1 Samuel 28:1-25
Q.1. How did David intend to serve Achish? Why was Saul terrified? What prompted him to seek out a medium? Why did he disguise himself? Whom did Saul want her to bring up? – (1 Sam.28:1-11)
The Philistines were mounting another charge against Saul and Israel. David was caught in the middle but promised to serve Achish. He in turn responded to David – Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life (1 Sam.28:2) The Philistine prince had done well. When Saul saw the huge Philistine army – he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly (1 Sam.28:5). He knew he was in serious trouble for – When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets (1 Sam.28:6). Since Saul had heard nothing from the Kingdom of Light, he sought for guidance from the kingdom of darkness, and consulted a medium at En-dor. All the sorcerers were afraid of Saul, so he visited the witch in disguise (1 Sam.28:7-8). However, the woman saw this as a trap, until Saul promised there would be no reprisal against her (1 Sam.22:10). Saul then asked the medium for an audience with the prophet Samuel who had recently died (1 Sam.28:3 & 11). What he was doing was dangerous, and in contravention of God’s law (Exo.22:19).
Q.2. Why was the medium upset? Whom did they see? How did Samuel respond? What message did he pass on to Saul? What was his prophecy? What impact did it have on Saul? – (1 Sam.28:12-25)
When the witch realized she had been deceived, Saul urged her to proceed and not to be afraid (1 Sam.28:12-13). Though she had not known Samuel, she told Saul – “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe” (1 Sam.28:13-14). Saul was in no doubt that this was Samuel. However, Samuel was disturbed by Saul’s intrusion (1 Sam.22:15). Saul explained that God had refused to direct him against the Philistines, to which Samuel replied that this was because Saul had made God his adversary (1 Sam.22:16). He then declared – 17 The Lord has done accordingly as He spoke through me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour, to David. 18 As you did not obey the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the Lord has done this thing to you this day (1 Sam.28:17-18). He also prophesied Israel’s defeat, and the death of Saul and his sons on the battlefield (1 Sam.28:19). Saul was utterly devastated and lay on the ground (1 Sam.28:20). Though he initially refused to eat, the woman persuaded him to eat an especially prepared meal (1 Sam.28:21-24). He and his servants ate and went out into the night (1 Sam.28:25).