The Key to God’s Heart
Opening Prayer
Lord, keep me from the terrible choices I may make when I am desperate to get something done.
Read 1 Samuel 28:1–25
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“Speak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on thee; Hushed my heart to listen, in expectancy” (E. May Grimes, 1868–1927).
Think Further
This episode captures the most despondent moment for Saul, on the eve of his death. His story reminds me of a friend diagnosed with terminal cancer. At first he consulted famous medical experts. When no progress was achieved, he tried everything—healing prayer meetings, scorpion venom treatment, herbal medicine and acupuncture. In this chapter, Saul is frightened by the impending battle with the Philistines. He is desperate to inquire of the Lord and will try anything. However, God does not answer him by dreams, lots (Urim) or prophets. Out of despair, Saul consults a medium to summon the ghost of Samuel—despite his own prohibition of necromancy in Israel.
Summoned from the underworld by the medium, Samuel harshly rebukes the king, proclaiming
to him the same verdict as in 1 Samuel 15:28: the Lord has torn the kingdom from him and given it to his neighbor, David (17). He reiterates the reason for Saul’s decline: his failure to “obey” (in Hebrew, “listen to the voice of”) the Lord (18; cf. 1 Sam. 15:19) to completely destroy the Amalekites. It is because Yahweh is sovereign that he deserves Saul’s absolute obedience. On hearing the imminent death sentence to take place on the battlefield, Saul is emotionally devastated and physically weak (20). He has eaten nothing all day and into this night. To persuade Saul to accept food, the medium urges Saul to “listen” to her (22) because she obeyed him, risking her life to summon up Samuel (21). Despite his initial refusal, Saul finally eats a fellowship meal with the medium (23). Once again it shows his willingness to compromise with evil, which is offensive to Yahweh. Ironically, Saul listens to people, but he never listens to Yahweh and keeps his command.
Apply
I once asked a spiritual friend how I could be used by God. He said, “Obedience in whatever situation!” To which voice do we listen? Ourselves, the devil, people around us, or God?
Closing prayer
Lord, impress upon me the terrible cost I may pay when I knowingly defy Your clear commandment to avoid any and all occultic involvement.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.