! Yet, how often do we casually invoke God’s name in our conversation?
The woman is told to bring up Samuel. Here is where the text gets very mysterious. Does the woman actually see Samuel – verse 12? Does she see a demon, is God acting out here in some other mysterious way? No reliable commentators would say for sure the exact meaning of the text. The Hebrew seems to indicate that perhaps she does see him. His words to Saul are certainly in line with his prophetic words to Saul while he was alive. But to spend too much time on the mysterious is to miss the point of the passage. Because Saul sins so blatantly before the Lord, God strikes him down perhaps even within 24 hours of this conversation. The Philistines defeat the Israelites and Saul takes his own life in utter defeat.

What is our lesson today? We could look at many applications in these chapters but I want to focus on one point for this week. To whom do you go for advice? Saul turned to God but when he got no answer, he turned the wrong way. Often in our lives today, we do seek God. But God is not on our timetable. Adding to our problem is the fact that we live in a society of instant gratification. We want what we want and we want it now. Maybe we have prayed about a situation but we haven’t gotten an answer from the Lord. What do we do? The Bible says we are to wait on the Lord. He is faithful to answer our prayers – in his way in his time. If the answer does not come immediately, so often we will seek out advice that is in line with our secret desire – what and how we want God to answer. Be careful here. Seeking good Godly advice from your pastor, elder, or other seasoned Christian is always a good thing. But even that advice comes from a fallen human. Make sure that the encouragement and direction you receive is in line with Scripture. Give God time to answer and be open to his leading. Be careful whom you listen to.

Being Who You are In Christ
This week we looked at 7 chapters in 1 Samuel – 17-23. These chapters cover the great story of David and Goliath – one we all have learned from childhood if we were raised in a church. The underdog winning against the giant by the power of God is always an inspiration. We also see the jealousy of Saul develop because of the success of David. We had learned in an earlier chapter that the Lord had become displeased with Saul. The Holy Spirit departed from him. David has received that same Spirit. Saul cannot handle the rise of David and he tries to kill David on several occasions.

Also included in these chapters is the development of the brotherly love between Jonathan and David. This is an incredible story of understanding who we are individually before the Lord. Jonathan understood that David was the Lord’s anointed even though Jonathan was in line as Saul’s son for the throne. God had other plans and Jonathan respected that plan. He loved David greatly and David loved him. Their friendship will develop and grow over the next several chapters.

What I want us to look at briefly this week is a small section of the David and Goliath story. David comes to the battlefront to visit his older brothers. As the youngest son, he had remained home to take care of the sheep. He was probably too young to really fight. While there, he hears Goliath’s rants against God and the Israelites. David is offended. Interestingly enough, the Israelites seem mainly just to be scared. The Philistines are ready to fight them. Goliath issues the challenge that he will fight any single Israelite. The winner will automatically be declared the winner of the larger battle. David decides that he will go and fight for God and his nation.
Verses 38-40 in chapter 17 read this way, “Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. ‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.” The rest is history.

Please note that Saul wanted David to wear his armor and helmet and sword to fight Goliath. David dressed in it but he was not used to it. If he was going to fight Goliath, he had to do it as he knew how – being who he was – not who Saul wanted him to be. So often today in the Church, Christians try to copy other Christians they might think are successful. They want to do the same study groups, teach like them, worship or sing like them. These people never stop to think that God made each of us individually and uniquely. While emulating Godly behavior is never wrong – Paul calls us to do that, trying to copy or “be” the same type of Christian you see in around you is not what God calls us to do. He calls us to be our own self, to worship and serve him with the talents he has given us. Our talents may be different from someone else but that does not mean they are less valuable in the Kingdom. The Body of Christ is made up of many different types of people who bring different gifts to the collective work.

Never think that your service to God is less valuable than someone else just because you are not called to a specific work that you may admire in others. You are specifically gifted to do the works for the Kingdom of God that God ordained for you to do before the foundation of the earth – Ephesians 2:10. If you want to imitate someone – imitate Christ.

Are You In Hiding?

Stimulating is how I describe this week’s reading in 1 Samuel 10-16. I found applicable life lessons in each chapter. Remember, there is only one meaning of a text, but many applications from a text. I discovered (much to my dismay) that I have similarities to Saul. I wonder if you realized the same.

Last week we were introduced to Saul and read of Samuel telling Saul that he would be Israel’s first king. This week we see his anointing as king, his valiant launch into kingship and the beginning of his demise. But, when Saul is publicly chosen as king in front of the entire nation of Israel, where is he?

