Does 1 Samuel 28:23 suggest God condones consulting mediums? Question Stated Does 1 Samuel 28:23 imply that God approves of using mediums? Immediate Setting of 1 Samuel 28 Saul has expelled mediums (1 Samuel 28:3) yet, panicked by Philistine armies and abandoned by the Lord (28:6), he asks for “a woman who is a medium” (28:7). In disguise he visits the medium at En-dor, requesting that she “bring up” Samuel (28:11). The narrative is reported matter-of-factly, not prescriptively. Torah Prohibitions • Leviticus 19:31—“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.” • Leviticus 20:6—seeking them incurs covenant wrath. • Deuteronomy 18:10-12—necromancy is “detestable” (tôʿēbâ). These laws predate Saul by several centuries; the narrator expects readers to recognize Saul’s violation. Canonical Commentary on Saul’s Act 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 delivers God’s verdict: “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he had not kept the word of the LORD and had consulted a medium for guidance” . The chronicler clarifies that the consultation was a sin that contributed to Saul’s death and the transfer of the throne. Narrative Purpose: Downfall, Not Endorsement In Hebrew narrative, events often illustrate covenant principles through consequences rather than explicit moral commentary (Judges 2:11-15; 2 Samuel 11-12). Saul’s night visit is the dramatic climax of his spiritual declension: 1. Disobedience regarding Amalek (1 Samuel 15). 2. Rash oath and murderous jealousy of David. 3. Slaughter of priests at Nob (22:18-19). 4. Finally, occult consultation—punctuating his separation from Yahweh. Sovereignty Versus Sanction God may use prohibited venues to pronounce judgment without endorsing the venue—e.g., Balaam (Numbers 22-24), Pharaoh’s magicians (Exodus 7-8). At En-dor, Samuel’s appearance is God’s unilateral act; the medium screams in recognition that something beyond her craft has occurred (28:12). The supernatural result lies with Yahweh’s sovereignty, not her power, paralleling Elijah’s contest with Baal’s prophets (1 Kings 18). Dead Sea Scrolls and Manuscript Consistency 4QSam-a (ca. 50 BC) preserves 1 Samuel 28 with no substantive deviation affecting sense; LXX concurs. The uniform text across Masoretic, Dead Sea, and Old Greek lines shows scribes never nuanced the narrative to soften its condemnation. New Testament Perspective Acts 16:16-18 records Paul casting out a “python spirit” from a slave girl, exemplifying continuity: followers of Christ confront rather than consult spirits. Galatians 5:20 lists “sorcery” (pharmakeia) among deeds of the flesh. Revelation 21:8 places sorcerers among the condemned. Nowhere is occult practice redeemed. Theological Considerations: Revelation and Authority Because “the secret things belong to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 29:29) and “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5), divine guidance comes through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), not necromancy. Attempts to circumvent God’s ordained means indicate rebellion (Isaiah 8:19-20). Modern Pastoral Application Contemporary fascination with séances, Ouija boards, and “psychic readings” mirrors Saul’s error. Deliverance ministries routinely document spiritual oppression linked to occult pastimes; freedom comes by repentance and faith in the risen Christ. The gospel answers fear the way Saul should have: seeking the Lord, not forbidden channels (Philippians 4:6-7). Summary Answer 1 Samuel 28:23 simply reports that Saul accepted food from the medium after exhausting himself in a forbidden act. Far from condoning mediums, Scripture: 1) Prohibits their use in Mosaic law; 2) Highlights Saul’s sin and downfall as a cautionary tale; 3) Confirms in later canon that the act was judged; 4) Upholds God’s sole authority to reveal hidden things. Therefore, 1 Samuel 28:23 does not endorse consulting mediums; it records the tragic culmination of Saul’s disobedience and warns readers against the occult, pointing instead to reliance on Yahweh and, in the light of fuller revelation, the risen Christ. |
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