November 20, 2025 • 21 mins
Text if you need me? Prayer or just need encouragement…
Some moments knock the wind out of you. Others ask what you’ll reach for next. We close the book of 1 Samuel with a raw look at rock bottom, Saul’s fear driving him to a forbidden medium, David’s home in ashes at Ziklag, and a personal heartbreak that rewired faith in the quiet aftermath.
I walk through Saul’s final spiral, where years of wanting answers without relationship end in a desperate gamble for spiritual shortcuts. We unpack why Scripture forbids consulting the dead, how God interrupts the scene with Samuel’s message, and what it means to desire relief more than repentance. The takeaway isn’t superstition; it’s a sober reminder that the spiritual world is real and that shortcuts cost more than we expect.
Then we pivot to David’s collapse and comeback. Alongside the text, I share a college heartbreak that left me unraveling—and how prayer, closure, and surrender set a new course toward the marriage, family, and calling I carry today.
If you’re standing at your own lowest point, this conversation offers more than comfort. It offers a choice: spiral inward like Saul or turn Godward like David. Expect practical reflection, honest storytelling, and a clear path to take the next step in faith. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review—then tell me: where have you seen God begin rebuilding at rock bottom?
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hello, hello.
You're listening to the JesseMorgan Devotions for the
Christian Heart Podcast, episode77.
This week's devotional is titledDead and Rock Bottom, Concluding
First Samuel.
Let's go.
SPEAKER_01 (00:14):
Hi, I'm Jesse Morgan.
I used to just share home decorand renovation tips on social
media, but now I'm sharingsomething even closer to my
heart.
My journey in love for JesusChrist, my Savior.
Welcome to the Jesse MorganDevotions for the Christian Hawk
Podcast.
This is a weekly devotional Istarted back in May 2024, but
the inspiration for it came muchearlier.
(00:35):
It was rooted in a faith journeythat began when my daughter was
born four months early in 2023.
Through that challenging time,God worked in ways that truly
amazed me.
On this podcast, I sharepersonal stories of faith woven
together with Scripture to showjust how incredible God's word
can be in our everyday lives.
My hope is that through thesestories, you'll be encouraged,
(00:57):
uplifted, and reminded of God'slove and presence, no matter
what you're going through.
So I invite you to spend lessthan 15 minutes with me each
week as we reflect on thesedevotionals together.
Let's all pray within.
SPEAKER_00 (01:11):
Episode 77, key passages, 1 Samuel 28 through
30, dead in rock bottom.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Um we are wrapping up as what Ilike to call David Act One,
David and the Monarchy, Act One.
We are at the end of 1 Samuel.
And these three chapters,chapter 28 through 30, whew,
(01:34):
they are heavy, they arelayered, they are emotional,
they are spiritual.
I even thought about splittingthem up because um these
chapters really carry so muchweight, but the more I read
them, the more I realized thesechapters are meant to stay
together.
And the theme that ties themtogether is simple but powerful.
(01:57):
Rock bottom.
And not just hitting rockbottom, but what do you do next?
And before we get into um theserock bottom stories, which are
going to evolve David and Saul,I want to start with a personal
story because some somethingit's one basically I wanted to
really share this personal storybecause this is something I've
(02:19):
never shared this way, but itfits some way perfect in my
opinion.
And I just feel like God revealsat the perfect times.
Um my rock bottom, it wasn't afinancial rock bottom, it wasn't
career rock bottom, it wasemotional, it was heartbreak
rock bottom, but it shaped mespiritually, it really did.
(02:42):
And if my ex is listening, uh,we're good.
I promise.
No animosity, life moved on.
So here it goes.
Um, I was a senior at theUniversity of Alabama, Roll
Tide.
My best friend Lorna, she knowsthis story too well, so she'll
probably be laughing as shehears this.
But at the beginning of mysenior year, the start of the
(03:05):
semester in August of 2008, Ireconnected or just like
connected with this guy, someoneI knew of but never noticed
before till then.
Uh um one night um at a party,we were all at a party, and I
wasn't even dancing, justsitting by the bar, and the
Olympics were on.
I remember this.
(03:26):
Um, and the redeemed team waswas like our with representing
the United States, which wasKobe Bryant, LeBron James, D.
Wade, Carmillo Anthony, ChrisPaul, etc.
And this guy walks up to me atthe bar and walks up and says
the cheesiest line ever.
(03:46):
He says, Who's better?
