“David, can you hear me now?”
I Samuel 28:3-25
Vs. 3-14 The silence of God, more fearful than His Word
Vs. 15-25 God has departed from me… What should I do?
Intro.
1 Samuel is a book of the tale of two kings and the last of the judges and the first of the prophets (Samuel), who knew them both well:
- Saul, whom the nation wanted, was a man that elevated human potential, a man who looked the part, a man of like passions, ultimately a worshiper of himself.
- David was a man who elevated God’s potential and was His choice. In David, God defied human logic by choosing a young, cast-off shepherd boy who would epitomize God’s great ability to transform a man through his weakness and frailty into a person whom He could use in spite of himself. Ultimately a worshiper of God.
These next few chapters mark the transition from man’s king to God’s king, and I must confess, after looking at David last week, it is hard at times to distinguish between the two. God’s choices of the instruments he uses befuddles me most of the time, but when we consider God’s words to Samuel (16:7), we have the answer, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Looking out at this chapter, I’m saddened by the continual choices those that profess to know Him make.
David may have walked into the world of disobedience in the last chapter, but Saul made it his home. It is in this chapter that amongst all the strange events we see the depths to which the Lord will go in trying to reach those who have hard hearts. We will also see the depths of depravity of the human heart that refuses to listen to the Lord yet still wants God to do things his way. In Matt. 5:8, Jesus gives us great insight into spiritual communication as He says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Spiritual vision is dependent upon our character being pure, and if we want to maintain intimacy with the Lord, we will be often called upon to allow the Lord to work in ways in our hearts that will cause us to stop thinking and doing certain things that others may find acceptable.
Vs. 3-4 There are three dynamics that led to Saul’s dilemma:“Samuel had died”: This is the 2nd time Samuel’s death has been reported (25:1). The fact that it is mentioned again emphasizes the spiritual vacuum left by Samuel’s departure; this was further complicated by the fact that Saul had Doeg kill 85 priests in chapter 22 with only Abiathar escaping and he was now with David. Not only had Saul turned a deaf ear to the Lord’s voice and word, so too had the nation, and they were without council.
As often is the case, the leaders of nations represent the overall heart of a nation. I find it interesting that the nation mourned Samuel’s death but didn’t want to follow his word. “Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.” Apparently under Samuel Saul had put out all mediums and spiritists (those who do séances and bring up the dead), and some think that this might have been done as we are told on 1 Sam 16:15 when a distressing spirit had come upon Saul.
No doubt, under te spiritual influence of Samuel, he obeyed the commands in the Mosaic Law to cast out those who practiced occult arts. Yet with that said, Saul is going to seek out that which he has vanquished; in other words, Saul was double-minded and therefore unstable in all his ways. Hey Christian, things such as tarot cards, palm readers, horoscopes, and Ouija Boards are modern attempts to practice forms of spiritism. The Bible says nothing concerning other superstitions but is not silent on these things. What this reveals is that such things as these are dangerous links to the demonic, even if undertaken in a spirit of fun, and as such, we should have nothing to do with occultic arts or practices.
Vs. 4: “Then the Philistines gathered together and came and encamped at Shunem.” Mounting pressure from an enemy whom Saul had neglected while chasing after David. There are several things that no doubt influenced the Philistines advance into Israel against Saul:
- The Philistines were terrified of Samuel, but Samuel is dead now.
- Saul is preoccupied with David, who appears to be on their side now, so they are now empowered to go against Israel.
- The geography of Shunem (their sleep) aided in this, as we are told that the Philistines made an aggressive attack against Saul, and Israel coming through Shunem is in the Jezreel Valley, which tells us that the Philistines had penetrated far into Israel’s land and in effect cut off Saul from the northern half of his armies, giving them further dominance over Saul and his armies.
The war between the Philistines and Saul was to take place in the northern city of Gilboa (revolution of inquiry), which meant that Saul was now boxed in. Saul lost control of Israel because of what he said in 1 Sam 19:17. David became his enemy instead of those who were against the things of God. The same thing can happen to us when we allow ourselves to get sidetracked chasing after our enemies instead of fighting against the enemies of the Lord. (1 Cor. 10:4-5) “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” It is very easy to find ourselves fighting the wrong battles, and as we do, the enemy has advanced well into the borders of our hearts, and when we finally realize it, we are powerless to reverse his advance.
