22nd May 2026

22nd May 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 Samuel 28:7-25)


Message (Alan Burke)


Here do you remember Mystic Meg? You may not, but her name became synonymous with foretelling the future, to the extent that the answer was “I'm not Mystic Meg”. She was a regular on the National Lottery Live show and she attempted to predict facts about the future winner. Like, if she was so good at what she did, then why didn’t she just pick the numbers herself and ride into the sunset with the winnings? She couldn’t, because she was only an entertainer. Well, here Saul is between a rock and a hard place. He tells his attendants to “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” Remember, this is Saul who we are told in v3 had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. When his insurance policy doesn’t work out, when the LORD is silent, he immediately turns to that which the LORD has forbidden. 


His attendants tell him, “There is one in Endor.” Now that’s only a few miles from where they were, and so Saul goes dressed as a woman under cover of darkness. Then, as Saul comes to this woman again, she is able to tell him that Saul has forbidden this practice. So he invokes the name of the LORD to assure this woman that there will be no consequences for her doing this for him, which he had no right to do. 


Do you see what the rejection of the LORD and his sin has done in Saul’s life? He was willing to do anything; nothing was off-limits when he was desperate enough. He was willing to do what he knew to be wrong. Sin is so deceptive that that is what it does. Because of sin, we can justify anything if we want it badly enough; you can believe one thing but live another, you can condemn others for doing something you yourself do. And then you try to cover up that sin with more sin. 


Sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death (Jam 1:5). Unless we repent of our sin, it will only lead to our destruction. When you’ve rejected the LORD, all you have is the Devil. 1 John 3 tells us: This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister (1 Jn 3:10). 


The woman’s reaction shows she was a fake, because this was the last thing she expected to happen, just like Mystic Meg. Then, as Samuel appears, Saul bows down; he prostrated himself, with his face to the ground, and Samuel speaks, asking why he has disturbed him. In response, Saul explains his great distress, for God has turned away from him. He already knew this to be true; back in chapter 15, there Samuel told Saul how: “ You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!… He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind” (1 Sam 15:27-29).


The thing is that it was too late for Saul. He should have sought the LORD and his will throughout his life, and now at the end of it, it was too late. The response of Saul to what he has heard is that he falls to the ground; the shock had overcome him. It was all too much. In all of this, there is a reminder that for those who are disobedient to the LORD, then they will face his judgement. We can say that we were never warned of the danger, but we have been, for God has made it plain to all so that they are without excuse (Ro 1:19–20).


Hebrews 9:27 tells us: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement. It is something we all face. We need to trust in the word of the LORD and know not his rejection but his grace in abundance, and a hope that lasts for all eternity. Have you done that? If you have, know that nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:35-39).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q74 What is required in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
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