The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 28:15,
"Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
Samuel had died, the Lord had abandoned King Saul because of his disobedience to him, and now Saul was terrified at the threat the Philistines posed as they arrayed themselves against the army of Israel. Due to his great fear, Saul went to a witch or "medium" at Endor to inquire of Samuel as to what he should do. When Samuel rose from the dead, this was his question to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
Several observations here for those interested in what lies beyond the grave...
-- Samuel did not cease to exist when he died. Following his death, he left his body in the grave and went to a place called Sheol in the Hebrew language, the place of departed spirits. Jesus described this place in Luke 16:19-31 and called it "Hades" (Greek).
-- In Hades, or Sheol, Jesus described in his account two parts to this place where dead people went, "Abraham's side" verse 22, a place he referred to as "Paradise" in Luke 23:43. and a second part, a place of torment, verses 23-24. Jesus recounted a conversation between Abraham and a rich man who was an unbeliever and who had died, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us."
It is my understanding that following the death of Jesus Christ, when he ascended into heaven, he emptied out Abraham's side of Sheol (or Hades) and took all who were with Abraham, (all the people of faith in God), with him to heaven when he assumed his position at the right hand of God. In his sermon, Peter points out that Jesus is currently in heaven where he will remain, until he comes his second time to earth at the end of this age to usher in the next, Acts 3:21.
Paul points out that when believers die now, they go to heaven to be with the Lord, "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5:6-7.
The exciting thing about all this is the recognition that this life we live here is temporary, but an eternal life awaits those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 5:1-5.
"Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
Samuel had died, the Lord had abandoned King Saul because of his disobedience to him, and now Saul was terrified at the threat the Philistines posed as they arrayed themselves against the army of Israel. Due to his great fear, Saul went to a witch or "medium" at Endor to inquire of Samuel as to what he should do. When Samuel rose from the dead, this was his question to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
Several observations here for those interested in what lies beyond the grave...
-- Samuel did not cease to exist when he died. Following his death, he left his body in the grave and went to a place called Sheol in the Hebrew language, the place of departed spirits. Jesus described this place in Luke 16:19-31 and called it "Hades" (Greek).
-- In Hades, or Sheol, Jesus described in his account two parts to this place where dead people went, "Abraham's side" verse 22, a place he referred to as "Paradise" in Luke 23:43. and a second part, a place of torment, verses 23-24. Jesus recounted a conversation between Abraham and a rich man who was an unbeliever and who had died, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us."
It is my understanding that following the death of Jesus Christ, when he ascended into heaven, he emptied out Abraham's side of Sheol (or Hades) and took all who were with Abraham, (all the people of faith in God), with him to heaven when he assumed his position at the right hand of God. In his sermon, Peter points out that Jesus is currently in heaven where he will remain, until he comes his second time to earth at the end of this age to usher in the next, Acts 3:21.
Paul points out that when believers die now, they go to heaven to be with the Lord, "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5:6-7.
The exciting thing about all this is the recognition that this life we live here is temporary, but an eternal life awaits those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 5:1-5.
The outlook for all who do not embrace Jesus Christ in faith is as horrific as can be imagined. John likened it to a "fiery lake of burning sulfur." Revelation 21:8. All who currently inhabit the place of torment in Sheol, those left behind when Jesus took with him all who were at "Abraham's side", will find their eternal future in this miserable lake of burning sulfur.
Where will you spend eternity?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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