Why did Saul disguise himself when visiting the medium in 1 Samuel 28:8? Setting the Scene Israel’s king has reached a desperate moment. Samuel is dead, the Philistines are massing, and “the LORD did not answer him, either in dreams or by Urim or by prophets” (1 Samuel 28:6). In earlier days Saul had “banished the mediums and spiritists from the land” (v. 3), in obedience to passages such as Deuteronomy 18:10-12 and Leviticus 19:31. Yet, when God’s silence exposes the emptiness of his own heart, Saul turns to the very sin he once condemned. The Act of Disguise “So Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and he went—accompanied by two men—to the woman by night. He said, ‘Consult a spirit for me…’” (1 Samuel 28:8). Why Saul Chose a Disguise •Personal recognition would have been immediate. As king, Saul’s face, stature, and regal garments were well known. •His own decree made consulting a medium a capital offense (28:3). Appearing openly would expose blatant hypocrisy and invite rebellion among his troops. •The medium herself might refuse a royal client who had outlawed her profession, endangering her life; anonymity guaranteed cooperation. •Disguise offered a false sense of safety from God’s judgment—echoing Adam’s fig leaves (Genesis 3:7-10). •Saul’s spiritual condition was now mirrored outwardly: he masked himself because inwardly he had already masked his heart from the LORD (cf. Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 29:13). A Window into Saul’s Spiritual Decline •From initial humility (1 Samuel 10:22) to willful rebellion—“For rebellion is like the sin of divination” (15:23)—Saul’s path has come full circle. •God’s silence was not abandonment but consequence; Saul had rejected God’s word repeatedly (13:13-14; 15:26). •The disguise signals his final slide from kingship under God toward tragic self-reliance. Consequences of Secret Sin •The interview confirms God’s earlier sentence: “Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me” (28:19). •Israel is left leaderless, and the Philistines strike (31:1-6). •Saul’s hidden night visit becomes public Scripture, proving Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” Lessons for Believers •Disguises fool people, never God (Proverbs 15:3). •Hypocrisy compounds disobedience; the heart that resists God’s word soon seeks forbidden counsel. •When heaven seems silent, the answer is repentance and renewed trust, not occult shortcuts (James 4:8). •The safest course remains open obedience: “Walk in the light, as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). |
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