Wednesday, April 23, 2008

1 Samuel 28

1 - 25 Saul and the Witch of Endor

Achish makes David a bodyguard. The Philistine army scares Saul. He prays, but God doesn't answer. Saul disguises himself and visits the Witch of Endor. He asks her to bring up Samuel. he tells the spirit of his distress & asks what to do. Samuel tells him the Lord has departed from Saul and become his enemy and that David has been given the kingdom. Also, the next day Saul and his sons will die. He falls in fear and refuses to eat. The Witch of Endor eats in front of him.

1 comment:

Karlton said...

(from JP)

VERY INTERESTING STORY

Achish and his Philistine army gather to battle Saul and his Israelite army. He reminds David that he must fight on his side. He agrees and becomes Achish's bodyguard.
When Samuel died, Saul expelled all the mediums and spiritists. When he saw the Philistine army be was terrified. He prayed but God did not hear him or respond so he asked some attendants to find a medium. They knew of one in ENDOR (only she wasn't an Ewok).
Saul disguised himself and went with 2 men to see the medium who thought it was a plot to imprison or kill her. Saul promised her safety so she asked who he wanted her to summon. When he said Samuel she knew it was Saul and was afraid. He again assured her of her safety and the God wasn't answering his prayers.

She summoned Samuel's spirit and he asked Saul why he "disturbed him" and "brought him up". Saul explained that it is just as he predicted during his life: that God has turned away from him and that the kingdom is now David's because he disobeyed God by not destroying the Amalekites. Tomorrow the Lord will hand Saul and Israel over to the Philistines and Saul and his sons will "be with me" (die).

Saul passed out from hunger. The medium asked him to allow her to give him some food but he refused. The 2 men with him helped her insist and helped him sit on her couch. She butchered a calf and baked bread, they all ate, and left that same night.

I've been asking different people at work (Lifeway) about ghosts. Everyone has a different opinion. This story supports the existence of a "spirit world".
Notes indicate that there have been several explanations:
1. God allowed Samuel's spirit to appear.
2. The woman contacted an evil spirit in Samuel's form.
3. She used parapsychological powers such as telepathy or clairvoyance to read Saul's thoughts and picture Samuel.
Whatever means or reason, she accurately predicts the pending battle and events.