The redeem team or the dreamteam?
I mean, corny as ever, but alsoadorable because he knew I loved
sports and he literally had nogame.
And we talked for hours, weexchanged numbers, and the next
day I accidentally on purposeinvited him over to help me
build a desk in my room.
(04:07):
And after that, we wereinseparable.
Then I left my, then I left forum within that first semester,
still that same semester, I leftfor an eight-week internship in
Atlanta.
I had to graduate, in order forme to graduate, I had to do an
eight-week internship for mydegree.
So when I first left, at firstwe talked every night for hours
(04:28):
when I was in Atlanta.
Um, and then suddenly hedisappeared.
No calls, no texts, no response,nothing.
Days went by, weeks went by.
My heart was just shattered inreal time.
I visited Alabama for homecomingthat semester, like later on in
(04:48):
November, and I saw him fromafar, and I said hey, when I
walked by him, and he said, Hey,back and kept walking.
Like we had never been anything.
And because we kept ourrelationship private in the
first place, I had to pretendlike it never happened to.
And at the same time, all thiswas going on.
(05:11):
Um, I was like finishing out myinternship, you know, of course,
and then I go back in Januaryfor my last semester of college.
And at that time of, you know,going back to your last
semester, I'm also dealing with,you know, obviously, you know,
the situation with him.
But also what was going on was Ididn't get into the MBA program
(05:34):
I wanted.
The economy had collapsed.
This was 2008, the mortgagecrisis, right?
So jobs were disappearing.
Graduates of 2008, 2009 reallydidn't have jobs to go to.
And it looked like I'd begraduating and moving home with
my parents, just moving home andhaving to try to find a job that
may not even be in my degree.
(05:56):
I also became the president ofmy sorority and I was dealing
with some friendship stress andissues.
So I was emotionally unravelinga bit.
Um, and my best friend Lornacame to visit and said something
that really woke me up in themidst of like around April of
2009.
She said, Jess, you're thin.
(06:17):
And she didn't mean cute thin.
She meant I look sick.
And for the first time, I reallylooked at myself and I realized
I had lost like 12 to 13 pounds.
My face was a little sunken.
My hair was falling out.
I had a bald spot in the back ofmy head, two bald spots.
Um, I wasn't eating or sleepingproperly.
(06:40):
I really had a lot on my mind,and I had hit a rock bottom.
I was a little depressed, and itwas just, you know, just not my
best.
Fast forward, like a month and ahalf later to graduation
weekend, you know, and I wasgraduating in May from Alabama,
and I went to a party the nightbefore my graduation, and one of
(07:00):
his friends, you know, the guythat I was so in love with
basically, one of his friendstried to talk to me, and he got
weird.
He got jealous, he was rude tohis friend, just kind of made a
scene, and I just snapped.
And I said to him, I got up inhis face and I said, What is
your problem?
Mind your damn business.
(07:21):
That's literally what I said.
And he stared like a deer inheadlights.
Later that night, he called mefrom a block number and asked if
I could talk.
And I just looked at that phoneand I prayed.
Literally prayed, and I lookedat God and I said, What do I do?
I eventually, you know, wentdownstairs from my apartment.
(07:46):
He's we sat in his car for twoand a half hours, and he
confessed that he loved me.
He panicked when I left for thatinternship.
He missed me so much he didn'tknow what to do.
He didn't know how to handle hisreal feelings, he was
overwhelmed by life.
He ran because he was a coward.
We cried, we hugged.
(08:08):
It was like a lifetime movie inthat car, um, of all the emotion
and everything.
And you know what?
We got closure, but we didn'tget a reunion.
And when I drove away fromTuscaloosa for the last time
after graduation, after sayinggoodbye to him, because he came
to say bye to me, I cried.
But something shifted.
(08:30):
And the further I got from thatseason or that college life
experience, the clearer I saw myfuture direction.
And I had to make that change.
I had to, you know, take thenext step and move on from it.
And I realized, now that I'molder, and I kind of realized it
(08:50):
later on, like right after Igraduated a year or two later,
that God had separated us onpurpose, God had redirected me,
God had strengthened me, Godprepared me, now that I'm 38
now, that prepared me for theright marriage that I needed in
my life, the daughter that Ihave, the future that I have
(09:12):
today.
And years later, um, years,years later, which was actually
2025, he actually committed tothis girl he had been seeing for
a long time and he got married.
He got married.
I was genuinely happy for him tosee that he found happiness, but
(09:33):
also genuinely grateful that Goddidn't let that relationship
continue because I would stillhave been waiting at 38.
Absolutely not.
So thank you, Lord, for movingme on.
Thank you, Lord, for beingthere.
So my rock bottom taught me twothings of heart of um rock
(09:53):
bottom of heartbreak per se.
It taught me two things.
Do not play the victim and runto God, not away from him.
Let God manage the situation foryou.
Don't try to take it oncompletely yourself.
And that is exactly the messageI feel that's gonna really
(10:16):
develop within 1 Samuel 28through 30.
So let's start.
Chapter 28, Saul sees themassive Philistine army and
terror fills his heart.
This is 1 Samuel 28 5.
And he finally calls on God, butthe Lord did not answer him by
dreams or by prophets oranything, anything, as it says
(10:39):
in 1 Samuel 28 6.
Why?
Because for years Saul wantedanswers and not a relationship
with God, relief, notrepentance.
If you really we go back intothese chapters of 1 Samuel, it
was a couple of chapters sinceSaul had really sought out God.
So Saul had hit rock bottombecause he was freaking out over
(11:02):
this war, he was not hearingfrom God, and so he hit a
spiritual rock bottom andreaches for darkness, basically.
He goes to a medium, somethingGod strictly forbids, something
that Saul had outlawed in Israelas king in earlier chapters,
mind you.
And in Deuteronomy 18, 9 through13, I think it does a really
(11:26):
good job of understanding likewhat God doesn't want us to do
when it comes to mediums andthings like that.
And I just I'm gonna read itbecause I really think it makes
a lot of sense.
It says, When you enter the landthe Lord your God is giving you,
do not learn to imitate thedetestable things of the nations
(11:48):
there.
Let no one be found among youwho sacrifices their son or
daughter in the fire, whopractices um sorcery, interprets
omens, engages in witchcraft orcasts spells, or who is a medium
or spiritualist, or who consultsthe dead.
Anyone who does this isdetestable to the Lord.
Because of these same detestablepractices, the Lord your God
(12:10):
will drive out those nationsbefore you.
And even in Leviticus 1931, itsays, Do not turn to medians or
seek out spiritualists, for youwill be defiled by them.
I am the Lord your God.
So God forbids it.
He forbids that because thespiritual world is real.
(12:30):
Calling the dead is real.
And I used to not think that.
I used to think, like, oh, youknow, I don't believe in that
stuff.
I believe in God.
It is real.
It's not silly, it's not fake,it's not innocent fun.
It's real.
And Saul crosses the line, thespiritual boundary between the
living and the dead, a line Godhas established.
(12:52):
So let's move on.
I just want to give you a littlebit more details of like the
teachings of the dead and finaljudgment.
Which final judgment is the lakeof fire.
So scripture teaches us tworealms after death.
It teaches us a realm with theLord, the righteous dead, which
you can look at Luke 23, 43,which you know is just
(13:14):
paraphrasing, but it says, Todayyou will be with me in paradise.
We can look at first, I mean 2ndCorinthians 5.8, absent from the
body, spirit, present with theLord.
Um, Philippians 1.23, to departand be with Christ is better.
That's realm, you know, that'sthat's the realm with the Lord.
That's the righteous dead.
That's the that's the one wewant to be a part of, right?
(13:36):
And then the other realm isapart from God, waiting for
final judgment, which is you canlook at Luke 16, 23, which says
torment in Hades.
Christ described basically aplace of judgment after death.
And through a story that hetalked about with the rich man
in Lazarus.
And if you look in Jude 1.6, itsays spirits kept in darkness
(13:59):
until judgment.
We see 1 Peter 2 9 mentionsunrighteousness kept under
punishment.
Um, it also talks about inRevelation 20, 13 through 14,
that Hades gives up the dead forjudgment.
So the dead are not available tothe living, the realms are
sealed and they're separated.
(14:20):
And we don't teach, we don'treach for them because we are
children of the living God, asit says in Luke 20, 38.
So Saul in desperation triesanything.
And God interrupts it, by theway.
He goes he goes to this medium,disguises himself, and wants her
to summon a spirit, whichactually the spirit of Samuel,
(14:42):
you know, the prophet thatstarts that's always mentioned
in the beginning of 1 Samuel.
Because Samuel has been is isdead by this point.
And the medium screams when sheactually sees Samuel.
And it says in 1 Samuel 28, 12,when the woman saw Samuel, she
cried with the loud voice.
And you know why she cried out?
Because this wasn't her doing ofreaching a spirit, a dead
(15:06):
spirit.
God overrode this situation, andSamuel appears and delivers
judgment to Saul.
God allowed Samuel to come fromthe dead just for this situation
because it was like Saul justwasn't getting it.
And in verse um 28-8, it says,Samuel basically said to Saul
(15:29):
from the dead, the Lord hasturned away from you because you
did not obey him.
And it also says in 28 19,tomorrow you and your sons will
be with me.
That's what the the spirit ofSamuel told Saul in that moment.
So Saul collapses, he refusesfood, he falls into despair, all
(15:51):
this anxiety.
And it's interesting because ifyou look in that chapter, the
narrator of this book, of thatchapter especially, makes
something heartbreakingly clearthat Saul does not repent, not
once.
He hits rock bottom, he caves,he feels sorry for himself.
So now, with a little bit of adramatic conversation here,
(16:12):
let's shift to chapters 29 and30, which is where David's hits
his rock bottom.
Meanwhile, David has beendrifting, as we know.
He's living amongst thePhilistines, but we talked about
that last week, and not seekingGod, no mention of prayer or
worship in that time that he isliving with the Philistines at
first.
So at one point, David is readyto fight with the Philistines
(16:35):
against Israel.
Can you believe that?
That's how far he's fallen.
So, but God blocks it.
The Philistines reject David.
They don't trust David to fightwith them.
That rejection becomesprotection.
David returns then to Ziglag,and everything is gone.
That's where he was living.
The city was burned, wiveskidnapped, children, families
(16:57):
taken, men were ready, his menwere ready to stone him.
They were just upset becausethey lost everything too.
And this is David's rock bottom.
But here's the difference.
But David, but then it says umin 1 Samuel 36, it says, But
David strengthened himself inthe Lord his God.
(17:17):
David turns back to God, herepents, and he seeks direction.
He goes and look, he speaks toGod in 1 Samuel 30 30, verse 8,
and says, Shall I pursue theAmekites?
Because that's who tookeverything.
God answers and says, Pursuethem, you will surely recover
everything.
David obeys, attacks, and winsand recovers everything.
(17:41):
Restoration begins, I believe,at repentance.
So when I look back at my ownheartbreak, that thin, stress,
broken Jess in college, I seemyself in both Saul and David.
I see the moments where Ispiraled, like Saul, feeling
sorry for myself, collapsinginward, wanting to come, wanting
(18:03):
comfort, but not growth andrealization.
And I see moments where Ifinally turned like David,
seeking God, hearing God,trusting myself because God's
going to be with me, and lettingGod redirect my life.
These chapters remind us thatrock bottom isn't what destroys
you, rock bottom is what issupposed to reveal you, and you
(18:26):
know what reveals to you.
And Saul fell inward.
David fell towards God.
And I had to choose who I wouldbe as well.
And I wanted to fall, I wantedto for fall towards the Lord,
not fall inward.
So here's my question for you.
When you hit rock bottom, do youpanic like Saul and feel sorry
(18:49):
for yourself?
Or do you repent like David andtry to get it together?
Do you spiral into fear orstrengthen yourself in the Lord?
Do you chase voices in the wrongplaces, or you chase the voice
of God?
Because rock bottom will come.
But what you do next, how yourespond, determines everything.
(19:09):
Saul's path ended in judgment,David's path led to restoration.
And my path led to a husband,beautiful husband.
A home, a daughter, a future,and a calling.
Through this podcast, forexample.
So why?
Because rock bottom is not theplace God abandons you, rock
(19:29):
bottom is the place God waitsfor you to turn to him.
Rock bottom is not the end.
It's where God begins rebuildingyou.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you somuch for the study of 1 Samuel.
It is filled with storytelling,filled with courage, filled
with, you know, mistakes, love,betrayal, but repentance,
(19:52):
justice, your guidance, Lord.
We thank you so much for thestudy of the first, you know,
monarch of Israel, the futuremonarch of Israel.
Father, we thank you so much foryour kindness and your love in
all this.
Thank you for everybodylistening.
I pray that this is inspiring tosomebody.
I pray that this turns one moreperson to you, Lord.
(20:14):
And we thank you so much foryour guidance and love through
this.
In Jesus' name, amen.
That concludes first Samuel'sstudy.
Thank you so much for takingthis journey on with me.
Excited for what's to come.
It is Christmas season, thecelebration of Jesus' birth.
Till next time.
SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
Well, that wraps up this week's episode.
My prayer is that thesedevotions bring you a little
closer to God each day.
If you felt encouraged, don'tkeep it to yourself.
Share this episode with a friendor loved one who could use the
same reminder.
Be sure to hit subscribe so younever miss a weekly message.
And if you like, leaving a kindreview means so much.
(20:50):
For more, check the show notesor connect with me on Instagram
or TikTok at Jessie MorganFaith.
Until next time, this is JesseMorgan praying off.
Hello, hello.
You're listening to the JesseMorgan Devotions for the
Christian Heart Podcast, episode77.
This week's devotional is titledDead and Rock Bottom, Concluding
First Samuel.
Let's go.
SPEAKER_01 (00:14):
Hi, I'm Jesse Morgan.
I used to just share home decorand renovation tips on social
media, but now I'm sharingsomething even closer to my
heart.
My journey in love for JesusChrist, my Savior.
Welcome to the Jesse MorganDevotions for the Christian Hawk
Podcast.
This is a weekly devotional Istarted back in May 2024, but
the inspiration for it came muchearlier.
(00:35):
It was rooted in a faith journeythat began when my daughter was
born four months early in 2023.
Through that challenging time,God worked in ways that truly
amazed me.
On this podcast, I sharepersonal stories of faith woven
together with Scripture to showjust how incredible God's word
can be in our everyday lives.
My hope is that through thesestories, you'll be encouraged,
(00:57):
uplifted, and reminded of God'slove and presence, no matter
what you're going through.
So I invite you to spend lessthan 15 minutes with me each
week as we reflect on thesedevotionals together.
Let's all pray within.
SPEAKER_00 (01:11):
Episode 77, key passages, 1 Samuel 28 through
30, dead in rock bottom.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Um we are wrapping up as what Ilike to call David Act One,
David and the Monarchy, Act One.
We are at the end of 1 Samuel.
And these three chapters,chapter 28 through 30, whew,
(01:34):
they are heavy, they arelayered, they are emotional,
they are spiritual.
I even thought about splittingthem up because um these
chapters really carry so muchweight, but the more I read
them, the more I realized thesechapters are meant to stay
together.
And the theme that ties themtogether is simple but powerful.
(01:57):
Rock bottom.
And not just hitting rockbottom, but what do you do next?
And before we get into um theserock bottom stories, which are
going to evolve David and Saul,I want to start with a personal
story because some somethingit's one basically I wanted to
really share this personal storybecause this is something I've
(02:19):
never shared this way, but itfits some way perfect in my
opinion.
And I just feel like God revealsat the perfect times.
Um my rock bottom, it wasn't afinancial rock bottom, it wasn't
career rock bottom, it wasemotional, it was heartbreak
rock bottom, but it shaped mespiritually, it really did.
(02:42):
And if my ex is listening, uh,we're good.
I promise.
No animosity, life moved on.
So here it goes.
Um, I was a senior at theUniversity of Alabama, Roll
Tide.
My best friend Lorna, she knowsthis story too well, so she'll
probably be laughing as shehears this.
But at the beginning of mysenior year, the start of the
(03:05):
semester in August of 2008, Ireconnected or just like
connected with this guy, someoneI knew of but never noticed
before till then.
Uh um one night um at a party,we were all at a party, and I
wasn't even dancing, justsitting by the bar, and the
Olympics were on.
I remember this.
(03:26):
Um, and the redeemed team waswas like our with representing
the United States, which wasKobe Bryant, LeBron James, D.
Wade, Carmillo Anthony, ChrisPaul, etc.
And this guy walks up to me atthe bar and walks up and says
the cheesiest line ever.
(03:46):
He says, Who's better?
The redeem team or the dreamteam?
I mean, corny as ever, but alsoadorable because he knew I loved
sports and he literally had nogame.
And we talked for hours, weexchanged numbers, and the next
day I accidentally on purposeinvited him over to help me
build a desk in my room.
(04:07):
And after that, we wereinseparable.
Then I left my, then I left forum within that first semester,
still that same semester, I leftfor an eight-week internship in
Atlanta.
I had to graduate, in order forme to graduate, I had to do an
eight-week internship for mydegree.
So when I first left, at firstwe talked every night for hours
(04:28):
when I was in Atlanta.
Um, and then suddenly hedisappeared.
No calls, no texts, no response,nothing.
Days went by, weeks went by.
My heart was just shattered inreal time.
I visited Alabama for homecomingthat semester, like later on in
(04:48):
November, and I saw him fromafar, and I said hey, when I
walked by him, and he said, Hey,back and kept walking.
Like we had never been anything.
And because we kept ourrelationship private in the
first place, I had to pretendlike it never happened to.
And at the same time, all thiswas going on.
(05:11):
Um, I was like finishing out myinternship, you know, of course,
and then I go back in Januaryfor my last semester of college.
And at that time of, you know,going back to your last
semester, I'm also dealing with,you know, obviously, you know,
the situation with him.
But also what was going on was Ididn't get into the MBA program
(05:34):
I wanted.
The economy had collapsed.
This was 2008, the mortgagecrisis, right?
So jobs were disappearing.
Graduates of 2008, 2009 reallydidn't have jobs to go to.
And it looked like I'd begraduating and moving home with
my parents, just moving home andhaving to try to find a job that
may not even be in my degree.
(05:56):
I also became the president ofmy sorority and I was dealing
with some friendship stress andissues.
So I was emotionally unravelinga bit.
Um, and my best friend Lornacame to visit and said something
that really woke me up in themidst of like around April of
2009.
She said, Jess, you're thin.
(06:17):
And she didn't mean cute thin.
She meant I look sick.
And for the first time, I reallylooked at myself and I realized
I had lost like 12 to 13 pounds.
My face was a little sunken.
My hair was falling out.
I had a bald spot in the back ofmy head, two bald spots.
Um, I wasn't eating or sleepingproperly.
(06:40):
I really had a lot on my mind,and I had hit a rock bottom.
I was a little depressed, and itwas just, you know, just not my
best.
Fast forward, like a month and ahalf later to graduation
weekend, you know, and I wasgraduating in May from Alabama,
and I went to a party the nightbefore my graduation, and one of
(07:00):
his friends, you know, the guythat I was so in love with
basically, one of his friendstried to talk to me, and he got
weird.
He got jealous, he was rude tohis friend, just kind of made a
scene, and I just snapped.
And I said to him, I got up inhis face and I said, What is
your problem?
Mind your damn business.
(07:21):
That's literally what I said.
And he stared like a deer inheadlights.
Later that night, he called mefrom a block number and asked if
I could talk.
And I just looked at that phoneand I prayed.
Literally prayed, and I lookedat God and I said, What do I do?
I eventually, you know, wentdownstairs from my apartment.
(07:46):
He's we sat in his car for twoand a half hours, and he
confessed that he loved me.
He panicked when I left for thatinternship.
He missed me so much he didn'tknow what to do.
He didn't know how to handle hisreal feelings, he was
overwhelmed by life.
He ran because he was a coward.
We cried, we hugged.
(08:08):
It was like a lifetime movie inthat car, um, of all the emotion
and everything.
And you know what?
We got closure, but we didn'tget a reunion.
And when I drove away fromTuscaloosa for the last time
after graduation, after sayinggoodbye to him, because he came
to say bye to me, I cried.
But something shifted.
(08:30):
And the further I got from thatseason or that college life
experience, the clearer I saw myfuture direction.
And I had to make that change.
I had to, you know, take thenext step and move on from it.
And I realized, now that I'molder, and I kind of realized it
(08:50):
later on, like right after Igraduated a year or two later,
that God had separated us onpurpose, God had redirected me,
God had strengthened me, Godprepared me, now that I'm 38
now, that prepared me for theright marriage that I needed in
my life, the daughter that Ihave, the future that I have
(09:12):
today.
And years later, um, years,years later, which was actually
2025, he actually committed tothis girl he had been seeing for
a long time and he got married.
He got married.
I was genuinely happy for him tosee that he found happiness, but
(09:33):
also genuinely grateful that Goddidn't let that relationship
continue because I would stillhave been waiting at 38.
Absolutely not.
So thank you, Lord, for movingme on.
Thank you, Lord, for beingthere.
So my rock bottom taught me twothings of heart of um rock
(09:53):
bottom of heartbreak per se.
It taught me two things.
Do not play the victim and runto God, not away from him.
Let God manage the situation foryou.
Don't try to take it oncompletely yourself.
And that is exactly the messageI feel that's gonna really
(10:16):
develop within 1 Samuel 28through 30.
So let's start.
Chapter 28, Saul sees themassive Philistine army and
terror fills his heart.
This is 1 Samuel 28 5.
And he finally calls on God, butthe Lord did not answer him by
dreams or by prophets oranything, anything, as it says
(10:39):
in 1 Samuel 28 6.
Why?
Because for years Saul wantedanswers and not a relationship
with God, relief, notrepentance.
If you really we go back intothese chapters of 1 Samuel, it
was a couple of chapters sinceSaul had really sought out God.
So Saul had hit rock bottombecause he was freaking out over
(11:02):
this war, he was not hearingfrom God, and so he hit a
spiritual rock bottom andreaches for darkness, basically.
He goes to a medium, somethingGod strictly forbids, something
that Saul had outlawed in Israelas king in earlier chapters,
mind you.
And in Deuteronomy 18, 9 through13, I think it does a really
(11:26):
good job of understanding likewhat God doesn't want us to do
when it comes to mediums andthings like that.
And I just I'm gonna read itbecause I really think it makes
a lot of sense.
It says, When you enter the landthe Lord your God is giving you,
do not learn to imitate thedetestable things of the nations
(11:48):
there.
Let no one be found among youwho sacrifices their son or
daughter in the fire, whopractices um sorcery, interprets
omens, engages in witchcraft orcasts spells, or who is a medium
or spiritualist, or who consultsthe dead.
Anyone who does this isdetestable to the Lord.
Because of these same detestablepractices, the Lord your God
(12:10):
will drive out those nationsbefore you.
And even in Leviticus 1931, itsays, Do not turn to medians or
seek out spiritualists, for youwill be defiled by them.
I am the Lord your God.
So God forbids it.
He forbids that because thespiritual world is real.
(12:30):
Calling the dead is real.
And I used to not think that.
I used to think, like, oh, youknow, I don't believe in that
stuff.
I believe in God.
It is real.
It's not silly, it's not fake,it's not innocent fun.
It's real.
And Saul crosses the line, thespiritual boundary between the
living and the dead, a line Godhas established.
(12:52):
So let's move on.
I just want to give you a littlebit more details of like the
teachings of the dead and finaljudgment.
Which final judgment is the lakeof fire.
So scripture teaches us tworealms after death.
It teaches us a realm with theLord, the righteous dead, which
you can look at Luke 23, 43,which you know is just
(13:14):
paraphrasing, but it says, Todayyou will be with me in paradise.
We can look at first, I mean 2ndCorinthians 5.8, absent from the
body, spirit, present with theLord.
Um, Philippians 1.23, to departand be with Christ is better.
That's realm, you know, that'sthat's the realm with the Lord.
That's the righteous dead.
That's the that's the one wewant to be a part of, right?
(13:36):
And then the other realm isapart from God, waiting for
final judgment, which is you canlook at Luke 16, 23, which says
torment in Hades.
Christ described basically aplace of judgment after death.
And through a story that hetalked about with the rich man
in Lazarus.
And if you look in Jude 1.6, itsays spirits kept in darkness
(13:59):
until judgment.
We see 1 Peter 2 9 mentionsunrighteousness kept under
punishment.
Um, it also talks about inRevelation 20, 13 through 14,
that Hades gives up the dead forjudgment.
So the dead are not available tothe living, the realms are
sealed and they're separated.
(14:20):
And we don't teach, we don'treach for them because we are
children of the living God, asit says in Luke 20, 38.
So Saul in desperation triesanything.
And God interrupts it, by theway.
He goes he goes to this medium,disguises himself, and wants her
to summon a spirit, whichactually the spirit of Samuel,
(14:42):
you know, the prophet thatstarts that's always mentioned
in the beginning of 1 Samuel.
Because Samuel has been is isdead by this point.
And the medium screams when sheactually sees Samuel.
And it says in 1 Samuel 28, 12,when the woman saw Samuel, she
cried with the loud voice.
And you know why she cried out?
Because this wasn't her doing ofreaching a spirit, a dead
(15:06):
spirit.
God overrode this situation, andSamuel appears and delivers
judgment to Saul.
God allowed Samuel to come fromthe dead just for this situation
because it was like Saul justwasn't getting it.
And in verse um 28-8, it says,Samuel basically said to Saul
(15:29):
from the dead, the Lord hasturned away from you because you
did not obey him.
And it also says in 28 19,tomorrow you and your sons will
be with me.
That's what the the spirit ofSamuel told Saul in that moment.
So Saul collapses, he refusesfood, he falls into despair, all
(15:51):
this anxiety.
And it's interesting because ifyou look in that chapter, the
narrator of this book, of thatchapter especially, makes
something heartbreakingly clearthat Saul does not repent, not
once.
He hits rock bottom, he caves,he feels sorry for himself.
So now, with a little bit of adramatic conversation here,
(16:12):
let's shift to chapters 29 and30, which is where David's hits
his rock bottom.
Meanwhile, David has beendrifting, as we know.
He's living amongst thePhilistines, but we talked about
that last week, and not seekingGod, no mention of prayer or
worship in that time that he isliving with the Philistines at
first.
So at one point, David is readyto fight with the Philistines
(16:35):
against Israel.
Can you believe that?
That's how far he's fallen.
So, but God blocks it.
The Philistines reject David.
They don't trust David to fightwith them.
That rejection becomesprotection.
David returns then to Ziglag,and everything is gone.
That's where he was living.
The city was burned, wiveskidnapped, children, families
(16:57):
taken, men were ready, his menwere ready to stone him.
They were just upset becausethey lost everything too.
And this is David's rock bottom.
But here's the difference.
But David, but then it says umin 1 Samuel 36, it says, But
David strengthened himself inthe Lord his God.
(17:17):
David turns back to God, herepents, and he seeks direction.
He goes and look, he speaks toGod in 1 Samuel 30 30, verse 8,
and says, Shall I pursue theAmekites?
Because that's who tookeverything.
God answers and says, Pursuethem, you will surely recover
everything.
David obeys, attacks, and winsand recovers everything.
(17:41):
Restoration begins, I believe,at repentance.
So when I look back at my ownheartbreak, that thin, stress,
broken Jess in college, I seemyself in both Saul and David.
I see the moments where Ispiraled, like Saul, feeling
sorry for myself, collapsinginward, wanting to come, wanting
(18:03):
comfort, but not growth andrealization.
And I see moments where Ifinally turned like David,
seeking God, hearing God,trusting myself because God's
going to be with me, and lettingGod redirect my life.
These chapters remind us thatrock bottom isn't what destroys
you, rock bottom is what issupposed to reveal you, and you
(18:26):
know what reveals to you.
And Saul fell inward.
David fell towards God.
And I had to choose who I wouldbe as well.
And I wanted to fall, I wantedto for fall towards the Lord,
not fall inward.
So here's my question for you.
When you hit rock bottom, do youpanic like Saul and feel sorry
(18:49):
for yourself?
Or do you repent like David andtry to get it together?
Do you spiral into fear orstrengthen yourself in the Lord?
Do you chase voices in the wrongplaces, or you chase the voice
of God?
Because rock bottom will come.
But what you do next, how yourespond, determines everything.
(19:09):
Saul's path ended in judgment,David's path led to restoration.
And my path led to a husband,beautiful husband.
A home, a daughter, a future,and a calling.
Through this podcast, forexample.
So why?
Because rock bottom is not theplace God abandons you, rock
(19:29):
bottom is the place God waitsfor you to turn to him.
Rock bottom is not the end.
It's where God begins rebuildingyou.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you somuch for the study of 1 Samuel.
It is filled with storytelling,filled with courage, filled
with, you know, mistakes, love,betrayal, but repentance,
(19:52):
justice, your guidance, Lord.
We thank you so much for thestudy of the first, you know,
monarch of Israel, the futuremonarch of Israel.
Father, we thank you so much foryour kindness and your love in
all this.
Thank you for everybodylistening.
I pray that this is inspiring tosomebody.
I pray that this turns one moreperson to you, Lord.
(20:14):
And we thank you so much foryour guidance and love through
this.
In Jesus' name, amen.
That concludes first Samuel'sstudy.
Thank you so much for takingthis journey on with me.
Excited for what's to come.
It is Christmas season, thecelebration of Jesus' birth.
Till next time.
SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
Well, that wraps up this week's episode.
My prayer is that thesedevotions bring you a little
closer to God each day.
If you felt encouraged, don'tkeep it to yourself.
Share this episode with a friendor loved one who could use the
same reminder.
Be sure to hit subscribe so younever miss a weekly message.
And if you like, leaving a kindreview means so much.
(20:50):
For more, check the show notesor connect with me on Instagram
or TikTok at Jessie MorganFaith.
Until next time, this is JesseMorgan praying off.
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