Vs. 4-5 As Saul and his army moved up the slopes of Gilboa, he could see the enemy’s advancing army in the valley below and he became terrified. When Saul still walked in the Spirit, he was a man of great courage (11:6–11). But his courage left him when he left obeying the Lord, and now that Samuel is gone, who was the only man to have much spiritual influence on Saul, his courage seems almost completely gone. Living a life in the energy of the flesh makes cowards out of us all, ah, but the opposite is true, as well as a life that has yielded to God and His word makes heroes out of cowards.
Vs. 6 Saul had not been interested in the word of the Lord, as Samuel had already told him that he was not going to be the king, yet he had spent years defying the word of the Lord. Now he is facing the battle for his very life, and he has distanced himself through disobedience from the very One that could have saved him (the Lord). There are a great many people out in the world like old Saul who have spent a lifetime avoiding listening to God, and as their lives face impending doom, they try to avoid what they spent their life pursuing (their own destruction).
Saul’s hard heart has left him without communication, through dreams, priests (he killed them in Nob), nor prophets, as Samuel was dead. I find this interesting in light of modern warfare, as the first aim of any army is to attack the opposing army’s communication; if the commander cannot talk with the footsoldier, then it will not take long until defeat. In Prov. 1:28–31, we read of the hardness of the heart of man and the Lord’s response when we are told, “They will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.” Three forms of communication with God are mentioned:
- Dreams: Nobody had any dreams, so clearly Saul wanted to know what was going to happen, but we don’t have to be concerned or look into our dreams, as God, in His word, will make it known to us if they have any significance. It is interesting that almost every dream in scripture that needed an interpretation does so with someone who is not a follower of God. Yet when God, through a dream, wants someone to do something, He has no problem letting them know.
- Urim: Was a way of determining the will of God, but Saul had killed 85 priests, and only Abiathar remained, and he was with David. There are a lot of folks today who want to know God’s will or direction, and they seek to do so apart from the word of God. To them, the Bible is a “dead book” instead of the living word (Heb. 4:12, “the word of God is living and powerful”).
- Prophets: The Israelites were to seek God through the prophets before they went out to battle, but Saul isn’t hearing anything. “Saul is finding out that God’s silence is much more fearful than His word!” David had cried out in Ps. 28:1. “To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.”
It is hard for you and me to hear the truth about ourselves—that we need to go and say we’re sorry for some uncaring action or that some attitude in our hearts is not right. It’s hard to hear that some areas of our lives are not right with God. But it is far more difficult to not hear from the Lord at all. Jesus spoke of the religious in Matt 13:15, saying, “Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears; lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”
If we continue to rebel and sin, then we are hardening our ears to hear and are closing our eyes to see, and in so doing we are ripping ourselves off from turning to the Lord, who alone can make us whole. All too often people can become like Saul, who had not wanted the Lord to speak to him, and so God honors Saul’s wishes. Saul refused to obey the command of God. He had been rejected by God because he had rejected God.
Vs. 7-8 The contradiction of Saul’s life is brought out as we compare verse 3, “Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land,” with that of verse 7, “Find me a woman who is a medium that I may go to her and inquire of her.” In Ex. 22:18 we are told that “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.” Saul was acting the part, as he had early on expelled all spiritism, but it is interesting that Saul’s men knew where one existed, so apparently it was just a show to appease men. This duplicity of Saul, who had ordered the deportation of all wizards, fortune tellers, and psychic folks yet under cover and in darkness (verse 9), seeks counsel from one.
I can’t help but notice that his approach represents the problem of his heart. Outwardly, he wants to appear to be right, but he cloaks himself and goes out in darkness. You will recall that Samuel had said in 15:23 that Saul’s “rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” Now Saul turns to that which his rebellious, stubborn heart already represented—witchcraft and idolatry.
The night before the battle, Saul disguised himself, went out at night, and traveled ten miles from Gilboa to Endor. In the process, he must go all the way around the Philistine army at night to get to Endor. Saul began his reign as king at the dawn of the day, being anointed by a prophet Samuel, and he ends his reign at night, visiting a spirit medium, breaking the very law he attempted to enforce. Perhaps his justification was that since he could not inquire of the Lord, he must seek out a woman who at best was a phony and at worst was possessed.
Vs. 9 Now if I were Saul, I would have to wonder what kind of powers this woman had who was unable to tell who he was when he stood “head and shoulders” above everyone else. I might have turned away and said, “Never mind.” Clearly she is concerned as Saul had killed most of the witches and mediums in the land, and she thought this perhaps was some sort of sting operation, yet how did Saul’s advisers know where to find her and why was she still around?
