The Sound of Silence

Redeemer Church of Waterford

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The Sound of Silence

1 Samuel 28:3-25

October 27, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 28:3–25

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The running theme of 1 Samuel 28 is the silence of God.

Saul is distressed to the point of a mental breakdown. The Lord is not responding to his inquiry about a coming battle with the Philistines. He has used every legitimate means in an attempt to get God's attention to no avail, so he turns to a woman who practices divination to conjure the prophet Samuel from the dead.

The King is Dead. Long Live the King.

November 24, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 31

"So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together" (1 Samuel 31:6). On the same day David is routing the Amalekites and recovering his family and goods, winning a decisive victory over God's enemies (1 Samuel 30), God is using His enemies (the Philistines) to bring final judgment on Saul and those associated with the reign of Saul (1 Samuel 31). God has literally "rent the kingdom from Saul and given it to a neighbor of Saul's who is better than him" (1 Samuel 15:28).

David Recovered All

November 24, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 30:11–31

The objective of the Book of 1 Samuel is to reveal the kind of leader for whom God is seeking to be the shepherd king of His people. The people had chosen Saul, who turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. God chose David, whom we have watched grow from a young shepherd boy into a mighty warrior. But God isn't looking for a mighty warrior. He's looking for a humble, principled servant. And as we observe how David responds to a devastating loss, we begin to see in David the kind of leader God is looking for.

Going Home...And There is No Home

November 17, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 30:1–10

How can it cany any worse? All of us have asked this question when circumstances have overwhelmed us. Almost since our first meeting David in 1 Samuel 16, he has lived his life as a fugitive from Saul and the unrelenting object of Saul's wrath. And just when you think it can't get any worse, he loses everything.