“And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.”
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. Saul, driven by fear and desperation, sought to inquire of the Lord regarding the outcome of the impending battle.
However, this verse reveals that God did not respond to Saul’s:inquiries through His usual means of communication. It states that the Lord did not answer Saul:by dreams, Urim, or 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 from God in this situation highlights the consequences of Saul’s:disobedience and his deteriorating relationship with God. Saul:had repeatedly disregarded God’s instructions, and as a result, he had 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 us that our actions and choices have consequences, and continual disobedience can lead to the withdrawal of God’s guidance and favour.
It’s also worth noting that the overall context of this passage raises a theological question regarding the nature of the spirit that Saul:consulted later in 1 Samuel 28:7-25. Saul, unable to receive an answer from God, ultimately turns to a medium to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This act is condemned in Scripture, as seeking guidance from mediums or attempting to communicate with the dead is expressly forbidden (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. It also serves as a cautionary example against seeking guidance through forbidden means.
