Regarding Saul:
…and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. 1Chron 10:14
Saul made a habit of doing his own thing. Beware! When we rely on our knowledge of good and evil to drive our actions, we have become as gods worshiping at the altar of independence.
Regarding David:
So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah. 1 Sam 23:22
Then David inquired of the LORD once more. And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 1 Sam 23:4
David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue {all.}” 1 Sam 30:8
Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”2 Sam 2:1
Then David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 2 Sam 5:19
When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go {directly} up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 2 Sam 5:23
David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. 2 Sam 12:16
David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 1 Chron 14:10
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 Sam 21:1
Like David, when we inquire of the Lord we acknowledge our dependence on Him. We honor Him as our Father, we glorify Him as the only One with truth and wisdom, and we set ourselves in our proper place of submission to His will.
In the Old Testament, David was of the pattern of an anointed leader bringing God’s word to His people. This anointing required those who did not have it to depend on those who did. As Christians, baptized with water and fire, this limited anointing is no longer the norm. Now, we have the Spirit of God within us. We have personal access – unlimited personal access – to inquire and receive direction directly from the Lord.
As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. 1 John 2:27
Some will say, “But the Lord doesn’t talk to me.” The answer is straightforward: If you are born of water and of the Spirit, your Lord does talk to you. Seek Him first. Let go of those things you choose over time with Him. It’s those “other things” that muffle His voice.