There is an interesting side note in all of this: you remember when Saul came back from the destruction of the Amalikites, where God had said, “Utterly destroy them; don’t leave any of them alive.” Well, David is making raids against the Amalikites, and we’re going to find where the Amalikites made a raid against David, and Saul is going to be killed by an Amalekite. Here’s my point. When we fail to utterly destroy the flesh, it is that very area you let live in your life that can destroy your spiritual walk.
Vs. 10 Apparently Saul didn’t realize that in seeking a medium, he was bringing upon himself a curse. Leviticus 20:6 We are told that “the person who turns after mediums and familiar spirits to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.” Saul will ask the medium to channel the deceased prophet Samuel. He does this because he wants to know what God might say to him! Saul is like a man going to a palm reader to hear the will of God. He obviously isn’t thinking clearly here. Once people reject the truth, they are far more likely to fall for even the most foolish deception.
Saul is making a promise that he can’t keep concerning her harm as he again disregards God’s word for his wishes. He seeks to reassure her by swearing in the name of the LORD, no less—that she won’t be punished. This is the last time Saul uses the name of the LORD (Jehovah), and he does so in reference, swearing to a medium that she will not be punished!
The irony of this should not pass by our observation as Saul swears an oath to in the name of the Lord, whose command he was breaking by seeking a medium. And to further muddy the waters, Saul seeks to contact the prophet of God whom he didn’t want to listen to while he was alive.
Vs. 11-12 Why did Saul want to see Samuel? You may recall that it was Samuel who rebuked Saul in chapter 15:22–29. Saul has become so desperate for God’s prophet, who was his guide and mentor, that even in the midst of his sin, depression, and demonic influence, he has forgotten that Samuel was his adversary when he refused to obey the word.
What was this encounter? There are four possibilities:
- Some believe that this was a hallucination of the medium. But this doesn’t make sense, because it doesn’t explain why the medium was so frightened. It doesn’t explain why Saul saw Samuel also and why Samuel spoke to Saul, not to the medium.
- Some believe that this was a deception by the medium. But this also isn’t an adequate explanation, for the same reasons given to the previous suggestion.
- Some believe that this was a demonic impersonation of Samuel. It is possible that the medium, with her occultic powers, summoned a demonic spirit that deceived both her and Saul. But this suggestion is also inadequate because it does not speak to the issue of motive. After all, what advantage does Satan gain by “Samuel’s” words to Saul?
- Some believe that this was a genuine (but strange) appearance of Samuel. This is the best explanation, because it is supported by the reaction of the medium, which got more than she bargained for. It is also supported by the truth of what Samuel said (and the text says that Samuel said it). The woman of En-dor had no power over Samuel, and no incantation can avail over any departed saint of God, nor indeed over any human disembodied spirit. Samuel really came, but not because the medium called for him. Samuel appeared because God had a special purpose for it.
This is supported by five reasons in the text:
- Vs. 12: The medium is surprised.
- Vs. 14 Saul perceived that it was Samuel.
- Vs. 15: The text says that it was Samuel that spoke to Saul.
- Vs. 16-18 The words from Samuel are biblically correct.
Yet with that said, I’m still not sure and can see it both ways. Clearly the woman had a vision, and Samuel spoke, but not through her, and this was not her normal encounter as she was terrified. Some see this as a demon who impersonated Samuel and that Samuel would not have been coming up; would Samuel still look old?
Let us not lose the truth of the text for the uncertainty that is here. 1 Chron. 10:13-14 informs us that “Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore, He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” Saul is only concerned over losing the battle and the kingdom but still does not recognize that he has lost the battle for his heart and given it over to the enemy.
Vs. 13-14 This appearance of Samuel accomplished two things:
- It re-confirmed the coming judgment upon King Saul’s in a dramatic way.
- It taught the medium a powerful lesson about the dangers of her occultic craft.
Perhaps God sent Saul to warn of his approaching death, that he might have an opportunity to make his peace with his Maker. The truth is, when we close our ears to God, He will find unusual—and perhaps uncomfortable—ways to speak to us. If Samuel did appear to Saul, he did not come in response to her call; instead, he was sent by God for the express purpose of rebuking Saul for seeking a medium to pronounce his doom.
Vs. 15-25 God has departed from me… What should I do?
Vs. 15 Saul wanted to know one thing: “I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.” The Philistines were attacking, and Saul had been unprepared because he was too busy going back on his word to David chasing him all over. Seven times Samuel uses the word to remind Saul that the Lord was not answering him because he had refused to listen over 20 years.
