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Guidance from the Medium - The Book of 1 Samuel · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

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  Speaker 1: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, in moments of silence, when
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  Speaker 1: I am in between my present circumstance and my future promise,
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  Speaker 1: Teach me to wait on you and your voice. I
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  Speaker 1: have made a conscious decision that when I desire answers
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  Speaker 1: to life's problems, I will not seek them in false mediums, astrology, psychics,
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  Speaker 1: or those connected to the dark arts. Instead, I will
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  Speaker 1: position myself to be in your presence and to hear
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  Speaker 1: your voice. I decree and declare that your word is
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  Speaker 1: my guiding light. I decree and declare that Your voice
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  Speaker 1: has the ability to cut through any dark times I
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  Speaker 1: may be facing. Your Word is a lamp unto my
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  Speaker 1: feet and a light unto my path. And because I'm
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  Speaker 1: connected to Your Spirit, I don't have to settle for
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  Speaker 1: ungodly and false spirits. I will choose to wait for You, Lord,
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  Speaker 1: knowing that as I do, my help will arrive at
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  Speaker 1: just the right time. In Jesus' name.
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  Speaker 2: Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for
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  Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by BibleInAYear.com.
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  Speaker 2: Guidance from the medium. In our last story, we learned
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  Speaker 2: about Saul's latest pursuit to take David's life— David once
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  Speaker 2: again had the opportunity to end Saul, and with him
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  Speaker 2: all the fleeing and exile. Yet David's conviction as a
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  Speaker 2: man of God stood its ground. He spared Saul, and
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  Speaker 2: Saul once again repented and left David's presence. Now David
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  Speaker 2: dwells in the land of the Philistines, serving under King Achish.
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  Speaker 2: David and his men made raids on the enemies of Israel,
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  Speaker 2: pretending to make raids for the Philistines. In this story,
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  Speaker 2: the Philistine horde rises up against Israel. David continues to
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  Speaker 2: wrestle with his alliances, while Saul, now living apart from
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  Speaker 2: the Spirit of God, turns to dark arts to settle
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  Speaker 2: his weary and restless soul. Inspired by the book of
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  Speaker 2: 1 Samuel.
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  Speaker 3: Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of
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  Speaker 3: the Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode...
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  Speaker 3: We saw that David's loyalties were tested as the Philistines
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  Speaker 3: gathered to do battle against Israel and David and his
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  Speaker 3: men were among the ranks ready to attack. We saw
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  Speaker 3: how God prevented David from going into battle against his
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  Speaker 3: own people and protecting him from the consequences of terrible decisions.
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  Speaker 3: Today we'll return to Israel to meet up with King
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  Speaker 3: Saul and see what he was doing in the lead
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  Speaker 3: up to this same battle. While yesterday we saw David
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  Speaker 3: seek God's guidance before fighting the Amalekites, Today we'll hear
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  Speaker 3: how Saul turns to the occult for guidance. It is
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  Speaker 3: a final turning away, a terrible apostasy from God that
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  Speaker 3: will spell ultimate disaster for him. Let's now listen to
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  Speaker 3: today's reading from God's Word.
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  Speaker 2: The days grew darker and darker. War between the Israelites
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  Speaker 2: and Philistines raged like wildfire. Both sides struck devastating blows,
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  Speaker 2: and the spirit of both nations were growing dim. Valleys
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  Speaker 2: became swamps with the blood and gore of battle. Villages
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  Speaker 2: and towns were destroyed from plunder. Yet the Philistines were
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  Speaker 2: great in number and continued to bang on the drums
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  Speaker 2: of war against Israel. David still dwelled with his men
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  Speaker 2: and King Achish and the two became very close. David
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  Speaker 2: began to struggle with his identity as a Hebrew while
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  Speaker 2: in the presence of Philistine friends. Though he did not
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  Speaker 2: slay any Israelites, his association with the enemy made him guilty. However,
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  Speaker 2: He could not return to Saul, for his mind was
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  Speaker 2: like a tempest, tossing him to and fro. The Philistine
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  Speaker 2: horde approached the borders of Israel once again. Saul looked
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  Speaker 2: upon the sea of soldiers with fear and trembling. Saul's
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  Speaker 2: mind had grown weary and tainted with hatred. His soul
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  Speaker 2: was tormented and unsteady. A subtle madness overcame Saul, and
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  Speaker 2: since God had removed his spirit from him, there was
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  Speaker 2: no rest. Saul had not truly felt peace since David
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  Speaker 2: last played songs for him in the throne room. It
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  Speaker 2: seemed like a hundred years since that time. Samuel, who
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  Speaker 2: was his guiding compass, had been long dead. Night had fallen,
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  Speaker 2: and the Israelite camp was quiet and dimly lit by torches.
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  Speaker 2: Saul walked to the outskirts of camp and fell to
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  Speaker 2: his knees. The only sounds were Saul's tears as he
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  Speaker 2: wept before God. He buried his face in the dirt,
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  Speaker 2: begging God to speak to him once again.
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  Speaker 3: Silence.
