Adult STS Lesson 225 – Saul Consults a Witch at Endor

MEMORY VERSE: “There shall not be found among you any one that… useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer” (Deuteronomy 18:10,11).

TEXT: 1 Samuel 28:1-25

David’s short excursion into the camp of the Philistines was no doubt indicative of his waning faith in God’s ability to continue to protect him. It opened the door for more temptations, sin, and embarrassment. He had to lie to King Achish by claiming he and his troops invaded southern Judah whereas he had invaded the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites without any justification or provocation (1 Samuel 27:6-10). King Achish then invited him to join forces with him against Israel. However, divine intervention stirred up his rejection in the Philistine camp (1 Samuel 29:3-7). David would have found himself in an awkward situation of fighting on the side of Israel’s enemies in a war where Saul, the first king of Israel, would be killed. Alternatively, if he switched to fight on Israel’s side, he would have been guilty of betrayal and disloyalty to king Achish who granted him asylum. This was a double dilemma created by a temporary departure from the walk of faith by David.

As for Saul, his deep misery and hopelessness in his last days show that those who refuse to be primed by God’s goodness and longsuffering to repentance will certainly come to a painful end (Romans 2:4). If sinners waste away their days of grace, they will come to a point where God says, they shall “call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me” (Proverbs 1:28). Saul’s disregard for God’s word and disobedience, which began to manifest early in his kingship, finally came to roost in a miserable and horrible end.

Also read: Adult STS Lesson 224 – David’s Deception and Rejection | Book of 1 Samuel: Full Summary and Themes

1. DESOLATION AND MISERY OF DIVINE DISCONNECTION

(1 Samuel 28:1-6; 16:14; Judges 16:19-21; 2 Chronicles 30:7; Romans 3:16)

Saul’s spiritual condition at the time he ascended the throne as the first king of Israel contrasts sharply with his condition in his last days. After he was anointed king, God gave him another heart and “the Spirit of God came upon him…” (1 Samuel 10:9,10). Unfortunately, instead of taking advantage of God’s grace to consolidate his walk with Him, he relapsed into self-management and disobedience to His perfect will. Consequently, “the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul…” (1 Samuel 16:14). This represents a clear refutation of the doctrine of eternal security. The spiritual security of the believer lies in his continuity in the faith. “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence (faith) steadfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:14). Saul’s failure to abide by God’s command turned his bright prospect into a horrible nightmare, despondency, hopelessness and misery.

“And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa” (1 Samuel 28:4). The Philistine army had encroached deep into Israel’s territory to camp as far as Shunem. “And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled” (verse 5). Sinners and backsliders always tremble and fear when their enemies confront them. “And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (verse 6). Saul had lost his relationship with God, hence his disconnection from the divine source of power, courage and victory. Sin separates man from God and hinders answers to prayer (Isaiah 59:1,2). Saul did nothing about his sinful state but wanted God’s guidance concerning the battle against the Philistines. He was not obedient to what God had revealed and as such, he was not qualified to receive further revelation from Him. Until sinners repent, they have no guarantee of answer to their prayers.

Interestingly, part of Saul’s indictment as stated in the book of Chronicles is that he “…enquired not of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 10:14). Although, we are told here that he inquired of the Lord, his prayer was vain. He was not importunate in his prayer and had made up his mind to seek help from an illegitimate source. Little wonder he received no answer from God.

Saul’s glide to his miserable end is very instructive. One, he plunged to the level of not merely contemplating but actually consulting a witch. Two, he could not return to God even when faced with imminent death. Those who continue to live in sin while they defer the decision to repent and become born again miss the point. They do not reckon with the paralysing effect of sin or the deadness of a conscience whose rebuke has been constantly ignored or the deceitfulness of sin when it becomes deeply rooted. The conscience can become so dead that God’s Spirit ceases to strive with it. It is for this reason that the Scripture calls everyone to “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6,7).

2. THE DANGER OF SEEKING HELP OUTSIDE GOD

(1 Samuel 28:7-18; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Proverbs 1:24-29; 13:15; Exodus 22:18; Galatians 5:19-21; 2:17,18)

Unable to get help and direction from the Lord, “Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor” (1 Samuel 28:7). Saul went down a dangerous precipice in consulting and seeking help from a witch contrary to the word of God. His request to have a discourse with the dead (necromancy or spiritism or divination) is expressly forbidden by the Lord who commanded the children of Israel: “There shall not be found among you any one that… useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer” (Deuteronomy 18:10,11). His decision to consult a witch was informed by the ignorant supposition that by some other means other than turning to God, he could still survive his dark hour and sustain the kingdom when God was no longer with him. This deceptive notion may have fuelled his disobedience and continued impertinence. The truth, however, is that only conformity with the word of God can guarantee true and enduring prosperity. No other device, invented or suggested by the living or the dead can give real comfort or bring respite to a self-willed and impenitent sinner.

Sadly, the servants of Saul assisted him in his tragic descent into sin. They had been complicit as Saul hunted David and now, they helped him to find the medium at Endor. There was no one among them to dissuade the king from his evil ways or encourage him to seek the Lord in truth. Often, evil rulers get worse because they are surrounded by lily-livered and wicked servants or advisers (Proverbs 25:5). So, our intercession for those in leadership positions should target their advisers and special assistants. Christians who are privileged to serve under unsaved rulers should exert a godly influence on them, rather than strengthen their hands to do evil.

