Ep. 83. 1 Samuel 28-30 | The Witch at Endor

EPISODE 83

THE WITCH AT ENDOR: 1 SAMUEL 28-30

Let's get straight to it; we know that God does not delight in those who contact the dead. It is interesting that Saul removes the mediums from the land after Samuel's death. This whole story is a bit strange. However, this woman is able to make contact with Samuel. I might have assumed it was a demon if not for verse 16, which says, "And Samuel said." Then, he follows up by repeating what God had declared to Saul.

In Acts 16, we see a young woman possessed by a demon who is able to prophesy. Eventually, Paul casts the demon out of her, and the people who used her as a slave realize their source of income is gone. There really are people who can speak to the dead. There really are people who, by demonic power, can prophesy. These are not things to be trifled with. You would do well to avoid any such thing. Engaging with one who interprets omens, says they can predict the future, or claims to speak to the dead is wickedness. We shouldn't even engage in reading horoscopes or astrology. We are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit within us and should never seek trinkets or people attached to false gods, demons, or spirits.

We shouldn't be surprised that Saul is consulting a medium. He has long since abandoned God and didn't heed the counsel of Samuel when he spoke. Saul has long since ceased to be controlled by the Spirit of God. The woman, fearful for her life, is reluctant to bring up a spirit and even more alarmed when she sees Samuel and realizes the man before her is King Saul. We wonder, of course, why it is that Samuel is "brought up." Jeremiah puts Samuel right next to Moses as a holy intercessor, so we don't believe, for a moment, that Samuel is in Hell. Let's consider this for a few moments, though we won't be able to go into much detail here.

Keep in mind that our typical view of heaven and Hell here in the 21st century and here in the West is probably the wrong way to read the Old Testament. (and parts of the New Testament, for that matter) In the Old Testament, the writers regularly speak of going to the grave or going down into "Sheol." When we think of Hell, we typically think of the Lake of Fire. No one is in the Lake of Fire yet, and it isn't the Devil's home. The first people cast into the Lake of Fire will be the Abomination of Desolation (antichrist) and his false prophet, and that won't happen until Revelation 19. We can talk about all of this a lot more in a more direct text, but for now, it is likely that when Samuel tells Saul, "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me," he is only referring to joining him in the grave. Consider Job wishing he were dead, so he would be laid low with kings and rulers. Quickly search for Sheol and read the verses corresponding to it. Try not to think of it as the same concept we have of Hell. Again, I'll come back to this idea later in the year.

ADDITIONAL READING: Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Job 2:13-15; Isaiah 47:13-14; Jeremiah 15:1