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  Speaker 2: He looked to the stars, listening for any semblance of
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  Speaker 2: God's voice.
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  Speaker 1: Nothing.
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  Speaker 2: Saul sought prophets, but there was no response. Saul waited
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  Speaker 2: for dreams, yet he was still met with nothing but torment.
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  Speaker 2: Saul arose from his bed and woke up his servant.
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  Speaker 2: Find me the necromancer woman from Endor, he commanded. So
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  Speaker 2: the servant departed to find her, and set up a
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  Speaker 2: meeting for her and Saul. If God would not respond
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  Speaker 2: to his prayers, perhaps another being would lend its ear.
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  Speaker 2: So Saul ventured a few miles north to meet her.
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  Speaker 2: A different type of darkness covered the city. A shroud
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  Speaker 2: of evil hovered over Endor like storm clouds. Saul disguised
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  Speaker 2: himself in a cloak to hide his identity, and traveled
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  Speaker 2: the alleyways of Endor with secrecy. Saul entered into the
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  Speaker 2: necromancer's home. The room reeked of spice and death. Saul
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  Speaker 2: uncovered his hood and looked around the room. Dead ravens
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  Speaker 2: hung from the ceiling and incense burned under carved images
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  Speaker 2: of wicked gods. The room was dark and lit only
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  Speaker 2: by a few faint candles. There, in the corner of
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  Speaker 2: the room, a woman sat at the edge of her bed.
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  Speaker 2: She was equally revolting and intoxicating. She wore a scalding
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  Speaker 2: stare that shook Saul's spine. Saul stood a few feet
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  Speaker 2: away from her and whispered, I need you to bring
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  Speaker 2: forth a spirit for me. The woman remained silent and
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  Speaker 2: arose from her bed. She passed Saul and circled him
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  Speaker 2: like a lioness. You know that the righteous King Saul
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  Speaker 2: has banned all mediums and necromancers from the land. This
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  Speaker 2: could very well be a trap for me. The woman
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  Speaker 2: spoke with a smooth voice. She did not yet know
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  Speaker 2: it was Saul who stood before her. Saul clenched his jaw.
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  Speaker 2: As the Lord lives, I can assure you no punishment
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  Speaker 2: will await you, Saul said. He did his best not
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  Speaker 2: to stutter when he spoke, for even Saul knew that
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  Speaker 2: he was playing with unknown power. The necromancer stood a
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  Speaker 2: foot away from Saul and looked him in the eye.
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  Speaker 2: She was silent for a few moments, staring at Saul
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  Speaker 2: with an uneasy gaze. Whom shall I bring for you?
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  Speaker 2: she asked. Samuel, the prophet, Saul said. The woman took
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  Speaker 2: a step back and bowed her head. Her hair covered
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  Speaker 2: her face as she bent her neck forward. Saul could
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  Speaker 2: hear faint mumbles from the woman. She shook her shoulders
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  Speaker 2: back and forth, and her mumbles grew louder and louder.
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  Speaker 2: The woman began to shake uncontrollably, and a loud scream
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  Speaker 2: came out of her. You deceived me, the woman shouted.
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  Speaker 2: You are King Saul. The woman gritted her teeth and
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  Speaker 2: pointed toward Saul. I promise you will not be harmed,
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  Speaker 2: Saul said. Now tell me what you see. The woman's
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  Speaker 2: eyes rolled back with her head. She mumbled and jolted
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  Speaker 2: her neck back and forth. I see a man crawling
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  Speaker 2: up out of the ground, she said. He is old
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  Speaker 2: and wrapped in a robe. The necromancer began to tremble
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  Speaker 2: and scream in fear. She had come in contact with
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  Speaker 2: demonic spirits before, but now she was dealing with the
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  Speaker 2: Spirit of God. Saul fell on his face before the woman.
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  Speaker 2: He knew who she was seeing was indeed Samuel. The
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  Speaker 2: woman loomed over Saul, and the tone of Samuel came
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  Speaker 2: forth from her voice. Why have you disturbed me? he said.
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  Speaker 2: Saul looked up, still kneeling on the floor, and said,
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  Speaker 2: I am in great distress. The Philistines are overtaking us,
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  Speaker 2: and God has turned away from me. I am lost
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  Speaker 2: without guidance. What shall I do? Tears fell from Saul's eyes,
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  Speaker 2: and his hands were shaking. Why do you ask me?
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  Speaker 2: God has made you his enemy, Saul. I told you
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  Speaker 2: that he would take your kingdom from you and give
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  Speaker 2: it to another. Now you know it to be David.
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  Speaker 2: There was a silence for a moment. Saul began to
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  Speaker 2: speak until Samuel interrupted him, saying, Saul lay prostrate on
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  Speaker 2: the floor, and the woman shook her head and stumbled backwards.
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  Speaker 2: Saul's strength had departed him, and his face grew pale
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  Speaker 2: at the news. The woman composed herself and offered Saul
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  Speaker 2: food before he left. Saul refused, but his servants insisted,
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  Speaker 2: since his face was so pale and deathly. Saul ate
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  Speaker 2: in silence on the woman's bed. He stared into the blackness,
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  Speaker 2: fearing every moment might be his last. Saul had called
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  Speaker 2: forth Samuel to be comforted, but he was met only
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  Speaker 2: with more sorrow.
