The Urging

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

THE URGING

1 Samuel  28:15-25

15 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 turned away 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." 16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 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. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines." 20 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 night. 21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 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." 23 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. 24 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. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

NIV

Once again, we are faced with Saul asking Samuel what he should do. Why didn’t Saul ask Samuel while he was alive for counsel? Saul had the kingdom ripped from his hands and given to David for the expressed reason that Saul did not do everything the LORD commanded him, and the LORD knew that David would do everything he was told to do. That is why the LORD testified that David was a man after His own heart. Here we see that Saul lies prostrate face down to the ground as if he is worshipping Samuel, but filled with fear because of a dead man’s words. Saul was facing the fact that he would die the very next day. Not too many people get the opportunity to know the day of their death, and we can see how that news Samuel told him impacted him, for he refused to eat. But Saul knew this devastating news that this was his last day, and in the morrow, he would join Samuel among the dead. But he did eat at the urging of both the medium and his men. What do we learn from this portion of the narrative? Perhaps it is about listening to others when they urge us to do something or go somewhere. Perhaps it is about being the one to urge another to become closer to the Lord, or urge them to grow, or encourage their faith. Perhaps that is what it is always about, encouraging, urging each other to grow, to build each other up, and encourage each other in our walk with the Lord. Saul listened to them, and that, too, might be our lesson, to listen more to the encouragement or urging of others. But more importantly, to listen to the urging of the Spirit within. This is one of the reasons Jesus sent us the Spirit, so that He would urge us to do that which we are meant to do. The Spirit is also within us as a guarantee of what is to come, that is, our resurrection and ascension into heaven. However, as we are still living in this body, we need to listen to the urging of the Spirit and do that which we are encouraged to do, following the light onto our path. It is far better to listen than to speak. Let us always listen to the Spirit who urges us to be who we were meant to be.