1Samuel Chapter 28 :7-19

[Onesiphorus]

THis is following on from post #123 concerning praying to Mary

What on earth is actually going on here in this passage and why did the High Priest Samuel refuse to pray for KIng Saul of Israel

To find out we really have to return initially to the covenant God had ,and will have with His people Israel ,where if you do good God blessed them ,if they do bad God curses them as found in Deuteronomy 12,26 and 27 for example

now we can move forward to 1 Samuel 15 Here God commands Saul to destroy the Amalekites (referred to in Chapter 28) and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not ,every man woman ,child and every animal they own

So Saul defeated them with Gods blessings ,but disobeyed Gods command and did not Kill King Agag and also the people took the best stock as spoils of war again going against Gods command


Here in 1 Samuel 15 :22-35 we see the curse of God on His people for what they had done ,and it was here in verse 28 we see that God rents the kingdom of Israel from Saul


THis is the context of why Samuel did not pray for Saul ,Samuel knew the curse of God on Saul

I find it incredible why some saints write professing that they are spiritual Israel or Israel fulfilled ,or whatever the latest terminology is want the same covenants as God cut with His people Israel ,because this is Gods relationship with them whereas ,the Church the body of Christ who is justified by the blood of Christ and the cross and has salvation by grace through faith alone will never face the wrath of God

Here is just one example of Gods dealing with someone of His people Israel and it will be the same during the tribulation and the millennial reign for those who must endure to the end

We who are the mystery ,The Church the Body of Christ ,have the assurances of His Gospel of Grace ,and for that I thank God

It was Samuel who had to kill Agag

[Bloodbought]

AMEN Brother AMEN

[smellycat]

was samuel the prophet.?who told saul.?

[Onesiphorus]

Yes SC God spoke through Samuel and Samuel told Saul

[smellycat]

so in the old testament,the dependance of where the prophet got his info depended on who got killed.?

[Onesiphorus]

Dear SC , not quite certain what point you are making ,however ,I shall try to explain ,more concerning the "context" of this passage

The tribe called the Amalekites were descended from Amalek one of Esau sons called Eliphaz , and they lived in the land of Canaan ,it is thought that the Amorites and the Canaanites also descended from Eliphaz

We have evidence in various scriptures that the Amalekites attacked the Israelites on numerous occasions ,beginning in the time of the Exodus ,See Exodus 17:8-13 ,deuteronomy 25:17,Judges 3:13 etc

and over a spell of some 300 years they continued to war against Gods People Israel

Which leads us to 1 Samuel 15:2-6 ,where God speaks to Saul ,who is the KIng of Israel through Samuel ,who was a judge and took on priestly activities (though not a levite) ,to Destroy the Amalekites ,PLease note that Samuel went down and told the Kenites (who were the descendents of Moses,father in law ,Jethro and had blessed Israel and travelled with them in the wilderness ,to go away from that area , as they had previously blessed Israel )

But

Even after Gods orders Saul disobeyed Gods instructions and Spared Agag,s life and also took the best stock as spoils of war


It is for this reason that God punished Saul



Which was the basis of the covenant God had with Israel following their demands of the law in the wilderness where they disregarded Gods all covering mercy and provision for self righteousness through sacrifice and works ,where if they obeyed God and did good they were blessed ,but ,if they did bad and disobeyed God they would get beat .

This was Israels choice , they made it and the examples of Israels obedience and disobedience run throughout the Old Testament ,and right through the Gospels and Acts and is written about right up to the book of Revelation where they finally are redeemed ,through the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31

[johnfinch]

I think smellycat was confused as I was about your comment ",have the assurances of His Gospel of Grace ,and for that I thank God" followed by "It was Samuel who had to kill Agag"
.

It is fascinating that you should choice that passage(jeremiah 31) to talk about our new covenant of grace-which it might partly please you that I agree we are under but MUST follow the laws as well-- because in the passage that follows in jere.33:19-22 which is talking about the same covenant as far as I can see. The passage indicates that onesiphorus can stop the sun from rising!!!

[johnfinch]

It should be noted that onesiphorus and I had discussed the laws of Moses. I said we have to follow all of them including the levitical priesthood laws which can only be done if Israel is inhabited by believers in yeshua(christ) who are of jewish descent and a percentage of them must be levites for the priesthood which Hebrews declares they must be.

These are shadows of the greater good news of Christ's resurrection and the power that comes from the Holy spirit yet they are ignored and misunderstood truths. Clearly seen in jeremiah 33.
I came to this understanding from verses outside of Jeremiah so I'm greatful that onesiphorus mentioned jereniah 31 which most theologians link jere 31-33 as one in the same covenant. I realize onesiphorus might not agree with me.

I hope we grow in the lord together eph 4:13