Read with me in chapter 10 verses 21-22, “Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the Matrite family was taken. And Saul the son of Kish was taken; but when they looked for him, he could not be found. Therefore, they inquired further of the Lord, ‘Has the man come here yet?’ So the Lord said, ‘Behold, he is hiding himself by the baggage.’”

At this point, Saul already knew he was chosen by God to be king. Samuel told him this in 1 Samuel 10:1. Yet, he chose to hide during the announcement of him as king to his people-the very people who would serve and follow him as their leader. I found this interesting and then I remembered another verse. 1 Samuel 9:21 says, “Saul replied, ‘Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?’” I read it as Saul was perplexed that Samuel would give such great attention to him and indicate that Saul was desirable in Israel. Perhaps, Saul is suffering from some inferiority issues. And thus, he hides during his debut as king.

God chose Saul. God had a plan for Saul to be king. God equipped Saul to lead His people. Through Samuel, God told Saul of His plan for him. Can’t you just see Saul wanting to please God, but shaking his head and reeling from all the responsibility? I mean, it’s not like he had an example to follow, a notebook from last year’s king, or even a tradition to maintain. He would totally have to depend on God to be successful. Rather than joyfully step up to trust God, Saul hid among the baggage.

Have you ever been there-at the place where you believe God has called you and yet, you want to hide? Are you there, now? Is God calling you to responsibility and you are hiding? Are you overwhelmed with a calling God has given you? Be encouraged. Do not hide. Do not be anxious. Do not be afraid. Do not let your heart be troubled. God will accomplish His purposes through you if you obediently act as the vessel. Say yes to God and in His providential and perfect timing, He will use you for the good of His kingdom.

We read on that Saul steps up effectively as king. He begins his reign with great success because he follows God in obedience. Unfortunately, we know Saul didn’t finish well. He turned to disobedience and leading his own way instead of God’s way. As we will read in the next few weeks, Saul’s story ends tragically.

Your story doesn’t have to end as Saul’s did. Trust God to place you in His kingdom where He knows best. Trust Him that He does know best. Trust Him that He loves you enough to give you His best. And obediently follow Him until His return.

Ashley Jones

What’s In Your Heart?

Week ten’s reading proved to be insightful into the hearts of the Israelites and ultimately our hearts. This week we were encouraged from 1 Samuel chapters 3-9 beginning with Samuel hearing God’s call for the first time. Through His Word, God speaks to us. He speaks to us of the defeat by the Philistines and then victory over them. Between these two events we see the turning of their hearts toward idol worship, the moving of the ark of the covenant, the questioning by the Israelites, the capturing of the ark of the covenant, the smiting of the Philistines by God for their custody of the ark of the covenant, and the returning of the ark of the covenant to the Israelites. As we close this week’s reading, we see the historical transition of Israel from theocracy to monarchy with the people desiring a king and God fulfilling their desire by giving them one.

We see idol worship throughout this week’s reading. We’ve seen this in the hearts of God’s people in previous readings, but it is ever present in 1 Samuel. Worshiping idols is a repeated pattern of behavior for the Israelites and thus, I can only conclude, it is with us. Let’s be aware of this ever-so-subtle temptation and resist it. Why? So we remain faithful to our God who, as He shows this week, is the God who helps us.

In chapter four, we read of God’s people coming dangerously close to worshipping the ark of the covenant; perhaps, believing their power was in the ark itself instead of the God who rested above the ark. They had been defeated by the Philistines and were asking the all too familiar “why” question. Verse three says, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.” Do you see what I see? It’s as if their faith is in the ark itself and not in the God who detailed the building of the ark, whose very own Shekinah Glory rested on the ark.

We all know those people who have faith in their faith, right? Have you ever said or heard someone say “I don’t know what I would have done without my faith”? We must be careful that our faith is in God who gave us His gift of faith, never turning our worship to faith itself or a symbol of faith. I hope I haven’t confused you on that point. Perhaps, this will clearly state it. Our faith is given to us by God and is in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. True faith can not be in anything (not even the action of having faith) or anyone else. For faith was created by God and given as a gift to us by Him to be placed only in Him.

