Expositor's Dictionary of Texts And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. Saul and the Witch of Endor1 Samuel 28:7 I. How Valued and Beneficent Presences may be Withdrawn.—What pathos there is in the fact that on the eve of dreaded battle Saul has not his friend, his teacher, his pastor, to consult. Samuel was dead. Samuel had been everything to Saul. But Saul had not treated him well. He had slighted his old friend. Saul would have given a great deal to have had his rejected and grieved friend now, but 'Samuel was dead'. II. How a Man may Cut Himself Off from Divine Influences.—'When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not.' May we get so forlornly far? Yes, we may so sin and sin and sin, we may so fatally harden ourselves, that God will have nothing to do with us. III. How Low a Man may Sink by Sin,—Is this Saul? Yes—in ruins. (a) He is physically and mentally enfeebled. You see that by the fear and trembling which seizes him as he looks across from Gilboa to Shunem and sees the Philistine camp. His sins have so wrought on him that he is in a state of collapse. (b) Saul is now doing what once he condemned. Early in his reign he put out those that had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Now he is actually proposing to consult one of the obnoxious herd. (c) Having given up God Saul is compelled to resort to strange methods. He—the King of Israel—is on the way to consult a woman who has a familiar spirit. IV, See how the Tragedy Culminates. —Saul's servants tell him that at Endor there is a woman reputed to have 'a familiar spirit'. Saul confronts the wild old creature at her cave door, a diabolical inspiration seems to be upon Saul, for he not only asks the witch to 'divine by the familiar spirit' but he goes so far as to beg her to practise necromancy and to read the future by means of the dead. The leering scoundrel says, 'whom shall I bring up unto thee?' The infatuated Saul, all trepid, shaking with uncontrollable excitement, cries 'Bring me up Samuel'. No description is given of the arts the witch used. But the issue is plainly stated. 'The woman saw Samuel,' and at the same time she discovered that her interlocutor was King Saul. Saul perceived it was Samuel. He falls overwhelmed and obeisant. And the spirit of the seer cries, 'Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up?' Saul tells his woeful tale. Samuel assures Saul that he can do nothing in his behalf, seeing God has become his adversary because of his sins. Then he adds this prophecy, 'To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me'. V. From this Seance let us Learn— (a) How God confounds evildoers. Little thought Saul that the scene in Endor's cave would be so tragically real. (b) How near is the spirit world; strangely soon did the spirit form appear. The world unseen is close to us. (c) Men seem to retain in the spirit world the appearance they have on earth. Samuel's form was identical with that he had when here. (d) God often gives solemn intimations concerning eternity 'To-morrow'. Saul and his sons were to die. The Almighty forewarns them. (e) Mercy rejoices over judgment in God. Samuel said to Saul, 'To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me'. 'With me.' And in what part of the spirit world was Samuel? Samuel was in immortal and ineffable bliss. Saul and his sons were to be with Samuel. I think that this can only mean that Saul was in his few remaining hours to repent, and once more to receive 'the root of the matter' into his nature. Then when death destroyed his body his pardoned and purified soul was to be received into paradise. He who said to the dying robber, 'Today shalt thou be with Me,' allows Samuel to say to the stricken Saul, 'To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me'. —Dinsdale T. Young, Neglected People of the Bible, p. 74. References.—XXVIII. 6.—J. Bowstead, Practical Sermons, vol. i. p. 80. XXVIII. 13.—E. A. Askew, Sermons Preached in Greystoke Church, p. 21. XXVIII. 15.—G. W. Brameld, Practical Sermons, p. 344. XXIX. 8.—J. M. Neale, Sermons for the Church Year, vol. ii. p. 256. XXX. 4-6.—Ibid. Sermons Preached in a Religious House, vol. ii. p. 555. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And Samuel said to 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, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
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.
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night. Nicoll - Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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