By DAVID D. ALLEN, JR. Pastor Church of the Open Door Muskegon, Michigan
A STUDY IN TRAGEDY
ing because their eyes are not on the Saviour. Saul was in a desperate situa tion. Even when he asked the Lord, there was no answer. He had been living in a state of rebellion and stubbornness. If there is one thing God hates in the lives of His chil dren, it is rebellion. He hates it as He does the sin of witchcraft (I Samuel 16:7). If you find yourself in such a condition, will you not confess your rebellion and stub bornness to the Lord? Come back to that perfect place of humility and brokenness. In this way you can once again begin to work for Him. David testified in Psalms 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." King Saul's life lacked submission to God. He showed no sorrow or remorse for his sin. He did not seem to want to amend his life but only to exalt himself. God's rejec tion of man always follows man's rejection of God. In marked contrast think of those who have faced adverse circum stances only to emerge victorious. David, after his tragic affair with Bathsheba, confessed to God with
a broken and contrite heart. The Lord heard him. Elijah, on Mount Carmel, in his personal confronta tion with the prophets of Baal, cried out to God. Immediately the Lord answered and sent fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice. In this way he proved that He was THE God. Jonah, from the belly of the fish, cried out to God. The Lord heard and answered. Paul and Silas, in jail, cried out to God in prayer. The Lord answered and sent an earthquake. Whatever your need may be today, if you are a child of God and will humble yourself with a contrite spirit, God will hear. God will meet your very An old saint had it right when he observed, "The devil jumps with glee whenever he can get a Chris tian to turn away from God." It is his diabolical purpose to have us turn from Christ and focus our at tention on ourselves and our cir cumstances. The Saviour reminds us that we must expect trials and tribulations. During these difficult periods, the danger is that we for- Page 29 special need right now. SAUL’S DEVILISH SPIRITISM
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