We read on in chapter five to discover that the ark is captured by the Philistines and taken into their custody. They transported God’s ark to their territory and placed it in the house of Dagon, who is their chief god. (They worshipped many gods, but believed that Dagon sent rain and plentiful harvests.) Not only did they place the One, True, Living God’s ark in the house of Dagon, but it was placed beside of the worshipped image of Dagon. What I see next is Galatians 6:7 coming to life. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked…” They walked in the next morning and Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the Lord. They set Dagon back in place and the next morning, he had fallen again before the ark of the Lord. This time, his head and hands were severed. This is a great picture that goes along with Bill’s teaching a couple of weeks ago. Scripture teaches that God is a jealous God and that all will bow to Him. And in this case, even an image of a pagan god. God’s victory over Dagon was witnessed by the Philistines but wasn’t seen. However, it was enough for them to return the ark of the Lord after consulting diviners.

Now, we’re to my favorite part, chapter seven. Here, our God reminds His people that He is still with them. He wants to restore their relationship with Him. In verse three, Samuel says “If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” God was telling His people to clean out their hearts. Get rid of their idols. Worship Him only. They did. Samuel prayed. The people fasted and confessed their sin. The Philistines planned an attack. Israel was afraid, but they urged Samuel to continue praying. Samuel interceded. Just as God said He would, He intervened and gave victory to His people. (Don’t miss that part. God did exactly what He said He would do. He always does.) They worshipped and set up a memorial to Him.

Shortly later in chapter eight, the Israelites are having heart trouble again. They now ask Samuel to appoint them a king. No longer do they recognize God as their King and leader, but in their hearts want to be like other nations and have an earthly king. (This is what I call “someone with skin on.” They weren’t satisfied with God who had revealed Himself to them time and time again. They wanted a king in the flesh.) God says it this way to Samuel in verse eight, “like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.” (emphasis added by me) Here we see the Israelites trading God’s way for their own way. We must guard against this same temptation.

Are you, like the Israelites, tempted to divert your worship from God to other people and other aspects of life? Are you tempted to trust “good luck” charms or try to place God along side other gods/idols? Do you pray, confess, repent, and return to fellowship with and worship of God only to battle the same temptation again?

I encourage you this week to return to the Lord with all your heart, remove your foreign gods, direct your heart to the Lord and serve Him alone. Let’s not substitute “someone with skin on,” but hunger for and be satisfied with Christ.

Give It Away

This week we concluded our reading of Exodus for those reading the 12-book plan and began reading in 1 Samuel. 1&2 Samuel are some of my favorite Old Testament books. I love the stories and lessons found here. God moves in so many great and magnificent ways. Samuel is a fascinating character. A personal study of these books will lead you to a blessed understanding of how God loves his people but expects them to follow him. It is also a sad book as the nation of Israel abandons God as their sovereign and asks for a king “such as other nations have.” What a pitiful day for a nation that had a ringside seat to the bold providence of God.

I want us to concentrate this week on a passage from chapter one in 1 Samuel. It concerns Hannah and Eli. Hannah was one of two wives of Elkanah. Peninnah, his other wife, had several children but the Bible tells us that Hannah had none because the “Lord had closed her womb.” The scene unfolds as the family has journeyed to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. Elkanah loved Hannah and treated her well even though she had no children. Peninnah irritated Hannah over this situation – the Bible even calls her Hannah’s “rival.” One day as they were in Shiloh, Hannah goes to the temple to cry out to God. Eli the priest was sitting there in a chair watching those who came to the temple.

The Scriptures tell us that Hannah wept and cried out to the Lord “in bitterness of soul and in “anguish and grief” because she does not have a son. Remember that in Old Testament times, being barren was a terrible thing. Hannah even makes a vow to God that if he would provide her a son, she would have him be a Nazirite for his entire life. Usually, Nazirite vows were taken for only a brief time, but here Hannah vows that her son would be like Samson – a Nazirite for life. As she cries out to God from the depth of her soul, Eli watches her. The Bible tells us that her mouth moved but her prayer was from the heart and so no audible sound could be heard. Then we read that because of the way she is crying to God, Eli thought she was drunk. This tells us much about the situation in Eli’s time. He obviously had not seen this kind of deep, passionate prayer much. Drunks must have tried to go into the temple often. The culture and times of the chapter lead us to believe that few in Israel sought after God.

Have you ever been in Hannah’s shoes where you prayed and prayed to God for something so very important in your life? Have you been so tied up with sorrow and grief that you could not eat anything? All you wanted to do was go before God and plead your case and beg for his help. Have you ever felt such anguish in your heart and soul that the words would not even come out -only your lips moved – you could not even sound the words? If so, then you know how Hannah felt and how desperate she was.