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  Speaker 3: Today. story begins with the Philistines gathering for battle against Israel.
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  Speaker 3: David is still in Philistine territory, but as we saw yesterday,
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  Speaker 3: he would not be a part of the fight. Still,
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  Speaker 3: the Philistine army is large and powerful, and King Saul
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  Speaker 3: is filled with fear of this mighty enemy. Saul wants comfort.
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  Speaker 3: He wants assurance of victory. He wants to hear from God.
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  Speaker 3: But Samuel has been dead now for some time. Saul's
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  Speaker 3: connection to God is cut off. He seeks other prophets,
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  Speaker 3: but God does not listen. He waits for God to
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  Speaker 3: speak to him in dreams, but there's no revelation. Saul
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  Speaker 3: had strayed far, far from God. He had lived in
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  Speaker 3: disobedience and carnality. He had neglected to listen to God
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  Speaker 3: for so long that God is not responding to his cries.
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  Speaker 3: And so now he's desperate, so desperate that he makes
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  Speaker 3: a tragic decision. He appeals to ungodly spiritualism. He seeks
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  Speaker 3: counsel from a witch. Desperation is no excuse for sin, ever.
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  Speaker 3: And Saul wasn't really seeking God for guidance and wisdom.
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  Speaker 3: He was just seeking his own comfort and trying to
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  Speaker 3: save his own life. His motives were terribly wrong. Saul's
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  Speaker 3: actions were not only a violation of God's law. They
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  Speaker 3: violated his own laws. He had given orders to clear
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  Speaker 3: the land of all practitioners of spiritism and the occult.
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  Speaker 3: But because Saul was desperate, he sins for a necromancer.
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  Speaker 3: He disguises himself carefully so that his sin and hypocrisy
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  Speaker 3: isn't revealed. He entered the Median's home in the town
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  Speaker 3: of Endor and made his request. He needed her to
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  Speaker 3: summon a spirit from the dead. Even this witch was
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  Speaker 3: afraid of that this was a trap. So Saul swore
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  Speaker 3: an oath in the name of the very God he
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  Speaker 3: was betraying that she would not be harmed. Saul told
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  Speaker 3: her he wanted to speak to the prophet Samuel, who
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  Speaker 3: had died. He wants to speak to the dead. To
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  Speaker 3: this woman's great surprise and horror, Samuel appeared. This was
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  Speaker 3: not an evil spirit pretending to be Samuel, and it
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  Speaker 3: wasn't a trick. This was real. She wasn't expecting it.
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  Speaker 3: You see, this had nothing to do with her powers.
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  Speaker 3: This was God at work, and this woman somehow knew it.
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  Speaker 3: She then recognized that it was Saul who'd come to her.
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  Speaker 3: Why did you lie to me? she asked in terror.
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  Speaker 3: But Saul told her nothing bad would happen to her.
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  Speaker 3: Just tell him what she saw. So she told him,
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  Speaker 3: and Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed in reverence,
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  Speaker 3: surely thinking he was about to get the comfort that
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  Speaker 3: he needed. But then Samuel spoke directly to him, asking
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  Speaker 3: why he had disturbed his rest. Saul told Samuel God
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  Speaker 3: had fallen silent and he was in distress over the Philistines.
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  Speaker 3: Samuel's response was clear. God did exactly as he said
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  Speaker 3: he would, because Saul had disobeyed God and turned from him.
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  Speaker 3: Not only that, he confirmed what God had already said
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  Speaker 3: to Saul. The kingdom would be taken from him. David
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  Speaker 3: would soon be the king. sooner than Saul could have imagined.
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  Speaker 3: Then Samuel gave Saul the most devastating news in 1
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  Speaker 3: Samuel 28, 19. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also
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  Speaker 3: with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow
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  Speaker 3: you and your son shall be with me. The Lord
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  Speaker 3: will give the army of Israel also into the hands
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  Speaker 3: of the Philistines. Saul was devastated, and rather than leave
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  Speaker 3: with confidence and comfort, he left with dread. for he
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  Speaker 3: knew that God's will could not be changed and his
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  Speaker 3: word would come true. The next time, we'll see how
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  Speaker 3: this all plays out in God's plan. Dear God, how
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  Speaker 3: we thank you for your word, the Bible. We thank
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  Speaker 3: you that these stories are not fables or fairy tales,
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  Speaker 3: but these are true stories inspired by your Holy Spirit.
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  Speaker 3: Always let us learn the lessons that we need to
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  Speaker 3: learn and to believe you and to obey your word.
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  Speaker 3: In Jesus' name, Amen. Thank you for listening to today's
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  Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas.
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  Speaker 3: Download the Pray.com app and make prayer and Bible study
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  Speaker 3: how to tap into God's power for Christian living, be
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  Speaker 3: sure to visit jackgraham.org. God bless you.