What does Saul's request reveal about his spiritual state and reliance on God? Setting the Scene 1 Samuel 28 finds Saul terrified by a massive Philistine force. He seeks the LORD, but “the LORD did not answer him, by dreams or Urim or prophets” (v. 6). In panic, he disguises himself and visits the medium at Endor, a practice he had once outlawed. Saul’s Desperate Request “Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ ‘Bring up Samuel,’ he said.” (1 Samuel 28:11) What the Request Reveals About Saul’s Spiritual State • Abandonment of God’s Word — Deuteronomy 18:10-12 expressly forbids necromancy. Saul knowingly violates that command, showing his will now overrides God’s will. • Loss of Prophetic Guidance — God had stopped speaking, yet Saul refuses to repent; instead, he chases a forbidden voice, exposing hard-heartedness rather than humility. • Fear-Driven, Not Faith-Driven — His focus is military survival, not spiritual restoration. Panic eclipses trust. • Reversal of Earlier Zeal — The king who once expelled mediums (v. 3) now seeks one, proving spiritual drift and self-contradiction. • Reliance on Human (or Occult) Avenues — He turns from the living God to the realm of the dead, showing a tragic shift from divine reliance to illicit substitutes. Contrast with Earlier Dependence on God • 1 Samuel 11:6-11—Saul, Spirit-empowered, delivers Jabesh-gilead. • 1 Samuel 14:36-37—He inquires of God before battle. These episodes highlight how far he has fallen: from Spirit-led courage to spiritism-led desperation. Reinforcing Scriptures • Isaiah 8:19—“Should the people not consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?” • 1 Chronicles 10:13—“Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and consulted a medium for guidance.” • Proverbs 3:5-6—True safety is found in trusting the LORD, not leaning on one’s own understanding. Takeaways for Us Today • Unchecked fear can push even once-devout people toward disobedience. • When God seems silent, the answer is repentance and renewed seeking, not forbidden shortcuts. • Spiritual compromise often begins with small steps but can culminate in outright rebellion. • Only steady reliance on God’s revealed Word guards the heart against desperate detours. |
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