Though Saul disguised himself by putting on strange apparel before visiting the witch because he knew his action was wrong, he was still exposed and it became a witness against his misadventure. People who cover up their evil deeds will one day be found out.

What made Saul’s stray into witchcraft more reprehensible was his earlier religious zeal against this evil for which he “hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land…” (verse 9). By thus building again the thing which he once destroyed, he made himself a transgressor (Galatians 2:18). It is pathetic that Saul felt no pang of conscience when the witch brought to remembrance his abolition of spiritism in the past. He was so desperate and far gone in apostasy to discern the obvious rebuke in that reference. As an abomination, one, his action carried the wrath and indignation of God. Two, it presupposed that there are other powers greater than the power of God. Three, it was capable of stirring up divine jealousy from a God who would not share His glory with anyone. Four, it demeaned the power and authority of God over the believer’s life. Five, it amounted to a denial of the principle of divine ownership since we are all created by God and no other being should lay claim to our lives. Moreover, God classifies witchcraft among the works of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication… idolatry, witchcraft…” (Galatians 5:20; 1 Samuel 15:23; 2 Chronicles 33:6; 2 Kings 9:22; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4).

“And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me… therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do” (verse 15). Please observe that nothing in the discourse between Saul and Samuel should be interpreted as indicating divine approval of the evil practice of witchcraft and spiritism. The fact that Saul was acting against the revealed will of God even casts a shadow on the authenticity of the personality in the apparition. It should also not be inferred from what transpired that a witch or a wizard can call back the spirit of the departed, much less the spirit of a righteous dead. If, as nothing is impossible with God, He permitted late Samuel to truly appear, it was to affirm His earlier judgment against disobedient Saul (1 Samuel 15:26; 28:18).

On the other hand, God in His sovereignty overruled the witch and prevented her from deceiving Saul. After all, a recalcitrant and greedy Balaam was used to prophesy of Israel’s future and an ass spoke with human voice to warn him (Numbers 22:28-30; 24:3-9). The pronouncement was to seal his doom because he would not repent of his evil. It was quite appropriate that Saul’s doom should come from the mouth of Samuel whose word he rejected when he was alive. Had he heeded his counsel and advice, God would have made him a prosperous and an abiding king.

3. DOOM AND APATHY OF THE UNREPENTANT SINNER

(1 Samuel 28:19-25; Isaiah 58:5; Romans 2:16; Hosea 6:1)

“Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 28:19).

Saul’s disposition at the pronouncement of the doom that awaited him, his sons, and the whole nation was disappointing. With a picture of eternal doom, utter destruction of lives and property, and ignominious defeat from the enemy, he still failed to do the needful; that is, a simple but sincere repentance and faith in God. If he had fallen upon his face in deep contrition and repentance, perhaps, the Lord would have repented of His judgment on the nation and forgiven them. Worse still, that the witch brought food “before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat” is indicative of his hardness of heart and apathy concerning the impending calamity. Indeed, the way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15).

Let us examine his catalogue of woes and learn: one, he had to confront enemies which were more in number and better equipped than his troops. His condition was akin to a natural man contending with satanic forces without Christ on his side. Two, he was fasting (verse 20) but it was futile because fasting alone without godliness will avail nothing (Isaiah 58:5). Three, he suffered the pain of conscience, knowing that his steps to the house of a witch was perverse and sinful. He, therefore, disguised himself and went under the cover of darkness. “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:20). His disguise failed as he was eventually identified by the witch (Hebrews 4:13). Every disguise of a sinful heart using the garment of false or pretended religion shall avail nothing “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ…” (Romans 2:16). Four, his lamentation, that “the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me”, contains some elements of self-rebuke. He knew long before this invasion that God had departed from him, but did nothing about it. Similarly, sinners who forget God in their time of seeming peace and prosperity may remember Him when it is too late. Their frantic prayer for divine intervention at that time may receive no response from God (Proverbs 1:28). Five, it was all sad news for Saul in his last days without a speck of comfort. His eventual death in the latter part of this book is the inevitable climax of his disobedience and recalcitrance. “So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it” (1 Chronicles 10:13).

For present-day sinners, there is still hope. The Holy Spirit still lovingly pleads, “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us, he hath smitten, and he will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1). God has committed Himself to forgiving everyone who truly repents and places faith for salvation solely in Christ’s atoning sacrifice and resurrection. To die in sin is to perish in the unbearable fire of hell with Satan forever! And to die in righteousness is transition to unending joy and glory with the Lord in heaven.

Questions for Review

Why is it deadly for a sinner or backslider to delay seeking the Lord’s forgiveness?
From the text, what can saints and sinners learn from the experiences of David and Saul?
Why is the decision to repent and reconcile with God the most important for everyone?
How can a sinner avoid a miserable fate as that of Saul?
Mention some alternatives sought by sinners in their search for joy, security, and hope instead of turning to God through repentance.
Where and how will sinners spend eternity?
Why is heaven the desirable abode for all and how can one get there?

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Youth STS Lesson 225 – Saul Consults a Witch at Endor