October 28, 2013 Only God is Holy

Read 1 Samuel 28

Only God is Holy

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land... 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said…10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.” 11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “ring up Samuel,” he said. 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

THIS is one of those difficult stories in the Bible. It is fitting, though, that God has brought us to this point on this week of Halloween’s satanic activities.

     God had strictly forbidden such actions. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:10)

     Practitioners of the occult have Satan and demons as the source of their information; God does not reveal his will to them. Instead, he speaks through the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

     How is it, though, that Samuel comes from the dead? Samuel came not from the spiritist’s trickery, but God bought Samuel back to affirm what Saul already knew. God is against all such practices.

     In his fear, Saul one last time turned from God when God wanted Saul to turn to him. It was time for God to bring David to the throne. God put his power over Satan’s power to proclaim his plan for Israel.

A Moment’s Thoughts: The huge focus on Halloween today is certainly a pagan ritual that was once celebrated as “All Hallows Eve” on October 31 before “All Hallows’ Day” or as we know it, “All Saints Day” on November 1.

     “Hallow” is holy as in the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be your name.” Thus, “halloween’ means “holy evening”. All Hallows Day (all holy day) was a yearly remembrance of all Christians who had died. All Hallows’ Eve was an event on October 31 that was a holy evening in preparation of the remembrances that occurred on November 1.

     I wonder what would happen if we said to people on Halloween, “Happy holy evening!”

     On another note, October 31 is “Reformation Day”. This is the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Thesis to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517. His desire was to protest certain practices of the church and to help the church return (reform) to the true teachings of the Bible.

     Perhaps this Reformation Day we can gather to pray for God’s church to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that we in the power of the Spirit will proclaim the power of the Holy God to reform his church and the world to his holiness.