Rejection

Day two hundred fifty

I woke up bright and early to teach the senior seminary class today.  I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have to substitute, I really miss teaching the youth!  My prayer was focused on them today.  I just wanted the Spirit to be with us in class so that they would feel the Lord's love for them and to energize them as they faced their day.  I really love the youth, they are awesome!

1 Samuel 28

In the next two chapters we learn about rejection.  Everyone experiences rejection in their life and it's accompanying emotional pain of not being included or being cast out.  Do you remember how it felt to be rejected?  The tears, the hurt feelings, the anger! Well in these next two chapters we get a glimpse into how Saul and David reacted to their rejection experiences.

1 Samuel 28 Saul is Rejected By God
In verse 6 we find out that the Lord has cut off his communications with Saul.  He tries asking, he hopes for a dream with an answer, he tries the Urim and Thummim, and he even tries prophets.  Nothing! No answers from God. 

Have you ever felt like the Lord had cut off communications with you?  There have been a few times in my life when I felt that the Lord had abandoned me.  They are some of the most difficult and darkest times in my life.  Why does the Lord do this?

In Saul's case it is because Saul is not repentant for his sins.  He isn't living his life worthily and is therefore not entitled to the answers he seeks.  He has not humbled himself before the Lord, but is expecting the Lord to provide the answers even if he isn't worthy to hear it. 

Unfortunately, Saul chooses another path, one that we might be guilty of too, he chooses to turn to things or people of the world for answers.  Saul turns to the witch of En-dor hoping to receive his answer that way (v 7).   This says a lot about where Saul is spiritually. False prophets, sorcery, superstitions.  What has the Lord said about seeking answers this way?  DON"T DO IT!! (Deut 18:12-12)

How many of us have sought an answer from the world because we didn't get an answer from God?   Maybe we are not patient enough, or we aren't prepared to listen like we should, or maybe we are more like Saul than we want to admit and we need to repent.



If we are not receiving personal revelation from God, who knows everything, then how can we expect a mere mortal to give us the answers we seek?  Saul needed to change his heart, but instead chose to fill it with worldly stuff.  It's an easy trap to fall into, and Satan knows that when we are feeling rejected, we are spiritually weakened and we are an easy target. 

In his frustration Saul took a trip down the worldly path and it led to a deeper feeling of rejection and depression (v 20).  It is the same for all who choose to put their trust in something other than God.  Feelings of rejection are hard, but the Lord promises us that if we choose Him, He will not leave us. He promises us comfort, peace and joy. This sounds like a much better plan to me!