By Mary Fairchild
1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.
1 SAMUEL 28- 2 SAMUEL 2-5
WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE: ROMANS 6:14, 23
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
1 SAMUEL 28—SAUL VISITS A WITCH. Because, as king, Saul had announced “put away those with familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land,” Saul disguised himself and went to visit a witch. Because it was illegal to deal in witchcraft, if the witch would have recognized Saul she would have probably refused to serve him (28:3, 8). He asked to speak to Samuel through the witch and the Lord allowed Samuel to speak. Saul was reminded of his fate and his disobedience and that Israel would be defeated and he would die tomorrow. Saul left terrified.
AS A CHRISTIAN WE CANNOT BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND AT THE SAME TIME PATTERN OUR LIVES AFTER THE WORLD. Do others know you are a Christian by your actions and appearance? Make the fact that you are a Christian “unmistakable to others.” You should be loyal to Jesus Christ (Matt. 6:24). WE SHOULD SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM ANYTHING THAT WOULD MUDDLE OUR IDENTITY AS A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
IF WE DO NOT SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD, GOD WILL SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM US IN FELLOWSHIP. Would it not be disloyal to wear another teams uniform when you play basketball? Wouldn’t it be confusing to everyone…. no one would know whose side you are on. It would interfere with the loyalty to your coach and team…. When the Amalekites burned the city of Ziklag and took the women and children David was blamed. As the men turned against him he finally turned back to God and encouraged himself in the Lord (30:6).
David is anointed king and reigns over Judah for seven years and becomes king of Israel when Ish-bosheth is murdered (5:1-5). God does not direct David to add wives (Deut.17:17) and this proves later to be a great problem for his son Solomon and eventually all of Israel(5:13). As king of Israel, David was to deliver them from the Philistines (1 Sam. 3:18). After the first battle the Philistines left their images (idols or good luck charms), and David and his men burned them. When the Philistines had the Ark of the Covenant it destroyed them—the heathen images were destroyed by men acting in the power of God.
Though David knew that he was God’ choice to be the king of Israel, he did not presumptuously move into this position. God is able to bring about His purposes in our lives, WE ARE TO WAIT FOR HIM TO MOVE.
WORKS CITED
- Revelation and Church History
- Church Age
- Old Testament Study
- KING JAMES BIBLE
- MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
- A Beka Book High School Bible Series “United Kingdom: Kings of Israel A;” 1995 Pensacola Christian College; www.abeka.com