1 Samuel 28-29; 1 Chronicles 9; Acts 19
God had deprived Saul of the kingdom early in his reign. Nevertheless, He allowed Saul to remain on the throne for many years. The reason for this was most likely to show the Israelites the result of their rebellion when they asked for a king. God gave them the best in their eyes. But what people consider the best often has an entirely different evaluation from God's perspective. Having a wrong heart, Saul progressed in his unbelief of God. With each passing year, his situation became more complicated.
His resort to the witch of Endor is one of the episodes of his unbelief. Not knowing how to trust God, Saul is filled with fear. He fears the threatening Philistines. In fear, he tries to seek information from God, but God is silent. This drives Saul to open paganism - he turns to witchcraft. This is the essence of unbelief. By rejecting God, it inexorably moves toward complete decay.
We do not know for sure if it was Samuel whom the witch summoned (an objection to this is: can the servants of the devil have access to the righteous in Abraham's bosom?) or if it was a vision. Whatever it was, God used it to teach Saul one final lesson - "...the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your neighbor, to David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek..." (1 Samuel 28:17-18).
Against this backdrop, it is amazing to see David (1 Samuel 29). Seeking safety with the Philistines, he also shows distrust in God, but all this against the background of his overall belonging to God. David knows God well and trusts in Him, although distrust in God sometimes manifests in his life. That is why, despite David's weaknesses, God delivers him from the danger he has put himself into.
1 Chronicles 9:1 - testimony that the book of Chronicles was written after the Babylonian captivity. Most likely, it was done by the priest Ezra, as tradition says.
Acts 19
Several important events mark the ministry of the apostle Paul in Ephesus.
- The conversion of a group of former disciples of John the Baptist. God gives them the same sign of the Holy Spirit's descent as the apostles on the day of Pentecost, confirming the same path of salvation (Acts 19:1-7).
- The first Bible school, which Paul held at the "school of Tyrannus" for two years (Acts 19:8-10).
- The mass conversion of sorcerers and magicians in this city (Acts 19:11-22).
- The uprising of craftsmen led by Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:23-40). The reason for the persecution of Christians again becomes the economic interests of a group of people. Losing their income, they persecute Paul and his associates, causing riots in the city.
His resort to the witch of Endor is one of the episodes of his unbelief. Not knowing how to trust God, Saul is filled with fear. He fears the threatening Philistines. In fear, he tries to seek information from God, but God is silent. This drives Saul to open paganism - he turns to witchcraft. This is the essence of unbelief. By rejecting God, it inexorably moves toward complete decay.
We do not know for sure if it was Samuel whom the witch summoned (an objection to this is: can the servants of the devil have access to the righteous in Abraham's bosom?) or if it was a vision. Whatever it was, God used it to teach Saul one final lesson - "...the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your neighbor, to David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek..." (1 Samuel 28:17-18).
Against this backdrop, it is amazing to see David (1 Samuel 29). Seeking safety with the Philistines, he also shows distrust in God, but all this against the background of his overall belonging to God. David knows God well and trusts in Him, although distrust in God sometimes manifests in his life. That is why, despite David's weaknesses, God delivers him from the danger he has put himself into.
1 Chronicles 9:1 - testimony that the book of Chronicles was written after the Babylonian captivity. Most likely, it was done by the priest Ezra, as tradition says.
Acts 19
Several important events mark the ministry of the apostle Paul in Ephesus.
- The conversion of a group of former disciples of John the Baptist. God gives them the same sign of the Holy Spirit's descent as the apostles on the day of Pentecost, confirming the same path of salvation (Acts 19:1-7).
- The first Bible school, which Paul held at the "school of Tyrannus" for two years (Acts 19:8-10).
- The mass conversion of sorcerers and magicians in this city (Acts 19:11-22).
- The uprising of craftsmen led by Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:23-40). The reason for the persecution of Christians again becomes the economic interests of a group of people. Losing their income, they persecute Paul and his associates, causing riots in the city.
Posted in Reading Bible Together