In 1 Samuel 28 David bides his time with the Philistines for over a year. Living in Ziklag and raiding Canaanites instead of Israelites. Until a huge contingency of Philistines begins to form for a battle against the Israelites, Achish calls up David and his men to take part.
It’s David vs Saul once more. David has God and Saul turns to the Medium of Endor.
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Saul has hit a wall. He has nowhere to turn for answers. Samuel is gone. The priests are dead. The urim and thummin are with David, so who can Saul consult about this battle? He needs Samuel; therefore, he needs a medium to speak to the dead. To Saul’s credit, years ago, he had done the right thing and expelled the mediums from the Promised Land. The irony is Saul is trying to pursue God in a way that God guarantees will cut him off!
Saul had been taught by Samuel God’s commands and had obeyed by expelling mediums, but now he is using them to call up the man who taught him not to use mediums. Saul is crazy. And Samuel is going to be so mad. But Saul is desperate for a word from Samuel. Samuel was probably the only solid connection Saul ever had with God and he is desperately craving that closeness again. What Saul fails to realize is that Samuel can not own his relationship to God. Saul must own it, but he never did. He disobeyed God and failed to repent. He never turned his heart back to God. So God chose another.
Cornered Saul panics like a rat in a trap, He cannot find a way out without Samuel. In this move to use a medium, Saul reveals how far he has fallen…from God, his word, and his plan for Israel. It is a pathetic end to the story of Israel’s first king. The woman Saul seeks for answers is often called the Witch or Medium of Endor.
Scene 1: David Gets a Promotion with the Wrong King
Scene 2: God’s Silent, Saul’s Scared, and Dead Samuel Speaks
In Scene 3: David’s Dilemma
Verses Mentioned:
Show Notes:
David’s Flight from Saul
The author of this article is Hayley Mowatt, producer of Bible Book Club.
