INTERESTING FACTS : "SINK THE BIBLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, AND STILL MAN'S OBLIGATIONS TO GOD WOULD BE UNCHANGED. HE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PATH TO TREAD, ONLY HIS LAMP AND GUIDE WOULD BE GONE; THE SAME VOYAGE TO MAKE, BUT HIS CHART AND COMPASS WOULD BE OVERBOARD!" -- HENRY WARD BEECHER

 

DAILY READING : 1 SAMUEL 28 - 31

 

TEXT : 1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

 

THEME : ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Samuel is dead, and the mind of Saul is "split" as he visits the "witch" at Endor who has a familiar [demonic] spirit. Saul put all those who had contact with evil spirits out of the land. The text says - "put away" and "cut off," but does not specify how. Anyway, it was Saul himself who cut off all who had familiar spirits. Yet, it is Saul also who visits this woman, and insists she raise up Samuel to speak with him. Saul is afraid to the point of trembling at the presence of the Philistines whom he must face in battle. Adding to his anxiety, no doubt, was the fact that David whom he had treated so wickedly was with them. Further, God is not answering him concerning the Philistines by the ordained methods of dreams, Urim and Thummim, or prophets. Thus, we see the spirit of fear that plagued Saul all his life leads him to violate his own law or rule. This fear, especially the fear of man, produces the bane of a "double-mind." A double-mind is the opposite of Jesus' exhortation to "let your eye be single." [Mat 6:22]

 

Saul's enc ounter with Samuel through the witch at Endor has baffled Bible expositors, commentators, and teachers for centuries. Some say it was not Samuel, but the text clearly says it was Samuel. This is even more evident by the medium's reaction to Samuel's appearance.  "And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice..." She is able also to identify Saul [in disguise] at the same time. "...and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul." [1Sa 28:12] Truthfully, the entire scenario is a mystery.

 

For instance, if God will not speak to him through ordained channels, why does He permit Samuel to prophecy [Samuel reiterates Saul will have the kingdom taken from him, and tells of his death in battle] through a forbidden source? We can surmise, that perhaps the Lord was chastising Saul - who is demonized for some time now, for his own sin. That is, he is being tormented by his own fears, which the evil spirit accentuates in order to distress him. By visiting the witch at Endor, he would suffer further agony inside of himself and out. He must realize he is a double-minde d man when he visits this woman. In addition, he must disguise himself to go to her, fearing discovery by his own people. Therefore, his fears had to be multiplied many times over.  Still, whatever the precise answer to this cryptic incident is - Saul and his sons - Jonathan included, all die in battle the next day as prophesied by Samuel.

 

In the meantime, David is put out of the Philistine army by the lords of the Philistines. Then, after he returns to Ziklag, where he and those that were with him stayed, he finds the Amalekites have invaded. They burn the city to the ground, and take all the women, children, and supplies for themselves. Worse still, is the fact his own men now speak of stoning him, obviously holding him somehow responsible for the incident. Yet, David shows himself to be the better man than Saul through his response to all of this as he encourages himself in the Lord. Had Saul done this, he would never have lost the kingdom. Therefore, in the final chapter of Saul's life we find the fundamental difference between David and Saul. David knows how to remember the Lord and His Word. Saul never acquired this ability. John = Gill expounds on this fact.

 

"...took all patiently, and exercised faith on his God; he encouraged himself in the power and providence of God; in the promises of God, and his faithfulness in keeping them; in a view of his covenant relation to God; in remembrance of the grace, mercy, and goodness of God, and his former experiences of it; hoping and believing that God would appear for him in some way or another, and work salvation for him. The Targum is, "he strengthened himself in the Word of the Lord his God;'' in Christ the Word of God, and in the power of his might, and in the grace that is in him." [Eph_6:10]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : SOMETIMES WE MUST ENCOURAGE OURSELVES IN THE LORD!

 

We learn from David in his distress at Ziklag there are times when no one will, or can help us, but God. We also see the people whom we lead or count on may be the ones calling for our demise. What do we do when no one understands our dilemma or comprehends our troubles? We must learn to edify ourselves in the Lord.

 

Surely, there will come at least one time in our life [for most people it is more than once] when there will be no one to help but God. The closest friend, or most loving spouse, or caring mother, or dutiful father many times is powerless to affect our evil for good. I f we are not trained to encourage ourselves, we will run to the arm of the flesh [man] for help. Worse, some may go to the Evil One - Satan, as Saul did, looking for relief. Fear and distress can drive people to amazing lengths seeking relief. This is why we need to learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord as David did. There, inside of us, is a well that never runs dry since it is God who supplies it with everlasting life!

 

If you live long enough you will learn the arm of man is short. It can go only so far before it runs out of ability to reach the source of the problem and out of power to mend it if it can touch it. However, the Lord never runs out of strength as the Scripture says.

 

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the yo uths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. [Isa 40:28 - 31]

 

Matthew Henry says of these verses in Isaiah -

 

"The people of God are reproved for their unbelief and distrust of God. Let them remember they took the names Jacob and Israel, from one who found God faithful to him in all his straits. And they bore these names as a people in covenant with Him. Many foolish frets, and foolish fears, would vanish before inquiry into the causes. It is bad to have evil thoughts rise in our minds, but worse to turn them into evil words. What they had known, and had heard, was sufficient to silence all these fears and distrusts. Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the stren gth be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus."

 

How true! There is no want in God; therefore, there is no want with God. That is, the Lord is the source of endless help and strength for those who call on Him and wait on Him. However, this is a habit we must acquire for ourselves. Even more so, since we do not control the faith of others, and we cannot say who will be with us in the future - for one reason or the other. Therefore we must develop the habit of encouraging ourselves in the Lord. If we do, we will not only be an aid to our individual self, but we shall also be a source of comfort and strength in the lives of others.

 

Read the Word and pray. Meditate on the principles and precepts of the Bible. Give the Word of God due diligence. Build your faith through practice. Believe and never permit doubt to diminish the promises of God. Christ is Savior, Healer, Counselor, Protector, and Provider. His Spirit is the source of never ending life. Similar to what President Franklin Roosevelt said in his first inaugural address[1] - "let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself," the only thing we need to fear is unbelief. Unbelief is the only sin that has no cure...except to believe. Encourage yourself today.

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