This Week's Story
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King Saul defies God and seeks answers from a medium.
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
Don't kill him! part five
“Why is the king asking for a medium? He ordered that all mediums were to be expelled from Israel
“Just give him the answer he wants.”
“No! I am his adviser. You’re his sister, Leah. You know that his question is foolish. He cringes with fear, yet he is too proud to ask, ‘Lord, what should I do about the Philistine army? They will attack us!’”
“The king is not interested in your advice. He wants a medium.”
“How sad for him and our nation! He knows God instructed Moses to write in Leviticus 19:31 ‘Do not turn to mediums. Do not seek them. I am the Lord your God.’”
The discussion did not stop the king from learning that there was a medium in the village of Endor.
King Saul travelled secretly at night to the medium with two of his soldiers. He was disguised in ordinary clothes. He told the medium, “I have to talk to a man who has died. Call up his spirit.”
“Are you trying to get me killed? Are you setting a trap for me? You know that Saul ordered all mediums out of Israel.”
“I swear that you will not be punished for doing this.”
“Whose spirit do you want me to call?”
“Samuel.”
When the woman saw Samuel come, she screamed at Saul, “You deceived me. You are Saul!”
“Don’t be afraid. Tell me what you see.”
“I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
“What does he look like?”
“He is an old man wrapped in a robe.”
Saul realized it was Samuel and dropped to the ground before him.
Samuel asked, “Why have you disturbed me?”
“I am in desperate trouble. The Philistines are at war with us and God has left me. He will not answer me by prophets or dreams. Tell me what to do.”
Samuel answered. “Why do you ask me if God has left you? He has done what He said he would do. He has taken your kingdom from you and given it to David. He did this because you did not obey his instructions when you fought the Amalekites.
“Tomorrow the Lord will give you and all the army of Israel to the Philistines. You and your sons will be killed.”
Paralyzed with terror Saul fell flat on the ground. He was faint from hunger. The woman saw how shattered he was and told him, “I risked my life for you; now do what I say. Let me feed you so you can get strength for your trip back.”
Saul and his men ate and went into the night.
The next day the Philistines attacked. The Israelite army with Saul fled. Many died. Saul and his three sons were killed.
David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan. It closed with the words:
How the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.
Eventually David became king of all Israel, but not before more blood was shed.
You are invited to hear and read many more stories at thisweeksstory.com. You will find harsh reality and people of courage and some with faith in God.
Today’s recording team is Todd Warren, Adrian Novak, and Barbara Steiner.
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