Bible in 365 Days

1 Samuel 28-31                      

1 Samuel 28

It is strange how this story has been made to serve in defense of things occult, which, as a matter of fact, it condemns. Let it be carefully read, and it becomes perfectly patent that this woman had nothing to do with bringing up Samuel. Still practicing her black art, and that in secret, because of the king's edict against all of her class, she commenced, on the occasion of Saul's visit, to practice the deceptions with which she was familiar. When in response to her incantations, as it seemed, Samuel actually appeared, she was startled beyond measure.

That Samuel actually did appear to Saul there can be no doubt. However, he was sent of God for the express purpose of delivering the terrible message to Saul, to which the king listened in amazement. It was the pronouncement of his doom, and the call from the other side to the spirit of the man who had so utterly and disastrously failed to fulfil his opportunity.

1 Samuel 29

David's sojourn with Achish resulted in his being compelled to join the Philistine army in its preparations to attack Israel.

It is perfectly natural that the Philistine lords protested against this arrangement. They were familiar with the song which had celebrated David's victories over them, and dared not trust him among them in the day of battle.

Achish seems to have formed high estimate of him, and a strong affection for him, but was compelled to yield to his lords in this matter. Therefore David was dismissed from the Philistine army.

It is perhaps idle to speculate what the result would have been had he remained. In all probability in the crisis he would have turned on those with whom he had fought.

This, however, was not God's purpose, and in the attitude and action of the Philistine lords we have another instance of the overruling of God in the affairs of men. Through it David was delivered from an entanglement into which he had brought himself in his excess of fear.

1 Samuel 30

Being thus delivered, David returned to Ziklag. In his absence it had been sacked by the Amalekites. Immediately the true spirit of patriotic heroism was stirred within him, and he moved with rapid determination to avenge the wrong.

He was absolutely successful, inflicting punishment on his foes and rescuing from them all who were his own.

It is from this story that the history moves forward into the next Book. Having gathered spoils from his enemies, David sent presents to all the elders of Judah, and by this act undoubtedly prepared the way for establishing himself among them.

We have no warrant for thinking that this was merely an act of policy on David's part to obtain the throne. It would be far nearer the truth to say that recognizing his position as the anointed of God he was burning determination with him to rid his people of their foes, and to enlarge his army by enlisting the sympathy of the leaders of the tribe.

1 Samuel 31

This closing chapter in the first Book of Samuel is draped in sackcloth and ashes. It gives the account of the end of the career of one of the most disastrous failures on record in Biblical history.

Defeat at the hands of the Philistines drove Saul to tragic desperation. Wounded in the final fight, and fearing that the last blow might come to him by the hand of an enemy, he called upon his armor-bearer to slay him.

When the armor-bearer refused to do so, Saul died by his own hand physically, as he had already slain himself morally by his own sin and folly.

Tragically terrible, and ghastly beyond compare, is the account of the Philistines carrying Saul's head about in token of their triumph and his defeat.

The chief spiritual value of this whole Book consists in the solemn lessons it teaches by the life and failure and death of this man. The story proclaims forevermore that advantages and remarkable opportunities are no guarantees of success unless the heart be firm and steady in allegiance to principle and loyalty to God.