What not to do when prayers go unanswered…

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.” 
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.” 
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?” 
But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 
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.” 
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.” 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. 
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 God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 
And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 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. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 28:7–19)

This passage tells me much. First, God does not answer the prayers of someone who persists in sin. Saul disobeyed God concerning Amalek, made excuses for it, apologized to David at least twice but kept trying to kill him. Then he sought out a witch to communicate with a dead man for advice rather than take the necessary steps to restore his relationship with God.

Second, mediums and necromancers are forbidden by God even though they do exist as people given over to evil powers. Many Christians dismiss them as imaginary, or unreal in some way, but this happened. Was it a demon-caused illusion? The tricks of a witch? Perhaps it was God’s way to show Saul where his excuses were taking him.

Certainly “the wages of sin is death” — literally. The medium told Saul the outcome of his sin. He and his sons and even his army would be with Samuel. Does that mean in the grave? Or in heaven? Wherever isn’t clear except that his life here would soon end. 

This is the result of no submission to God, no sorrow for disobedience, no sign of a desire for repentance. Saul looks to an ungodly person that he may know what a few more hours will bring. He neglects his duty to make wise preparation for the coming fight, disguises himself, takes a dangerous and wearisome journey close to the enemies’ camp and arrives at his destination by night, no doubt exhausted with hunger and mental agitation and seeks knowledge — unattainable in any God-approved manner —from a witch. He has rejected God, lost all the strength and comfort of true faith, and is become the victim of superstition. 

Whether he was the victim also of the witch’s skill, or of his own fantasy, is not a matter of much consequence. What strikes me is Saul’s mental and moral state. This is an intense description of what happens when any person of faith refuses to listen to God and opts for the advice of such nonsense as witches (or horoscopes). Even if it sounds true, God will not back it up.

Jesus, fortune-tellers and even fortune cookies have an appeal to those who want to know what to expect (so we can control it) but You hide that from all who want to trust themselves instead of You. I’m thankful that faith means dropping that insistence on running my own life and trusting what we cannot see (You) until You make visible what I need to know.

The only not forbidden Fortune Teller

Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. (1 Samuel 23:1–5)

One of my pet peeves is sports pundits who ‘predict’ who will win the game before it starts. In some instances, this might be predictable, but most of the time it is pure conjecture. It may even be thoughtless God-playing. Who else knows the future?

However, this is startling that not only does God know the future but He can also convey it to His people and help us with direction and protection — if His will is sought and obeyed. David wanted the will of God and and God revealed it to him.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8)

Because God hears, cares, and answers, this OT story has a sequence…

When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 
David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” 
And the Lord said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” 
Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. (1 Samuel 23:6–15)

Even though God said Saul would attack David, that future did not happen. How can that be? God looked ahead and knew what would happen but did not let it.

This is a confidence builder, an amazing example of God’s love and care. He can and will change what He sees coming to protect His sons and daughters.

Jesus, I know that You want the best for me. Sometimes it is a trial to build my character, Sometimes it is a surprise that deepens my understanding of You. Whatever you do, it is always right. You can even change any predictions of the future, not only to glorify Your name, but You can totally puts all pundits to shame.

 

God's Choices. . . .

 

After a time of searching for the best ways to take care of my health so I can live well and long, I read a section of Charnock and am reminded that my times are in God's hands. This does not mean faith replaces a good diet, exercise, and other sensible practices, but faith trusts the Lord to do what He wants for me. The following comes from an edited version of Charnock.

God's sovereignty is manifest in bestowing much wealth and honor upon some, and not to others that work harder. He abases some, elevates others, enriches some and others are impoverished. 

Some labor to no profit and others sit and what they wish for falls into their lap. One lives in a palace and the other a cottage. One holds a scepter and another a spade. One wears rich clothes and another rags. “The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:2)

Just as God can “send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city” He can also cause “one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither” (Amos 4:7)

He can dispose of the goods of every person, even take away from one, and pass over the propriety to another. He can reduce those who are high to a low condition and advance those lowly ones to plenty and glory. 

The sovereign acts of God mean, “For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” (Psalm 75:6–7) If He dispenses benefits equally to all, I would soon think it my due. The inequality and changes preserve the notion of God’s sovereignty, and correct my natural unmindfulness of it. If there were no changes, God would not be feared as the “King of all the earth.”

Not only all this, but I am not given His reasons for what He does. The disciples asked Jesus about His time for restoring the kingdom to Israel, and He replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:6–8) In other words, do what He tells me to do now and forget trying to know what God has for the future.

God could have created the world in a moment. He could have delivered His people from Egypt without the plagues. He could have transformed me to the image of His Son the instant He saved me. He could have given me all I need to change my world, but He did not. He could have me living where I am now from the beginning, but. . . .  

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. (Acts 17:26)

PRAY: Dear Lord, all these are reminders that You do as You please and seldom give me a head’s up that allows me to walk by sight or vision instead of faith. I have no idea if my life will end today or in ten or twenty years. But I do know that You have a plan and all of it is Your glory and for my good. Enable me not only to trust You, but be joyfully content with not knowing anything but the next step You want me to take.

History is His Story . . .

 

We are on vacation staying in a place where the television lists only station call letters without telling us the current or future programs. At first it was annoying but we really don’t want to watch television anyway, and this gives me an illustration of what it is like to not worry about what is going on in the world, now or in the future. We don’t know anyway. Trusting the Lord for what happens is a lot better than flicking channels and trying to figure it out!

(By grace) which (God) lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight makes known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:8–10)

MacArthur sums it up with this statement: “God is intimately involved in the flow of human history and is directing its course toward a specific, predetermined climax.”

My hubby tends to be future-oriented and thinks about what’s next. Others are stuck in the past with varying symptoms. I tend to think about now which has a few drawbacks. My memory for the past is vague and history is usually boring. However, I make future plans one step at a time, not a life plan or even a daily plan because God is involved and directing what happens in my life just as He is directing human history towards the climax He has predetermined.

The above passage from Ephesians says Jesus is the goal for our future and in Him all things will be summed up. Whatever that entails gives theologians all sorts of ideas and theories, but it is more like having a TV service that does not identify future or even current programs. We really cannot guess all of it, only that . . .

For in (Christ) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19–20)

The future is settled. God holds it and I trust Him with it. And what about the present? If I turn on the TV here, I can see the programs and make a guess what they are or what they are about, but without the guide it is largely a hopeless task. Is that a new detective mystery or an old episode of a cop show? Is that a Hallmark romance or a soap opera? Do I even care? The daily news is different because the OT assures me that God is not sitting back watching our idiotic behaviors. He is involved:

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness . . . It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. (Isaiah 40:15–17; 22–24)

God is in control, not surprised or thwarted by anything. Eventually all will be made right in Christ. Knowing this is like shutting off the TV and going for a walk in the park in the sunshine. Knowing this is also a gift from the Lord. He gives His children the ability to see beyond the past and the present and get a tiny glimpse of His eternal purposes. For right now, that glimpse banishes all speculation and worries. I can enjoy today because “This is the day that the Lord has made, I can rejoice and be glad in it!”

Thank You Lord for this day, for this hour with You and for the very next breath that I take. My life — and the world — is in Your gracious and capable hands. Praise Your name!

CONSIDER: What verses would help someone who is stuck in the past or cannot get beyond past hurts? What truths would help someone who is so forward thinking that they neglect present responsibilities? Or they try to predict or plan for the future without really knowing what will happen in the next minute or hour?