CAUTION!! Our “solutions” may be worse than our problems. Last time… CAUTION!! Our “solutions” may be worse than our problems.

When food goes bad…

When leaders go bad…

Halvor Hauge Adolf Hitler

(Better than “…the Witch over the Lion or the Wardrobe”) David’s Descent 1-2 Saul’s Slide 3-25 Saul chooses the Medium, instead of the hot or the cold 3-19 (Better than “…the Witch over the Lion or the Wardrobe”) B. Reality sets in 20-25

When leaders go bad…

1 Samuel 28:1-2 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.” David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.” Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”  

(Better than “…the Witch over the Lion or the Wardrobe”) David’s Descent 1-2 Saul’s Slide 3-25 Saul chooses the Medium, instead of the hot or the cold 3-19 (Better than “…the Witch over the Lion or the Wardrobe”) B. Reality sets in 20-25

1 Samuel 28:3-5 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.  

David’s descent continues. He ran because of his fear. He wanted to feel better rather than endure the difficulty. And, now his solution is worse than the problem.

A bad idea continued in long enough does not become a good idea. It just becomes a really bad idea. It results in greater consequences.

Over time, a bad idea becomes a really bad idea.

1 Samuel 28:6-8  He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”  

Both David and Saul are making the same mistake.

Instead of repenting, they just keep digging themselves in deeper.

Saul goes Harry Potter on Israel. God’s will on any involvement with Mediums and their presence was clear.

Definition of a “Medium” (Witchcraft, sorcery, black magic) (Necromancy) The supposed practice of communicating with the dead, especially in order to predict the future. (Witchcraft, sorcery, black magic)

Leviticus 19:31 “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.  Leviticus 20:6  “‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.

Leviticus 20:27 “‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.’”  

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.  

1 Samuel 28:9-11   But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?” Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.” Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said.  

“I thought you told me never to bring him up”

“As surely as the Lord lives, I will not obey the commandment of the Lord”??? Ok…

This is where integrity comes into play. It is very common that we do things in private that we won’t do in public. That is hypocrisy. This is where integrity comes into play.

When we turn to alleged supernatural sources other than the Lord and His word, we are doing the same thing. Horoscopes Tarot Cards Ouiji Boards Psychics

Demons have been around a long time. It should not surprise believers that supernatural encounters are real. Demons have been around a long time.

1 Samuel 28:12-14a When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.” “What does he look like?” he asked. “An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.  

Apparently she was not expecting this to actually work. Josephus said Samuel told her. Maybe it was part of the vision. Whatever the case, she knew she was, or should have been, in trouble.

Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” 1 Samuel 28:14b-15 Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan     that can succeed against the Lord. There is no “Plan B”.

Saul had refused to listen to God. God will now not listen to Saul. And, Israel is in danger of their territory being cut in half.

The more we refuse to respond to God’s word, the more difficult it becomes to hear it. Heb. 5:11-14; Matt. 13:14-15

1 Samuel 28:16-18 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 

“This isn’t mysterious!” We react in much the same way when we disobey the Lord both as individuals and a nation.

(Better than “…the Witch over the Lion or the Wardrobe”) David’s Descent 1-2 Saul’s Slide 3-25 Saul chooses the Medium, instead of the hot or the cold 3-19 (Better than “…the Witch over the Lion or the Wardrobe”) B. Reality sets in 20-25

1 Samuel 28:19-20 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.  

It didn’t have to come to this. Saul had known for years that he had lost the Kingdom and himself acknowledged that David was his successor. He could have repented and been a help to David.

What are we holding unto that we know is wrong? What will it take in our lives? It’s not going to get better and the impact will extend beyond us.

1 Samuel 28:21-22 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

He refused and said, “I will not eat.” 1 Samuel 28:23-25 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch. The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.  

As a result of his sin, Saul had pulled his sons into the situation, along with an entire nation. We like to think that it’s only our business, our sin, and doesn’t effect others. That’s rarely true.

The consequences of our choices often extend well beyond our own lives to those under our sphere of influence.

Over time, a bad idea becomes a really bad idea.