Seeking GUIDANCE from God ALONE

Apr 25

April 25 Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles Chapters 10-12

Seeking GUIDANCE from God ALONE

"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." (1 Chron. 10:13-14)

The writer of Chronicles does not repeat the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which a way was made for David to the throne of Israel. Saul died for his transgressions which he committed against the Lord -- in having spared the king of the Amalekites and taken the flocks of the people as spoils (1Sam 15:9), as well as in having consulted a woman involved in witchcraft (1Sam 28:7). Both of these acts were great sins - the first was a violation of God's express and positive command (1Sam 15:3), and the second was disobedience to a well-known statute of God’s law: "Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God." (Lev. 19:31).

Saul did not inquire of the Lord from his heart – when he tried to get guidance from God (1Sam 28:6-7) he was totally out of touch with God due to his prior sins. Saul appears as a person who had gone so far away from God that he had to resort to witchcraft for his personal guidance.

Let us learn from Saul’s tragic end, and follow the principles listed below for our guidance:

Ask God to give us guidance. "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day." (Psalm 25:4-5)
God will guide us according to His promise in Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."
The Bible gives us guidance. Let’s join with the Psalmist in asking for daily guidance through His Word: "Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me." (Psalm 119:133) "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalms 119:105)
God directs our path when we trust Him. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)