When God Becomes Thine Enemy

1 Samuel 28:16 KJV
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

The theology of the Old Testament and the New Testament is different enough that it would be unwise to make too strong of applications of this passage to life today.

First, it is questionable if Saul could be considered "saved." He was selected to be the king against the protests of the prophet. It was not the will of God for Israel to have a king; at least not at this time. Saul was

• Almost immediately disobedient to the Lord
• Plagued by an unclean spirit and
• Bent on jealousy

Hardly the testimony of a godly man.

Even our text today has him before a witch; so desperate was he to have his way that he was willing to go that far in finding the information he wanted.

But still, the Bible does say that God gave him a new heart. So it is not unwise for a Christian to pay some heed to this man's character lest we mimic it.

• A Christian can never lose his salvation
• The Holy Spirit will never depart from a child of God
• The believer can never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus

But

• The Bible does say God chastens His children and
• The Bible does say there is a sin unto death
• Friendship with this world is enmity with God

Here is my point. I never want to be in a position where the Lord is on the other side. I want to diligently guard my walk and examine it so I stay on the Lord's side of things.

What a terrible place, "…the Lord is departed from thee and become thine enemy."