S) "6 When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets."
1 Samuel 28:6 (NASB)
O) For a little background, let's remember that Saul himself, after he was anointed king, prophesied on a regular basis, enough that people considered he might be an actual prophet (see 1 Samuel 10:9-12). He was familiar, if not actually accustomed, to inquiring of the LORD and hearing Him respond. Then, the Spirit of the LORD leaves Saul (see 1 Samuel 16:14), before David is anointed, and everything goes down from there. So, now facing an enemy hoard, Saul tries what he knows is proven - seeking the LORD. This time, however, there is no answer. There is no direct answer (dream), there is no interpreted answer (Urim), there is no prophetic answer (prophets).
A) In the New Covenant, we are given the Holy Spirit, according to promise, by our faith in the gospel (see Ephesians 1:13). I really believe this is a crucial element in avoiding Saul's mistake. Just because the Holy Spirit is with me forever, does not mean that I am hearing from God correctly or clearly. When Saul failed to hear from God, he turned to a medium (v.7) to conjure for him, the dead spirit of Samuel (vv.8-19), because he had lost all hope in hearing from God himself. Instead, he sought perversion. For myself, I might still hear from God through a dream, and I still believe we have words of prophecy. Instead of the Urim, however, we have the Bible - the unfailing, perfect, holy word of God. The most important thing I have, though, is the assurance that the Holy Spirit will continue with me. So, when I face an enemy hoard, a confusing future, a desperate situation, I can seek the LORD directly, by the Holy Spirit and the Word. And, if I am not hearing clearly, I know that He has not abandoned me, so I can persevere in seeking Him. Saul's example is a cautionary tale of what happens if I give up seeking God in a holy way, and I chase a perverted, distorted, evil version of what I know to be right.
P) Father, give me patience to wait upon You, when I am seeking Your ways, Lord. Please speak to me, in dreams and visions, through Your holy Word, through the prophecies of others, and let me be attentive to Your words, God. Let me discern clearly, testing everything according to Your Word, which is proven, and holy, and constant. Help me persevere, when I cannot perceive Your answer, LORD. Increase my faith, to know that You are with me, to trust that You will answer according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment