I ran over to a person I thought I knew at first glance.  Her back was turned speaking to another attendee she knew in the crowded convention hall.  As soon as I got close to her; I spoke her name in greeting.  She turned around and responded, “Do I know you?”  When I looked fully into her face, I realized she wasn’t the person I thought I knew well!   Yes, those times are embarrassing.  I even blush and laugh at myself when I wildly wave at someone on the road in another vehicle who turns out to be a total stranger, too!  Sometimes, however, I make new friends by mistaking others for people I know!

“Do I know you? Depart from me, I never knew you.”  Can we imagine Jesus saying this to one of us?  Hard stuff.  Lets go deeper.  Jesus does know us.  The verse “Depart from me, for I never knew you” is found in Matthew 7:23. It is part of a larger passage (Matthew 7:21-23) where Jesus speaks about false prophets and those who call him “Lord, Lord” but do not do the will of his Father. In this context, the phrase signifies Jesus’s rejection of individuals who claim to be his followers but whose actions demonstrate a lack of genuine faith and relationship with him, according to most religious interpretations. 

I think of what Jesus said as we learn the predicament Saul is in.  God removed His Spirit from King Saul when Saul arrogantly refused to obey God.  The outcome of this broken relationship with God has resulted in leaving Saul with living with the consequences of his own rebellious actions. Saul is now left to his own devices in every part of his life.  Earlier, Saul thought he didn’t need God.  In fact, he declared himself a god!  So, is it any wonder Saul no longer hears from the God?

Without a relationship with our Holy, Almighty, All-Knowing God, evil rushes in to overwhelm our thoughts with extreme fear, sickening anxieties, with constant worry—paralyzing us from doing anything! Who we say we believe will always be found true or false in our responses and behaviors.  In fact, what we truly believe about God will be reflected in what we say and do when troubles come and overwhelm us.

Know this: God knows our hearts and will always respond to humble hearts fully committed to Him, ready to do His will, His Way.  King Saul’s heart is not committed to God—only to self and self-survival. Saul only looks to God to clean up the mess he has made and put him back on the throne of success.  The King is faced with the hard truth: God hears but is no longer listening to him because repentance is far from Saul’s mind.

1 Samuel 28

In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

² David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

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.

⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. ⁶ He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 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.

⁸ So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

⁹ But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

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?”

“Bring 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!”

¹³ The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

¹⁴ “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

¹⁶ Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. ¹⁹ The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

²⁰ Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

²¹ When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. ²² Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

²³ He refused and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

²⁴ The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. ²⁵ Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn from the life of King Saul and others who disobeyed God for self-pursuits to avoid hypocrisy at all costs!  Be with God before we do anything.  If we do not seek God first and get His direction; we will march to the beat of our drummer and fall to the religion of mere busyness!  The passage in Matthew 7:21-23 addresses the issue of false disciples and the importance of genuine faith, not just outward displays of religious activity. 

Let’s be clear; “I never knew you” doesn’t mean Jesus was unaware of our existence, but rather that He doesn’t recognize us as true followers or acknowledge us as his disciples, when we follow our own will. “Depart from me” is a declaration of separation, where Jesus rejects those who claim to know him but whose lives do not reflect his teachings. Yes, avoid hypocrisy, the sin of the religious leaders whom Jesus called out to repent first for they were confusing to His People.

No matter what means Saul tried, he received no answer from God. Not to hear from God is like death.  In fact, David wrote a song about it—

“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.” Psalm 28:1-2

We can’t help but feel sorry for Saul; yet at the same time, we must admit that he brought his plight on himself. Despite all the blessings God gave to Saul and all the opportunities to grow spiritually, Saul refused.  So, Saul was unprepared to lead, unprepared to fight, and unprepared to die. 

But, then again, who are we to judge?  Are we ready?

Lord,

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptations of self that leads to overwhelming consequences but deliver us from evil.  Come, Holy Spirit, for you are welcome.  Remove all that is not holy and acceptable to You.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the unspeakable joy of your salvation at work within us to mold and shape us to be all you created us to be—Yours in relationship that is full of love, mercy, and grace!

In Jesus Name, Amen