Hannah quick explains to Eli that she is not drunk but simply crying out to God. Without knowing what she was praying for, Eli tells her to “Go in peace and may God grant you what you have asked.” What follows is exceptional and a lesson for us all. Don’t miss it. We read in 1:18b “Then she went on her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.” Hannah left it with God. She gave away her sorrow and anguish and desperation of heart and soul. She gave it away. She showed God all of her heartache and then placed it in his everlasting arms.

So often in life we either carry our cares with us and don’t pray about them or we give them to God only to take them back as soon as we finish our prayers. We ask God for help, tell him we are giving it all to him, that we are trusting in him to help us, but then as soon as we finish our prayer, we go back to worrying, burdening ourselves with our pain and sorrow. Not Hannah, she gave it to God and left it with him. Did she still pray about her barren womb? I have no doubt that she did. She still continued to ask God to give her a child, but she what she did do was leave the heartache and pain with him. She refused to take it back with her, to let it control her and rule her. She placed in God’s hands the responsibility of answering her prayers, one way or the other.

What does your prayer life look like? Do you go to God with your burdens and cares? He tells us to cast all our cares on him. He never tells us to take them back once we give them to him. God is our Father. He alone is able to shoulder your needs. Go to him, run to him in faith. But once there, leave your heartache with him and take his peace that passes all understanding. He wants you to love him, to come to him, to seek him. Once there, his everlasting arms of comfort and care will surround you and be a balm to your broken soul.

My Name is Jealous

In week eight, we turn to Exodus 26 – 35. The first section of chapters deals with the detailed directions for the Tabernacle and all of the furnishings that would be in it. God is very specific about His dwelling place and wants Moses to follow His directions exactly. God is indeed in the details of life. He talks about the priestly garments and gives the details for the clothing of those who will approach Him. All of this happens on the Holy Mountain of God. In chapter 32 is an incredibly disappointing event. The Israelites, who have been led by the hand from Egypt through miraculous events, get tired of waiting on Moses to come down from the mountain. They go to Aaron and ask for a “new” god that will now lead them. Aaron, falls into their same sin and makes the infamous Golden Calf.

The section I want to pause on this week, however, is in chapter 34. In verse 5 we read that the Lord came down to Moses in a cloud and stood there with him and “proclaimed his name.” God’s name is so very important to Him. The third commandment is all about the proper use of God’s name. The first petition in the Lord’s Prayer is about the hallowing of God’s name. In verses 6 and 7, God proclaims the meaning of His name to Moses telling him that His name is compassionate, full of grace, longsuffering, full of love and faithfulness. God’s name is the summation of all that is His character. Then, further down in the chapter in verse 14 we come across a somewhat unexpected name for God – Jealous. We saw this back in the second commandment in Exodus 20:5 but here God clearly proclaims his name as “Jealous.” He says He is a “jealous God.”

Jealousy is not a characteristic that we often think of with God. Often we think of jealousy as a “green-eyed monster” when it overtakes a person. Jealousy in human beings often manifests itself in ugly ways as we covet what other people have or are doing. Children and adults are often guilty of jealousy toward peers. Young people who are learning the ins and outs of dating often experience jealousy when their boyfriend or girlfriend spends time with other friends. Marriages break apart when one spouse experiences jealousy when the other spends too much time with a job, friends or in unhealthy relationships with those of the opposite sex. Jealousy can lead to divorce, violence, and abuse. But here we see God calling Himself, “Jealous.” How does that work out when we most often associate the word with sinful emotions? It is within the context of a marriage example that God uses this characteristic to describe Himself. In both the Second Commandment and here in this passage, the context is that God alone is to be worshipped. He has committed Himself in a sacred covenant relationship with His people and He demands their faithful love of Him. He wants their allegiance. Like a faithful husband, He is jealous anytime we turn to devote time and worship to other “gods.” Psalm 78:58 says that “we arouse his jealousy” with our idols.

What does this mean for you and me today? It should make us feel loved and cherished as the bride of Christ. A wife often feels very loved when her husband tells her that he is jealous of her time or attention. Jealousy is, as one commentator wrote, “In the vocabulary of love.” For me, I feel very special that the God of the universe, the one who created all that is out of nothing, is jealous for my attention and love. You are not your own, as a Christian, you were bought with a very heavy price. God has every right to demand our love, our worship, and our all. In the week ahead, reflect that God is jealous for you. Are you following Him close enough to feel that pull that He wants to have in your life? He demands our full allegiance. Are you a faithful follower of Christ? True worship occurs when we bring our all to Him.