Joel M Bradshaw

3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

8So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. 19Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”–1 Samuel 28

Here are 10 things that stand out from this most interesting chapter.

1. Saul had tried the ‘legal’ methods and they no longer worked. Saul therefore went to the ‘illegal’.
2. Verse 7 is proof that George Lucas read the Bible. A very Star Wars name!
3. The medium’s fear was grounded in the fact that Saul’s reign wasn’t a complete moral failure.
4. Saul brought the holy name of Yahweh into this and made a vow. Just let that sink in. This would be like one spouse having an affair and praying for the other spouse while doing so. Don’t bring God into your sin!
5. The irony stands out. Saul uses God’s name to comfort the medium, but Saul himself has no comfort from God.
6. The medium’s seance experience worked. In Ephesians 6, Paul assumes that the spiritual powers actually do have power and that is why our war is really against them.
7. Saul cared more about the words of dead Samuel then alive Samuel. Saul cared more about God’s message when Samuel was dead then when Samuel was alive.
8. Samuel was in some kind of after-life state. His body was dead, but his spirit was still alive in some form. This is further Biblical proof of the dual nature of human existence (material and immaterial, physical and non physical).
9. Samuel affirmed what Saul already knew that God had rejected him.
10. Samuel actually gave the answers to Saul’s problem. This is what surprises us. The Philistines would win and Saul would be dead the next day. Verse 19 is one of the most chilling verses in the Bible. Saul would be in the afterlife tomorrow!

So many people are fascinated by the ‘other side’. Today’s chapter actually communicates a message from one who had physically died. We don’t know why God chose to communicate this way, especially when he forbade the Israelites to use mediums (Leviticus 19:31). Yet, God also communicated through Balaam the oracle giver, played the ‘magic’ game around Samson’s hair, and communicated to magi in their star charts! God handles his business in the way he chooses!

The takeaway here is God’s sovereignty and the despair of one rejected by God. This is not an excuse to visit psychics.–JMB