Cast Away- 1 Samuel 28

who can i run to?

pastor orr

all those watching on the screen

praying for those who submitted prayer requests this morning.

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9 AM-ACTS Job Fair Time: 9 AM to 1 PM Main campus

Friday,April 22nd-April 23rd-Contending for the Faith Conference Location: SC Time: 7 AM to 8 PM Friday, April 22, 2022; 7 AM to Noon Saturday, April 23, 2022

1 Samuel 28:3–14 ESV

3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” 8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

The Lack of God’s Presence, leads to chaos and destruction!

When you don’t have Gods presence, you experience loneliness.

Saul lived in a cast away state although people were all around.

Yes people all around, no one to give him constructive criticism.

Saul was in need of and did not have:

Samuel is dead- God’s prophet

Priest slain at Saul’s command - God’s Preachers

1, 2 Samuel (14) Saul Consults a Medium (28:3–25)

This is not surprising since Saul had slain many of the Aaronic priests, and the only named surviving priest from Nob—one who possessed an ephod—had fled to David

(The need for church in your life)

People not with Saul- God’s people

(Need for fellowship)

God is not with him- God’s presence

(David’s response after he sinned… cast me not away from your presence)

psal 51:11 “11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.”

Is there anybody on the screen who can testify about having the presence of God?

i would rather have God’s presence than anything in this world: money, fame, good health, great career. . all those are good BUT I rather have the Presence of God

the saints of old said: I’d rather have Jesus, than silver or Gold, fame or fortune, no riches. . .

Saul misses God’s Presence

Saul is in a bad situation-spiritually and physically.

physically: the enemy is all around him

spiritually: God has left him

When you don’t have Gods presence, you seek the counsel of the unwise.

1 sam 28:7 “7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.””

Seek the medium lady- verse 7

Mediums were banned from the people of God . They were forbidden

exo 22:18 “18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.”

lev 19:31 “31 “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”

lev 20:6 “6 “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”

deu 18:10-11 “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,”

Mediums and the likes were said to be able to talk to the dead. (Add notes and scriptures)

Rather talk to the dead

Some of us, like Saul talk to the mediums and not God. You prefer mediums over God.

You start leaning on your own understanding

You begin consulting foolishness

You try to rely on your own strength

When you don’t have Gods presence, you put on fake apperances.

1 sam 28:8 “8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.””

he hid himself, so no one could recognize him

he only moved in the darkness

he did not have the sense enough flee for safety