1 Samuel 28:1 – 25 “Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.”
“Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritualists from the land. The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.”
“There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.
So, Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked.
“Bring up Samuel,” he replied. But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?”
“I see a god (a spirit, a divine being) coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.
“What does he look like?” asked Saul.
“An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.”
So, Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed face down in reverence.
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
“I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by the prophets or dreams. So, I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
“Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me. Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”
Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.”
There is a BBC program on TV depicting some of the worst disasters in British history and the mistakes that led up to them. Sadly, many times, if a few wise men and women had been able to make their voices heard, these disasters could have been avoided. When we look at Saul’s life, we realize that Saul has made key decisions that have eventually led to his downfall. Saul’s life which began with so much promise from the anointing of the Lord is now on a steep downhill slope to destruction with no salvation in sight.
Saul has banned all the witches, wizards, and mediums from Israel in accordance with God’s commands in Deuteronomy 18:9-12. At the time, Saul did this, he could either consult Samuel or one of the priests who possessed the ephod with the Urim and Thummim. But Samuel is dead and Saul has massacred most of the priests. Saul himself has never established a relationship with God but has always depended on second – hand faith. Now Saul is frightened and desperate, so he goes to consult a medium, demanding that she bring up Samuel’s ghost. The medium goes through her rituals, perhaps expecting that some demon masquerading as a person will appear. But Samuel does appear; and the medium suddenly realizes that this man consulting her is the same king who has tried to banish her from Israel.
Why does God allow Samuel to appear to Saul? This is the only place in the Bible where a ghost appears. Perhaps Samuel begs God for one final chance to confront Saul and to advise him. This is Saul’s final opportunity to repent of all his wrong – doing and to humble himself before the Lord. If Saul will repent, he will still face his death but he will face death trusting in God. Samuel confronts Saul; however, Saul is crumbling spiritually and has practically no will left with which to make correct choices. Saul fumbles this final opportunity. The medium feeds Saul the best food in her house and he leaves.
APPLICATION: There are people who have told themselves that they want to go their own way now and that they will serve God later. But later never comes. Saul may have been one of those people. When all your life choices are leading you further and further away from God, it is foolish to expect that you will suddenly turn to Him. Nobody knows the day of his or her death. In the beginning, God chose Saul as king over Israel. There is never any record of Saul distinguishing himself spiritually; we only know that Saul LOOKED like a king. Things came easily to Saul, to the point that he felt entitled. Saul listened to Samuel when Samuel was saying what Saul wanted to hear, but when Samuel attempted to correct Saul, Saul wasn’t interested. Despite all Saul’s references to the Lord, he never actually humbled himself before God and worshiped Him as David did regularly.
Proverbs 29:1 tells us, “A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.” Saul is about to be shattered, and his son Jonathan and the armies of Israel will be shattered with him.
2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” (NLT) DON’T BE LIKE SAUL!!! Even at the end of Saul’s life, God still gave him the opportunity to repent and to ask forgiveness for his disobedience, his acts of temper, and his denial of God’s will. Today is the “right time!” Let’s pray.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for living as a sinless man and dying on that Roman cross as a blood sacrifice for our sins. Lord, we confess that we have done wrong things and that nothing we do is good enough for us to earn our way into heaven. Please forgive us and help us to trust in You. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Amen.
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