CAFE QUESTIONS: Is there fear in your life today? What could you do if you were not afraid? What did you do today that you wish you hadn’t done? Are you looking for the easy way out? Has anyone ever given you the keys to their car or home for a day or a year? How did that make you feel? Have you ever visited a witch, fortune teller, palm reader, or mystic that was a complete anathema?
HYMNS & WORSHIP:
PSALMS responsive reading: Psalm 6
PAINTING: Project the image on the wall by JSSargent, “Cashmire.” This one girl subject quadruples my double vision, leaving me guessing – Is she here or is she there? It looks like Sargent painted separate shots of the same girl on one canvas, zooming in close above, below, and to the side of her to show the important things. She’s scared.
The background itself is a piece of fine art. Juxtaposing two colors, side by side, interact with one another and change our perception accordingly. My sensation is to find tiny crevices to lodge my ugly imperfections.
SCRIPTURE: John 10:7-10.
Narrate the BACKGROUND @1 Samuel chapter 9 through chapter 15 and 16:14-15 and 28:3-5.
There was a man
a Benjamite
a mighty man of power
a choice and handsome man from his shoulders upward
he was taller than any other
Saul drew near
to Samuel the seer
who said, “you shall eat with me today;
and tomorrow I will let you go
and will tell you all that is in your heart…
And on whom is all the desire of Israel?
Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”
“Am I not Saul, a Benjamite
of the smallest of the tribes
and my family the least
why then do you speak like this to me?”
Samuel took a flask of oil
poured it on Saul’s head
kissed him and he said
“Is it not because the Lord
has anointed you commander
over His inheritance?
then go on forward
for the Spirit of the Lord
will come upon you
you will prophesy
and be turned into another man
and let it be
when these signs come to you
that you do as the occasion demands
for God is with you.”
but king Agog did Saul spare
and swooped down on the spoil
the people took the plunder
which should have been utterly destroyed
to sacrifice to the Lord
and it grieved Samuel
and he cried out to the Lord all night
the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul
and a distressing spirit from God was troubling him
now Samuel had died
and Saul had put the mediums
and the spiritists out of the land
then the Philistines gathered
together for war
to battle with Israel encamped at Gilboa
when Saul saw the Philistine army
he was afraid
and his heart trembled greatly
so he traveled by night
six miles north of their encampment at Gilboa
NARRATE the STORY @ 1 Samuel 28:6-25 and chapter 31:1-4, NLT, twice.
This is the story we have, and that’s the way the story goes. Let us spend some time to WONDER and dialogue about this story. Why did the Lord ignore Saul? Why was the witch of Endor still alive? What is a seance? Who is the spirit that is talking to Saul? What does it look like when the Holy Spirit moves?
Let us get into the
CHARACTERS of the story. For this story, I will use three principles of logical analysis to help identify who’s who.
1. PROCESS of ELIMINATION
> was it a witch trick? – the witch was shockingly surprised and very cautious
> was it Samuel? – Saul only “perceived” the prophet Samuel’s spirit. Samuel’s ministry as judge and prophet called for repentance
> was it a spirit of demons? – demons preys on our fears of “a death sentence tomorrow.” Fallen angels appear as messengers exercising Satan’s bewitching influence upon minds, giving ear to doctrine of devils.
Revelation 16:13-14
> was it the spirit of God? – he says “I Love You!”
2. COMPARE & CONTRAST
The Devil:
-a spirit ascending out of the earth
-asks “why did you disturb me?”
-said “the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand”
-wants to destroy, steal, and kill
Jesus:
-a man descended from heaven
-says “come to me”
-gives us the keys to the kingdom
-restores, blesses, and saves
3. CAUSE & EFFECT
Saul cried suicide. His paralyzing fears of being delivered into, abused by, and dying at the hand of the Philistines caused him to forfeit his own life, impaling himself helter-skelter on his own sword, a graphic illustration of self-destruction.
What did we learn about GOD in this story? God sends the rain to fall on both good and evil. Nothing restrains God from saving me, but I do suffer the consequences of disobedience. God’s love for me does not change. God has given me his Word to guide me. to study with a stronger lens, to be watchful of false teachings, and to be cognizant of end time events.
What aspects of this story or character, foreshadow the GOOD NEWS. The Good News brings beauty and shines light on the path we’re traveling on.
• Heaven and earth intersect in Jesus at the Jordan River. His prayer opened all heaven and left a clear channel of communication, an open portal to unite me more closely with God that has been open for 2,000 years.
• Saul and I lost our way. We doubted God, were driven by a hundred forms of fear, and believed many lies, but Jesus told us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Every word of God proves true.
• Dead voices are as dry as the Dead Sea riverbed. The dead are silent and know nothing, but Jesus uses my living voice as a testimony of evidence, that we would all overflow the banks of the Jordan as believers. Jesus emphasized faith first. Come and see and judge his words. The mysterious power of faith is the medium through which I make contact with the pure one. Faith is the key to receive fast tract wisdom from heaven.
• Saul was knocking on the wrong door. He persisted in knocking to get the attention of someone on the other side, that his presence might be acknowledged. He was asking for something and seeking for something. Jesus is the door. Come right in and make yourself at home!
Our goal is to seriously apply this story to our life. Our challenge is to write a prayer, a poem, a song, short story, or create something that
EXPRESSes our response and share. You get to hear what God has placed on my heart.
BODY PRAYER:
My Lord and my God
dominate my life
my supreme being, my master
reign over me
I commit myself to thee
POEM:
and so David lamented
then composed a funeral song
for Johnathan and for Saul
“Song of the Bow”
Beauty lies dead on the hill
as though I had never been
my mighty heroes have fallen
the bow of Johnathan was powerful
and the sword of Saul did it’s mighty work
how lovely and pleasant
together in life and in death
they were swifter than eagles
and stronger than lions
my sorrow fills all heaven
but my soul is barren
dry as the hills of Gilboa
he dressed me in luxurious scarlet
in garments decorated in gold
the mighty heroes have fallen
for you I weep
your love was wonderful
passing the love of women
stripped bare of your weapons
they lie dead
as though they had never been
my sorrow fills all heaven
but my soul is barren
dry as the hills of Gilboa
but when the lion of Judah moves on my heart
chords will vibrate to the ends of the universe
~SSweeney
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§tacyReneè§weeney 