1 Samuel 28:3-25; The Ends Justify the Mediums

Introduction

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In October 1800, Spain restored Louisiana to French control with the Treaty of San Ildefonso. This treaty allowed France to have control over strategic land and ports, such as the city of New Orleans. The French, under Napoleon Bonaparte, posed a possible threat to relatively adolescent nation, the United States of America. In order to prevent conflict, or even war between France and the US, president Thomas Jefferson sought to make a treaty with the French. Knowing the French were in desperate need of money and consolidation of forces on the European theater, Jefferson sent James Monroe, yes the soon to be 5th president of the United States, to France to purchase some of the Louisiana territory.

Monroe was sent to aid Robert R. Livingston in his negotiations with France. Jefferson told Monroe, “all eyes, all hopes, are now fixed on you … for on the event of this mission depends the future destinies of this republic.” They were approved to make a purchase of up to $10 millions. However, after negotiations proved difficult, Monroe agreed to a treaty with France to purchase the entire Louisiana territory, (ap. 828,000 sq miles) for $15 million.

Jefferson was in a difficult position. He took a strict, literal view of constitutional powers reserved for the President and Executive Branch. Jefferson considered a constitutional amendment the only way to conclude the deal with France. “The General Government has no powers but such as the Constitution gives it,” he wrote to John Dickinson in 1803. “It has not given it power of holding foreign territory, and still less of incorporating it into the Union. An amendment of the Constitution seems necessary for this.”

However, there was disagreement even in his cabinet regarding the need for an Amendment to the constitution. Even Jefferson’s Secretary of State James Madison, yes the 4th president, believed an amendment was unnecessary. With a deadline approaching, Jefferson had no intention of losing the deal with France. “In the meantime we must ratify and pay our money, as we have treated, for a thing beyond the Constitution, and rely on the nation to sanction an act done for its great good, without its previous authority,” he told John Dickinson.

Jefferson sent the treaty to Congress. The debate in the Senate only lasted for two days. On October 20, 1803, the Senate voted for ratification 24-7, and the treaty was signed on October 31, 1803.

Jefferson’s actions set a precedent for growing powers in the Executive Branch. Today, we live in a government that was far exceeded anything any of our founding fathers would have imagined. Presidencies now sign executive orders like celebrities giving out autographs at a meet-and-greet event.

Need

Like President Jefferson and King Saul, we should not live our lives based on the idea that the ends justify the means. We must live our lives, as the church has often said, Coram Deo, before the face of God. Our lives should be lived in a way that is consistent with God’s unchanging character and unchanging word. We must live in a way that is always before the face of God.

Referent

1 Samuel 28:3-14

Organization

Saul Sees a Medium (vs. 3-14)

Saul Sees His End (vs. 15-25)

Sermon in a sentence:

I will seek God in the right places.

Saul’s Sees a Medium (vs. 3-14)

v. 3

Saul did follow God’s commands sometimes. He removed the mediums and necromancers out of the land.

Deuteronomy 18:9–14 ESV

9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer 11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.

vs. 4-5

Saul is afraid of the Philistines forces.

What would have been Saul’s greatest military advantage against the Philistines? God’s mighty hand using a champion like David! The very man he chased away.

Saul put himself in this situation in numerous ways. First, he didn’t remove the Philistines or the Canaanites when God sent his spirit upon Saul when he was anointed to be king. Second, he rejected God’s voice through the prophet Samuel multiple times. Third, he drove David, the true warrior king, to the Philistines themselves.

I want to be very clear here. This world is full of brokenness and sin. Just because your life is difficult that does not mean that it is your fault. However, I don’t want us to reject any self examination when life is difficult. Have we rejected God’s clear commands in our lives time and time again?

There is a meme that I have seen in a few different places but I think it is so true. There’s a picture of someone that is asking why they are struggling with anxiety and depression. The picture also shows the three iced coffees and two energy drinks they drank instead of breakfast or lunch, 12 hours of daily screen time, and the latest scary movie.

vs. 6-8

God owes Saul nothing. He was repeatedly spoke to Saul through his own spirit, through Samuel, through his own mean who were not willing to kill the priests, through David, and his own son.

Why should God speak to a man that will not listen?

Saul recognizes how crazy this mission is and still goes for it. One the eve of a military battle, Saul goes to Endor, which is North East of Shunem, where the Philistines are waiting to attack Israel.

This could have easily been a way for Saul to be captured and killed before the battle even began.

But he is desperate. So he is going to do anything to find answers.

vs. 10-14

This whole event is terrifying.

The woman is afraid she will be found out.

The woman becomes more afraid when she figures out this is Saul.

Saul was messing with something he did not realize what he was doing.

With good reason, protecting Israel, Saul goes headlong into wickedness.

Saints, there are many things that you can encounter when you go looking. There are demons and many things in this world that God wants to protect us from.

No boards, tarot cards, horoscopes, or astrological signs.

Playing frisbee in Lesotho. The spiritual warfare. Sleep paralysis.

Saul Sees His End (vs. 15-25)

vs. 15-16

Samuel’s question is piercing. Why does Saul want his counsel when he has already been told what will happen?

He is seeking God’s wisdom through wicked means. We do this all the time.

I will date him or her and they will have to convert to Christianity. I will pray about something I know God has already said no to in his word.

vs. 17-20

Saul knew that God would take the kingdom from him and give it to David. But now, he knows exactly how it is going to happen.

Saul and his sons will feel the weight of his sin.

vs. 20-25

The medium wants Saul out of her house. Saul is a dead man walking at this point. And she could be a dead woman walking if she doesn’t get Saul out of her house.

In the middle of the night, she is willing to kill the fattened calf, make bread, and give him enough food to get him away.

Conclusion

This is such a sad text. This King repeatedly rejected God’s commands. He would not listen to the wisdom of his heavenly father. When he didn’t get an answer, he would do anything or go anywhere to find an answer. No matter the cost. 85 priests or a night at a necromancers house was not too steep for this King. However, the Bible is not really about this prideful king. No, even this sad story points us forward to another King.

This story tells us that there is a better king coming. This King never once disobeyed the voice of his heavenly father. This king never once failed to seek the Lord on God’s terms. This king did not need a medium to seek dead men. NO, this king came to save dead men. This king came to make dead men come to life. King Jesus is the perfect king that promises eternal life to all those that would put their faith in him.

Application

Come to the Lord Jesus in faith. Put your faith and hope in him alone. There is no need to fear death. He is the great high priest, our prophet, our king that has gone before us. He has prepared a place for all of his children.

Turn away from any mediums you have in your life today. Is there anything that you are seeking or trying to use to bridge the gap between you and God? Horoscopes, self-help books, social media, etc…