Saul Discovered what God's Plan Was from 1 Samuel 28:15-19

8/3/2010 6:13:04 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Saul discovered God’s plan

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Samuel 28:15-19

            Message of the verses:  “15 ¶  Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do." 16  Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary? 17  "The LORD has done accordingly as He spoke through me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. 18  "As you did not obey the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the LORD has done this thing to you this day. 19  "Moreover the LORD will also give over Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, therefore tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Indeed the LORD will give over the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines!’”

            This is one of those passages that have controversy that goes along with it.  Some believe that this was not actually Samuel, and some believe that it was Samuel.  However the things that were said did come true and the things that he said were also true so I lean towards the side that both John MacArthur and Warren Wiersbe lean and that is that this was actually Samuel’s spirit talking to Saul.

            Now that, that matter has been taken care of there is another controversial issue and that is whether or not Saul was a believer, for Samuel said that tomorrow Saul and his sons would be with him.  According to the passage in Luke 16:19-31 the place of the dead has two compartments in it, at least at that time, one for the saved and one for the lost.  After the resurrection of the Lord Jesus He emptied the place of the saved and took all with Him to heaven still awaiting their glorified bodies.  So this passage does not make it clear as to whether or not Saul was a believer or not.  I have heard that there will be three surprises when a person gets to heaven, the first is that there will be people there that one does not expect, and second there will not be people there that one does expect and the third surprise is that this person is actually there.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In the last part of 2Cor. Paul writes that all believers are to make sure that they really are saved, they are to check this out:  “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test?”

            The Lord is the Judge of all the earth and it is He who saves those who were lost and I am not to judge as to whether or not a person is a believer, but if I do see a person who does not seem to be producing fruit I believe that I am to kindly speak to that person.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.       Give myself to the Lord for worship and service.

2.      Protect myself with the whole armor of God.

3.      Trust the Lord to guide my path today.

4.      Continue to seek to learn contentment.

8/3/2010 6:43:14 AM