Why did Saul seek the medium despite God's law against such practices? God’s unambiguous command against occult consultations - “Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, lest you become defiled by them” (Leviticus 19:31). - “There must not be found among you… anyone who practices divination,… or who consults the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). - Saul knew these commands; earlier he had “banished the mediums and spiritists from the land” (1 Samuel 28:3). Saul’s earlier stance: zeal without depth - His purge of occult workers was correct but largely external, not flowing from a heart anchored in God’s Word. - He pursued military victories yet neglected obedience in matters such as Amalek (1 Samuel 15). - Partial obedience bred eventual rebellion: “Rebellion is like the sin of divination” (1 Samuel 15:23). The steady erosion of Saul’s heart - Jealousy toward David (1 Samuel 18:8-9). - Murderous rage against priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:17-19). - Unwillingness to repent when confronted. Result: “Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 16:14). The suffocating silence of God - “Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets” (1 Samuel 28:6). - Divine silence exposed the emptiness of his religiosity and drove him to panic. - Without genuine repentance, he sought an answer anywhere he could find one. Fear-driven compromise at Endor - With Philistine armies massing, Saul’s terror eclipsed his earlier ban on occultism. - 1 Samuel 28:9 records the medium’s protest: “Surely you know what Saul has done—he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for my life to bring about my death?” - He disguises himself, travels by night, and swears by the LORD (v.10) while simultaneously violating the LORD’s clear command—an act of staggering hypocrisy. The tragic fruit of rebellion - God allows Samuel to appear and pronounce judgment (28:15-19). - “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD… and for consulting a medium for guidance” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). - His death illustrates Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Personal takeaways for today • External conformity to God’s law is not enough; a surrendered heart is essential. • Lingering sin desensitizes the conscience, making previously unthinkable compromises possible. • When God is silent, the only right course is humble repentance, not alternative spiritual sources (Isaiah 8:19). • True guidance comes through God’s living Word and His Spirit, never through forbidden channels. |
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