King Saul Goes Trick Or Treating

KING SAUL GOES TRICK OR TREATING

1 SAMUEL 28:1-20

#halloweeniscoming

INTRODUCTION

“Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. If you don’t, I don’t care, I’ll pull down your underwear.” "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat, not too big, not too small, just the size of Montreal.”

The next holiday that is on the calendar is Halloween. Halloween is in four days. Halloween holds significance for several reasons for different people.

Halloween's roots go back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sow-in"), which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Samhain was a time when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead was thin, and spirits could return to the earthly realm. Back in history, to ward off spirits, people lit bonfires and wore costumes. To encourage these spirits and to talk with them even today, people of the Wiccan religion often make ancestor altars, light candles, have tarot card readings, and share in meals inviting departed relatives to join.

Later, the holiday became intertwined with All Hallows' Eve when the Christians incited a corporate takeover of the non-Christian holiday trying to make it less evil and made it a time for remembering saints and martyrs. Over time, Samhain and All Hallows' Eve merged to form the Halloween we recognize.

For most people, Halloween is a time to dress up, carve pumpkins, and get candy.

But not all people.

TRANSITION

As I was pondering this holiday, an event in the life of King Saul in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 28) popped into my head. I thought back to all my years of preaching and I do not think I have ever preached about Halloween or 1 Samuel 28. So, given that Halloween is in four days, let’s dig into 1 Samuel 28 which is a passage where King Saul goes trick-or-treating and gets more than he bargained for.

LITTLE BIT ABOUT KING SAUL

The first King of Israel was named Saul. He was from the smallest tribe in Israel called Benjamin. Before King Saul, Israel was led by judges like Gideon, Deborah, Samson, and Samuel. The people of Israel asked for a king to be like other nations, and God gave them Saul. Saul’s story begins with promise. He was tall, handsome, and initially humble. He was chosen by God to serve as Israel's king, but his story is a tragic one of disobedience, pride, jealousy, and lost opportunities.

In 1 Samuel 11-13, King Saul led Israel to victory in battles, like when he saved the people of Jabesh-Gilead. His success started to breed pride and impatience Saul’s leadership began to unravel when he stopped waiting on God and took matters into his own hands, such as when he unlawfully offered a sacrifice in 1 Samuel 13. Unfortunately, Saul’s life was marked by his disobedience to God’s command… which we will also dig into today.

In 1 Samuel 18-19 as David, the future king, rises to prominence, Saul becomes increasingly jealous. Saul’s insecurity and fear of losing his kingdom led him to repeatedly attempt to kill David, the man God had chosen to be his successor. David goes on the run. Saul chases him. David hides. That is pretty much the middle part of 1 Samuel.

TRANSITION

We now come to 1 Samuel 28 which is where we will be today and where we see King Saul going trick or treating. War is again upon Saul and the people of Israel. As we read the first part of 1 Samuel 28, we will see that Saul feels stressed and like he has nowhere to turn.

NARRATIVE PART 1

READ 1 SAMUEL 28:1-3a (ESV)

“In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.” 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city.”

I want you to notice the pressures that are facing King Saul.

First, notice that Israel was about to go to war. Verse 1 shares with us that the neighbors of Israel who often fought with them were gathering for war. The Philistines lived along the coast and often went inland to pillage and attack. Saul knew they were coming so he also had to prepare for war. Interestingly, verses 1-2 also share that David who would one day be the king of Israel was hiding out in Philistine territory at the time so Saul couldn’t find him or get to him. It was a strategic move and one that allowed David some peace. Preparing for war I would assume is stressful. There is probably some fear. There are troops to prepare and fortifications to make. He has to get men to commit to die for their kingdom which I am thinking is a tall order. He has to make weapons and get food ready. Overall… stress. Much stress.