Day4
1Samuel 28
Week 45
“Then said the woman, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.” The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a divine being ascending out of the earth.” He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a robe.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel. And he kneeled with his face to the ground and bowed himself.”
1 Samuel 28:11-14 MEV
Cross references
1 Samuel 15:27
A Robe Represents
Clothing is an important part of any culture with many meanings.
Throughout history a people would be recognized by their clothing moreover, their status within their culture would be represented by the type of clothing worn.
In the Old Testament a robe represents status, leadership and power.
Kings, priests, prophets and men of great wealth all wore outer robes to represent their positions of authority and power.
Samuel was recognized by Saul because of his robe.
Spiritually a robe represents character. We are clothed in righteousness with the garments of salvation after we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives. Isaiah 61:10.
We are given a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3.
We are also given responsibility to
Colossians 3:12 …clothe yourselves in tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… and 1 Peter 5:5 ….clothe yourselves with humility…
Our culture tends to be looser with fashions, but it is very tempting to use our clothing as a self-expression.
Self-expression is a gift to the self. We may use garments and other fineries to “prove” our worthiness to our peers, but God sees through our fancy wardrobe and our worn disguises, encountering our hearts in their truest form (1 Samuel 16:7).
1 Peter 3:4: “… rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.”
This passage urges the faithful to cease using clothing as an easy disguise. We cannot lean on our clothes, or other wares, to maintain an illusion of beauty and reputation. We must do the difficult work of character building, which requires greater attention to our habits, desires, and priorities.
Christians, then, should strive to “wear” virtues visibly when they interact with friends and strangers each day, through good acts and deeds.
Keep in mind that a robe represents!
What are you representing?
Action Step
What amazes you about God’s character?
List a few things about God’s character that you admire.
Think about those character traits throughout your day and ask Holy Spirit to help you develop them in yourself.
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