Bad News from Samuel

September 20, 2017

1 Samuel 28

Have you heard the doctor tell you it does not look good, with the best medical help you have only months to live?  Those are words no one wants to hear, but they are not even close to what King Saul is about to experience as recorded in 1 Samuel 28.

You do recall that David and his 600 men are currently in Ziklag, a Philistine town and David has deceived the Philistine King Achish into believing he is now on his side, and an enemy of Israel.  So Achish is going to war with Israel, and he calls David in to make sure what team he is going to fight on.  David assures the Philistine king that he is not only his man, and he will also join him in the battle against Israel.  Verse two gives us insight into how well David has conned the king.  “David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.”  And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Now Samuel has died, and God is not speaking to Saul, yet that does not stop him from trying to get a word on where he is going to win or lose in this battle with the Philistine army.  Now King Saul has expelled all the mediums and the necromancers out of the land, and the Philistines are at Shunem, and that is very deep in the Jezreel Valley.

Saul is at Gilboa, a high point so he can watch the army of the Philistines.  Saul is full of fear and understands without God fighting for Israel that he is in big trouble.  So after many attempts to get directions from God, he looks for a medium or spiritists to tell him what is going to happen.  Now it is clear that he has no doubt this is the wrong thing to do, but he disguises himself and he and two men go to Endor where a woman is a medium, and that is only about two miles from the Philistine’s camp.

She makes it clear that King Saul has forbidden anyone to do what he is asking and yet Saul swears an oath by God that no harm will come to her, and at this point she does not know it is Saul.  He asks her to call up Samuel, and it is clear that when Samuel shows up, she is surprised and fearful.  Now this is where it gets interesting, Samuel is not at all happy about Saul having him called back, and this is the account.

“Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice