David’s deceit is catching up with him. He now is trapped into joining Achish to oppose Israel. However, Saul experiences an even greater loss for his persistent disobedience. Saul lost the influence of the prophet (Samuel), murdered the priests for helping David, and no longer possessed the ephod because a remaining priest fled to David with it. So Saul seeks out a witch to bring up Samuel promising her protection from the law forbidding anyone from speaking with the dead. Saul’s disobedience was based on persistent selfishness and insecurity. The only word he received was of his certain demise as previously prophesied by Samuel. “Then Saul immediately fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel;…” (20a). While God is full of mercy, He will not remove the consequences of persistent disobedience. This truth is often ignored in contemporary Christianity!
