The Lord Is Departed From Thee

1 Samuel 28:16

“Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?”

I. Interpretation of Biblical Dispensations.

1st occurrence:

1 Corinthians 9:17 “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.”

It clearly teaches here how that a dispensation is a division of the Gospel and how the gospel is divided.

The Old Testament good news told of a Lamb of God was to come.

The New Testament good news tells us He came and His name is Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.

Ephesians 1:10 “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

This teaches us on of these “dispensations” is called “the fulness of times”.

Ephesians 3:2 “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:”

This dispensation Paul is in is called the “dispensation of the grace of God” which we know is the church age.

Colossians 1:25 “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;”

The dispensations fulfill the word of God. It makes the Bible make sense!

II. Explanation of Biblical Dispensations.

There are four elements in each dispensation.

Duration.

Duty.

Defeat.

Decision.

There are nine:

The age of Innocence. Genesis 1-3.

The age of Conscience. Genesis 4-9.

The age of Human Government. Genesis 10-11.

The age of Patriarchs. Genesis 12-Exodus 19.

The age of Law. Exodus 20-Calvary.

The age of Grace. Acts 1-Revelation 3.

The age of Judgment. Revelation 4-19.

The age of Millennium. Revelation 20.

The age of Eternity. Revelation 21-22.

III. Application of Biblical Dispensations.

Which dispensation was the time of 1 Samuel in?

The age of the law.

How does God depart from a born again believer today?

God does not depart from a believer.

Ephesians 1:13

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Conclusion:

Does the Lord depart from the believer today? No.

But here is what the Lord does:

Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”