1 SAMUEL 28 - Saul and the medium 

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** David raided select Israelite communities; Achish, who was the son of a Philistine king, thought David would be his servant for life

1 Samuel 28:1-2 NIV

[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.”

1 Samuel 27:10-12 NIV

[10] When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel ” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites. ” [11] He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ ” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. [12] Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life. ”

1 Samuel 27:12 NKJV

[12] So Achish believed David, saying, "He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever."

** Mediums and spiritists were banned by divine law and Israel was not to be defiled by them; turning to them was tantamount to playing the harlot and God would set His face against the individual and cut them off from his people  <M130>

1 Samuel 28:3-8 NIV

[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.”

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NIV

[10] Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, [11] or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. [12] Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.

Leviticus 20:6 NIV

[6] “ ‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.

** In fear and desperation, Saul sought for that which he removed, proving that he was not only a sinner but a hypocrite  <D497>

• After Samuel’s death, the Scriptures record that Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land

• Although this was one of the more positive actions he took during his reign, terrible irony was to come

1 Samuel 28:7 NIV

[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.

** Saul asked to consult the ghost of Samuel via a spiritist

• Saul was terrified by the size of the Philistine army that was drawn up against him

• He did not receive guidance from God when we went to Him, so he turned to the dark forces for aid

• Much to the surprise of everyone (even the spiritist), Samuel appeared and acknowledged that the Lord had left Saul and that he would lose his life and kingdom

• It is possible for a person to wander so far from God that there is no way back to the place of blessing  <R1795>

1 Samuel 28:11-15 NIV

[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.”

1 Samuel 28:16-19 NIV

[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.”

** There are three states of existence when a person is fully conscious:

• CURRENT state where believers are living in the light of eternity

• TEMPORARY incomplete state where the bodiless soul that is fully conscious exists in bliss in the presence of God, or in torment without God; some believe they will have a temporary body while others believe their soul is not housed with a body  

• RESURRECTED state when the believer’s soul unites with a glorified body at the resurrection they have for eternity  <S188>

1 Samuel 28:11-15 NIV

[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.”

Matthew 23:33 NIV [not everyone is saved because Jesus talks about a place or punishment often]

[33] “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

Luke 23:39-43 NIV

[39] One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don't you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” [42] Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” [43] Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”