If God is Quiet . . .

That is the question I found myself asking during a recent Bible lesson. We are studying the life of David with the help of Beth Moore’s book “A Man after God’s Own Heart”.

Saul was a man after men’s heart but failed to seek God’s dearest blessings in his life. Pride and arrogance went to his head. In time God stopped answering Saul’s prayers. The doors of Heaven were closed, and Saul was left to fumble along on his own.

Worse still for Saul was the knowledge that David, not his son Jonathan, would be the next king. Saul did everything in his power to change the mind of God including seeking David’s death.

The lesson that stirred the question in my own heart was taken from 1 Samuel 28 when Saul sought advice from the departed Samuel through sorcery. The Philistine army was breathing down his neck, and Saul was afraid.

God sent Samuel’s spirit to talk with Saul, but the answers were the same. God was quiet because Saul continued to live in unrepentant sin. His days as king of Israel were numbered. The only new information was in the timing. Saul and his son would die “tomorrow”.

All of Saul’s trickery . . . his dogged pursuit of David had failed. God’s sovereignty would prevail. Saul’s feeble attempts robbed him not only of the kingdom but also from his fellowship with God.

Our sins are just as damaging. If we continue to ignore sin in our lives God will not answer our prayers. If we think we do not sin we have the wrong definition of sin.

Sin is not just what the murderer or robber on the evening news commits. It is anything that gets in the way of our fellowship with God. The causal gossip we share as chit-chat with a neighbor is just as displeasing to God. The harsh words we speak behind closed doors. The call we couldn’t find time to make to encourage a friend.

If God is quiet we need to do some personal housekeeping.