Saul, a man of great stature and aspiring ability, became the first king of Israel. He was chosen by the people and commissioned by the Lord. Although he had promising potential to lead Israel in the ways of God, Saul compromised his strong convictions for the prestige of pleasing men. God sternly warned Saul on a number of occasions through Samuel, his spokesman; yet, Saul only accepted the rebukes half-heartedly and never heeded the advice recommended.
Now, he is at the end of his kingly journey and is faced with a fierce battle. "It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established on righteousness" (Proverbs 16:12). God has stopped informing him; his future has been forfeited.
Saul finds himself in quite a dilemma. The Philistines prepare for war at Shunem. Meanwhile, Saul gathers his armies and prepares at Gilboa for the battle. A valley stretches between the two antagonists, as each army visibly acknowledges its opponent (1 Samuel 28:1-25).
As Saul faces his foes, he becomes frightened. Samuel, who was Saul's voice from God, is now dead. Saul no longer has a herald; therefore, he hastens to find another avenue to hear from God. He tries to obtain Divine revelation. "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear" (Psalm 66:18). He waits for an answer, but an answer never arrives (1 Samuel 28:6).
Desperation seizes the soul of Saul. "A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy" (Proverbs 29:1). He is at his wit's end and tells his servants to find a necromancer for assistance (one who speaks with the spirits of the dead). Isn't it ironic that Saul rid the land of such practitioners (1 Samuel 28:3), yet his servants know exactly where to find such a person? "If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, all his ministers become wicked" (Proverbs 29:12). They inform him that one is in Endor, near the camp of the Philistines. Of course, such practices were forbidden by God (Leviticus 19:31; 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Accompanied by two men and dressed in disguise, Saul secretly "tiptoes" around the Philistine's camp to consult this witch of Endor. Desperate for a favorable future, Saul risks his life for a séance. "He who hardens his heart will fall into calamity" (Proverbs 28:14). When he asks the woman to perform her duties, she is cautious, knowing that death would follow if the king knew of her devious practices.
Saul reassures the woman of no punishment by swearing an oath. Flippantly, he uses the name of the Lord in vain. Sin has no boundaries! Whom do you seek to speak is asked by the woman; his reply is Samuel (1 Samuel 28:11).
A "familiar spirit" (1 Samuel 28:7) speaks through the sorcerer. The woman was startled, for she was a charlatan. This kind of spirit had never possessed her. Some assert that that the appearance seen by the necromancer was genuine, while others state a demonic apparition appears to her. (Would God use a device to speak to Saul that He had forbidden?
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One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