Oh to God that Saul would have only shortened his question to, “God has departed from me… what I should do.” There are a great many people in the world today that don’t want to hear what God has to say about sin and rebellion, and they depart and go their merry way in disobedience. Ah, but we are told in Gal. 6:7-8. “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
It is then that they will want to know, as the end of the life they so wanted apart from God is closing in on them, “How can I not reap what I have sown?” “What should I do?” Saul asked Samuel, but Samuel doesn’t tell him what he should; only what is going to happen. That which we fail to slay in our lives will be that which dominates our lives and, if allowed to stay, will shorten our lives. “God never departs from a man until the man has departed from Him. Then, in the interests of righteousness, God is against that man.”
Vs. 16-19 Here we have Samuel’s words too, but Saul will never get his question answered because his outcome was already set. Though the medium saw Samuel and Saul did not. Saul didn’t talk to her but spoke to Samuel directly. This is nothing new here, as this was old news, but the words “the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines” does have a prophetic edge to them.
Samuel, as a prophet of God, didn’t need the help of a medium. In Acts 16:17-18, Paul rebuked a demonic spirit that was in a woman who was saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” God does not need any help from the enemy as far as attracting the world to Christ. Whenever the world is joined with the Church, all that can happen is compromise, in which the truth that the Church wishes to proclaim becomes confused. Samuel’s answer is that as far as reaping what you have sown, there is no way out. You refused to obey the Lord in 15:28, and now what the Lord had promised, Samuel had been sent as “accounts payable.” This is the first time that publicly Samuel had said that David was the neighbor who would inherit the kingdom.
Samuel told Saul, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you… For He is not a man, that He should relent” (1 Samuel 15:28–29). Apparently, in the fifteen or so years since the events of 1 Samuel 15, Saul thought that perhaps the LORD had changed His mind! Saul thought that time would change God’s mind, but time never changes God’s mind; only our genuine repentance and brokenness change our eternal outcome, never time.
The next words of Samuel would at first seem to be the worst news of all: “Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.” But I see this is an act of mercy and grace towards Saul: “You have time; in fact, you have eternity.” Oh, make no mistake about it, you and your sons will die tomorrow and you will reap what you have sown, but “you can be with me” or you can make another act of rebellion and choose to die apart from returning to the Lord. Hey, what a great word to all! You may have lived your life apart from God, and he has honored your wishes even though He has loved you enough to send His only son to take your sins upon Himself.
But it is not too late. God may have departed from you, but He longs to be near you if only you will turn from your sins and live. Hear now the words of the Lord in Ezek 33:11: “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die?” In Rev 20:6, we are told, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Saul may have lost the right to reign in this land of the dying, but he could have a part of reigning with the Lord in the land of the living.
Vs. 20-25 Saul is told he is one day away from eternity, and he passes out, and this woman, who is a medium, uses her great powers seeing that Saul has passed out and “saw that he was severely troubled.” Gee, what was her first clue? And then she becomes his maidservant, so if Saul didn’t already have enough problems, he has now got a witch from Endor as his servant girl.
Saul wanted to hear from the Lord, but what he heard caused him to pass out. The news of death was more than he could take, but why? Paul would write in 1 Cor. 15:55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” Saul had thought that he could con God into giving him what he wanted—victory over the enemy—by fasting. He sought to change God’s mind, but the Lord wanted Saul to change his heart!
Hey, Christian, we can’t earn a blessing from the Lord by the works that we do. When we fast and pray, it is not to change God’s mind; it is to seek His face and have Him change our hearts and redirect our steps to where he would have us go! We can be somewhat successful at manipulating people to do what we want them to do, but you will never be able to manipulate God into doing what you want Him to do. No, he will always do what is best for you in accordance with His character and nature.
The woman must have been pretty much in demand, as she had a fat calf at her disposal, and she tries to comfort the defeated Saul, giving a meal fit for a king but also his last supper. So she had a fat calf in the house! What on earth! This little old witch just has this fat calf walking around the house during the whole time, and she just butchers it right in front of him and bakes some unleavened bread, making sure everything is nice and kosher as all good witches do, and then serves it to Saul. Apart from all the blessings God gave Saul and all the opportunities to repent and get his heart right, Saul remained unrepentant, and in the end, Saul, like so many, was unprepared to lead a nation, unprepared to fight a battle, and unprepared to meet the Lord at his death!