How does 1 Samuel 28:10 connect to Deuteronomy 18:10-12 on divination? Setting the Scene: Saul’s Desperate Moment 1 Samuel 28 finds Saul, abandoned by prophetic revelation, turning to a medium at En-dor. Verse 10 reads: “Then Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment will come upon you for this thing.’” Divination Condemned: Deuteronomy 18:10-12 Moses’ words are unequivocal: “No one among you is to make his son or his daughter pass through the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, cast spells, consult a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquire of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD….” Point-by-Point Connection • Same LORD invoked—opposite purposes – Deuteronomy bans occult practice; Saul calls on God’s name to protect a practitioner. • “Detestable” vs. “No punishment” – God labels such acts an abomination; Saul promises immunity. • Covenant king vs. covenant law – Saul, charged with enforcing the Law (cf. Deuteronomy 17:18-20), instead contradicts it. • Spiritual authority inverted – The king fears the medium’s wrath (v.9) more than God’s judgment (cf. Proverbs 29:25). Why Saul’s Oath Is Especially Troubling • He swears “by the LORD” (Heb. Yahweh) while facilitating what Yahweh forbids (Leviticus 19:31; Isaiah 8:19). • Earlier he expelled mediums (1 Samuel 28:3); now he nullifies that very policy. • He uses covenant language (“as surely as the LORD lives”) to sanctify sin, echoing the later charge in Isaiah 5:20—calling evil good. Theological Implications • Misusing God’s Name – The third commandment (Exodus 20:7) forbids invoking God to endorse disobedience; Saul breaks it flagrantly. • Authority of Scripture – Deuteronomy’s prohibition still stood; no emergency overrides divine revelation (cf. Psalm 119:89). • Sovereign Silence – God’s prior refusal to answer Saul (1 Samuel 28:6) highlights that turning to forbidden channels is not an alternate “option.” New Testament Echoes • Acts 13:6-12 contrasts Saul’s compromise with Paul’s rebuke of Elymas the sorcerer; the apostle upholds the Deuteronomic stance. • Revelation 21:8 lists “sorcerers” among the condemned, affirming the continuity of God’s standard. Practical Takeaways • God’s Word, not crisis, defines right and wrong. • Invoking spiritual language cannot legitimize disobedience. • Spiritual desperation should drive us to repentance, not forbidden shortcuts. |
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