Do you believe in seances, ouija boards, ghosts, and wizards? Well, believe it or not, these paranormal elements do exist. The Bible says so. And they are an abomination to God. (Lev. 20:6 for example). I can remember when the ouija board by Parker Brothers was the bomb! They were selling like hotcakes. The toy stores (yes, I did say toy stores) could not keep their shelves stocked long enough to satisfy the public's demand. Satan had found a way to bring a form of witchcraft into the mainstream. Ouija boards seemed like harmless fun. It was just another game to enhance the imagination. Whether you believe that the ouija board was truly witchcraft or not, the game was based on an ancient seance where the participants allowed the spirits to control the planchette (heart shaped piece of wood) in the middle of the board to point to letters and symbols to spell out messages. It was teaching the participants a form of witchcraft whether they knew it or not.
The Mosaic law clearly states that mediums, seers, and all forms of witchcraft are forbidden and considered an abomination to God. (Deut. 18:9-14) God commands us to flee from witchcraft. Witchcraft is very real! When someone goes to a fortune teller, palm reader, astrologist, or spiritualist to learn of their future or find answers to life's questions, it is an outward showing of their lack of trust and reliance on God. Satan is a crafty demon. He knows how to counterfeit the power of God. He can fool people into disobeying God's firm command to flee from all forms of witchcraft. And we must be always on our guard regarding such matters.
Saul, sought out a medium, a witch from Endor, for guidance and direction concerning the immenent threat of the Philistines. God would not answer his prayers. Saul was still an unrepentant king who only sought the counsel of God at a time when he was desparate. God was silent. What a horrible place for Saul to find himself. He had no line of communication to God anymore.
Also, I think Saul's desire to speak to Samuel's ghost (Samuel was now dead) shows his utter lack of understanding as to who Samuel was when he was alive. Saul wants to get answers from Samuel since God will not respond. But what Saul fails to realize is that Samuel was only an instrument through which God spoke. Samuel was nothing of himself. Saul thought Samuel had the answers apart from God. And when the witch of Endor successfully calls forth Samuel's spirit, Samuel rebukes Saul on this very point! Samuel says (paraphrased), "If God won't talk to you, what makes you think I can do anything for you!?"
Saul had placed the man ahead of God. Saul thought Samuel could still guide him even though God had long since departed from Saul. What he failed to understand is that apart from God, Samuel was of no use to him. This is a pathetic picture of God's anointed first king of Israel clearly disobeying the Mosaic laws and dabbling in witchcraft (that was very real) while seeking out guidance from a dead man with no hope of hearing from God.
To sum it up, there are two main things I take from this chapter: 1) witchcraft and spiritualism are very real; and 2) be careful not to elevate the man over the true God.
I have witnessed Christians elevating a pastor, bible teacher, bible professor, author, or historical Christian philosopher/preacher to a dangerously high status that makes me wonder many times if the fallible man is being confused with the One true God. When fallible men are quoted by Christians with greater frequency than the infallible Word of God, we run into the danger making man's opinion indistinguishable from God's Word.
The Mosaic law clearly states that mediums, seers, and all forms of witchcraft are forbidden and considered an abomination to God. (Deut. 18:9-14) God commands us to flee from witchcraft. Witchcraft is very real! When someone goes to a fortune teller, palm reader, astrologist, or spiritualist to learn of their future or find answers to life's questions, it is an outward showing of their lack of trust and reliance on God. Satan is a crafty demon. He knows how to counterfeit the power of God. He can fool people into disobeying God's firm command to flee from all forms of witchcraft. And we must be always on our guard regarding such matters.
Saul, sought out a medium, a witch from Endor, for guidance and direction concerning the immenent threat of the Philistines. God would not answer his prayers. Saul was still an unrepentant king who only sought the counsel of God at a time when he was desparate. God was silent. What a horrible place for Saul to find himself. He had no line of communication to God anymore.
Also, I think Saul's desire to speak to Samuel's ghost (Samuel was now dead) shows his utter lack of understanding as to who Samuel was when he was alive. Saul wants to get answers from Samuel since God will not respond. But what Saul fails to realize is that Samuel was only an instrument through which God spoke. Samuel was nothing of himself. Saul thought Samuel had the answers apart from God. And when the witch of Endor successfully calls forth Samuel's spirit, Samuel rebukes Saul on this very point! Samuel says (paraphrased), "If God won't talk to you, what makes you think I can do anything for you!?"
Saul had placed the man ahead of God. Saul thought Samuel could still guide him even though God had long since departed from Saul. What he failed to understand is that apart from God, Samuel was of no use to him. This is a pathetic picture of God's anointed first king of Israel clearly disobeying the Mosaic laws and dabbling in witchcraft (that was very real) while seeking out guidance from a dead man with no hope of hearing from God.
To sum it up, there are two main things I take from this chapter: 1) witchcraft and spiritualism are very real; and 2) be careful not to elevate the man over the true God.
I have witnessed Christians elevating a pastor, bible teacher, bible professor, author, or historical Christian philosopher/preacher to a dangerously high status that makes me wonder many times if the fallible man is being confused with the One true God. When fallible men are quoted by Christians with greater frequency than the infallible Word of God, we run into the danger making man's opinion indistinguishable from God's Word.
Certainly, God has gifted many great biblical scholars with the ability to teach and divide the scriptures. But we must be careful to not eat from the crumbs of one man's table. Pick up God's Word. Read it. Study it. Make sure to question every commentary, every author, every teacher who professes to interpret the bible. Allow prayer and your own meditation on God's Word alone to feed you through the Holy Spirit. Whether you supplement your study with John Calvin or John Hagee, never confuse fallible men with the unfallible precious Holy Spirit that leads us into all truth. (John 16:13)
Prayer: Holy Spirit, it is through You and You alone that I find my answers. May I not seek after the things of this world or the supernatural world of witchcraft to find solutions or amusement. It is in God and God alone that I put my faith and trust!
No comments:
Post a Comment