How does Saul's action in 1 Samuel 28:8 contradict God's commands in Deuteronomy 18:10-12? Setting the Scene King Saul once enjoyed divine favor, but repeated disobedience eroded his relationship with the LORD. When the Philistine army gathered against Israel and God no longer answered Saul’s inquiries (1 Samuel 28:6), he turned to a forbidden source: a medium at En-dor. God’s Clear Prohibition in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, or casts spells, consults a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.” Key elements of the ban: • Practicing divination or sorcery • Casting spells • Consulting mediums or familiar spirits • Inquiring of the dead • Divine verdict: “detestable to the LORD” Saul’s Desperate Choice in 1 Samuel 28:8 “So Saul disguised himself, put on other clothes, and set out with two of his men. He came to the woman by night and said, ‘Please consult a spirit for me; bring up for me the one I name.’” Details to note: • He “disguised himself” — an act of secrecy that already signals wrongdoing. • He explicitly asked the woman to “consult a spirit” and “bring up” the dead prophet Samuel. • The visit happened “by night,” emphasizing the clandestine, unlawful nature of his mission. Point-by-Point Contradiction • Consulting a medium: Directly defies “consults a medium or a familiar spirit” (Deuteronomy 18:11). • Seeking information from the dead: Violates “inquires of the dead” (Deuteronomy 18:11). • Necromancy labeled “detestable”: Saul engaged in what God calls detestable (Deuteronomy 18:12). • Leadership hypocrisy: Earlier, Saul had expelled mediums from the land (1 Samuel 28:3), yet he now undermines his own decree. • Resulting judgment: 1 Chronicles 10:13 confirms, “Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance.” The Heart Issue Revealed • Fear replaced faith: Instead of trusting the LORD’s past deliverances (1 Samuel 17; 19), Saul trusted forbidden means. • Selective obedience: Saul obeyed God when convenient but abandoned God’s word when pressured. • Rejection of divine silence: Rather than repent and wait, he forced an answer through illegitimate channels (cf. Isaiah 8:19). Timeless Lessons for Us Today • God’s silence is never license to transgress His commands. • Forbidden spiritual shortcuts may promise clarity but ultimately bring judgment. • True security lies in wholehearted obedience, even when answers seem delayed (Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 3:5-6). |
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