SAMUEL’S PROPHECY
Key verse: 19
NIV
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 departed(A) from me. He no longer answers(B) me, either by prophets or by dreams.(C) 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 departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn(D) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey(E) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath(F) against the Amalekites,(G) the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons(H) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of 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 all that night.
21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life(I) 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(J) 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(K) 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.
Cross references
- 1 Samuel 28:15 : S Jdg 16:20
- 1 Samuel 28:15 : S 1Sa 14:37
- 1 Samuel 28:15 : S Dt 13:3
- 1 Samuel 28:17 : 1Sa 15:28
- 1 Samuel 28:18 : 1Sa 15:20
- 1 Samuel 28:18 : S Dt 9:8; S 1Sa 15:3
- 1 Samuel 28:18 : S Ge 14:7; S 1Sa 14:48
- 1 Samuel 28:19 : 1Sa 31:2; 1Ch 8:33
- 1 Samuel 28:21 : S Jdg 9:17; S 12:3
- 1 Samuel 28:23 : 1Ki 21:4
- 1 Samuel 28:24 : S Ge 18:7
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and (A)God has turned away from me and (B)answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for (C)the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 (D)Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you (E)and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. (F)I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
Read full chapterCross references
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
When Samuel appeared, he rebuked Saul. Saul confessed his distress, saying, “God has departed from me.” Since the LORD had departed, Saul implored Samuel, “Tell me what to do.” Samuel asked Saul, “Why do you consult me?” The LORD had departed from Saul because he didn’t obey God. Now was the time when God would fulfill his will. He would establish David as king because David was a man after God’s own heart. This was also the time he would hand the Israelites over to the Philistines, and Saul and his sons would be killed. Saul’s persistent disobedience came with consequences for him, his family, and the nation. Samuel prophesied this tragedy.
Upon hearing Samuel’s words, Saul’s strength was gone. He refused to listen, and he refused to eat. Eventually he and his men ate something and went on their way, but Saul was a man apart from God. He was instead filled with fear and ruled by it. This is the real tragedy. If the LORD departs there is no life and no hope—only constant fear. In the LORD and in his word, we have life. Apart from the LORD we have only fear and death.
Prayer: Lord, help me to hold on to your lifegiving word. Protect me from the power of fear and death.
One Word: Hold on to the word of life
