And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreames, nor by Urim, nor by Prophets. 1 Samuel 28:6 (KJV)
This verse is part of a larger passage that tells the story of King Saul’s desperate attempt to seek guidance from God when faced with the imminent battle against the Philistines. It is important to understand the context surrounding this verse to grasp its significance fully. In the preceding chapters Saul had become increasingly disobedient to God’s commands and had lost favour with Him. In fact God had already rejected Saul as king and had chosen David to be the future king of Israel. Driven by fear and desperation Saul sought to inquire of the Lord regarding the outcome of the impending battle.
However the verse reveals that God did not respond to Saul’s inquiries through His usual means of communication. The Lord answered him not by dreams, by the Urim, or by prophets. Dreams were one way through which God communicated in the Old Testament, and the Urim and Thummim were sacred objects used by the high priest to seek divine guidance. The absence of a response highlights the consequences of Saul’s disobedience and his deteriorating relationship with God. Saul had repeatedly disregarded God’s instructions and, as a result, lost the privilege of receiving direct guidance from the Lord.
This passage serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of obedience and maintaining a close relationship with God. It teaches that our actions and choices have consequences, and continual disobedience can lead to the withdrawal of God’s guidance and favour. The broader context also raises a theological question concerning the spirit that Saul consulted later in 1 Samuel 28:7‑25. Unable to receive an answer from God, Saul turned to a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. Such seeking of guidance from mediums or the dead is expressly forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10‑12).
In conclusion 1 Samuel 28:6 portrays the consequence of Saul’s disobedience and the withdrawal of God’s guidance. It reminds us of the importance of obedience and maintaining a close relationship with God, and it serves as a cautionary example against seeking guidance through forbidden means.
