Read 1 Samuel 28
1 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.
Go Deeper
First Samuel 28 is, to say the least, an interesting chapter. Samuel is now dead. King Saul attempts to rid the mediums and spiritists from the land and rally Israel to fight against the Philistines.
Before he goes to battle with the Philistines, Saul inquires of the Lord. The Lord doesn’t answer his prayers in any of the usual ways of that day (v. 6), so Saul decides to take matters into his own hands. Saul consults a medium. A medium is someone who claims to bridge the gap between the living and the dead. One of Saul’s servants finds a female medium in Endor, so Saul puts on a disguise and goes to the woman at night. He didn’t want anyone to know about the visit because he banned mediums from the land.
In an interesting twist, God uses the medium to conjure up the dead spirit of the prophet Samuel. The spirit of Samuel rebukes Saul, and tells Saul he can expect consequences for his sins and his refusal to obey the Lord. The spirit also predicts Israel will lose the battle to the Philistines and Saul and his sons will die.
What’s important for us to remember is that we don’t want to be people who turn to sinful ways in moments of desperation. Saul blames God for his sin (v. 15) and says he turned to mediums since the Lord abandoned him. We need to remember to listen and pay attention when we hear from the Lord through His word, His Spirit, and His people. Saul rejected the clear counsel of God several times in the past (1 Samuel 13 and 15), so the Lord did not respond to Saul’s requests for help. May we be people who accept the counsel of God.
Questions
- Why did Saul disguise himself and visit the medium in the night?
- What do you do when it appears God is not listening to you or answering your prayers?
- Where and who do you turn to when you need to be encouraged or seek counsel?
Did you Know?
In Deuteronomy 18, the Lord gives clear instructions on who should and should not counsel His people. Even though God uses a medium to speak to Saul in this chapter, we are instructed to avoid mediums, spiritists, or those who consult the dead (among others) (v. 11). Instead, God will raise up leaders to guide His people (v. 15, 18). God’s people should be different from the people of other nations.
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4 responses to “1 Samuel 28”
Do you trust God? Or do you put your trust in man? JP is a magnanimous ,charismatic, leader. But he is but a man and states this often. I believe people rely on the “man” they can see in front of them rather than God, whom they cannot see. Man is going to fail us everytime. BUT GOD will not. Now situations may not play out like we want them BUT GOD has a plan through it all. Saul relyed on Samuel and his son Jonathan. If our relationship with God depends solely on someone else’s personal walk with Him, we are at risk. Saul’s problems didnt happen overnight. He contiually did not listen to God, Samuel or Jonathan. When your rebel against God this only leads to utter dispair and disappointment. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Phil 4:19 says my God will supply all my needs. For God so loved the world!!!!!!!!!!!
God thank You that I listen with shema ears to hear and obey You. God I know man is not where I need to seek out without consulting YOu first. Help me to search You, Your Word, and then seek the counsel of LG. God thank You that You have put me in a place that helps me to grow more and more to You. Thank You for this amazing season of learning. I am beyond thankful grateful and blessed. God thank You for these minutes of this day, to see Your people, love them, be kind, speak about You and have ears to hear You in Jesus name amen.
Reading of Saul’s behavior throughout 1 Samuel leaves a pit in my stomach. His choices were blatantly shameful & manipulative as time after time he rejected God and chose his own ways. V6 shows in desperation “Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him.” God sees every thought and intent of our hearts, he knows if we are sincerely seeking him or just maneuvering the chess pieces of life with selfish motives. It’s frightening to think that when harboring sin and refusing to turn away from it blocks God from hearing our prayers. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).
7 “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”
How typical of Saul and many of those in power . . . violating the very laws that you put in place (banning mediums).
“Rules for thee, but not for me” has been around for a long time!
The consequences of disobedience.