Divination: An Abominable Practice
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Divination, in the context of the Bible, refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. This practice is consistently condemned throughout Scripture as an abomination to the Lord. The Bible provides numerous references that highlight the severity of this prohibition and the spiritual dangers associated with engaging in divination.

Old Testament Prohibitions

The Old Testament explicitly forbids the practice of divination. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are warned: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you." This passage clearly categorizes divination alongside other detestable practices, emphasizing its incompatibility with the worship of Yahweh.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks against divination, associating it with rebellion against God. Isaiah 8:19 states, "When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" This rhetorical question underscores the futility and spiritual peril of seeking guidance from sources other than God.

Historical Instances and Consequences

Throughout the history of Israel, instances of divination are recorded, often leading to dire consequences. One notable example is King Saul, who, in desperation, sought the counsel of a medium at Endor. 1 Samuel 28:7-8 recounts, "Then Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.' 'There is a medium at Endor,' his servants replied. So Saul disguised himself, put on other clothes, and set out with two of his men." This act of disobedience ultimately contributed to Saul's downfall, as he turned away from seeking the Lord's guidance.

The prophet Ezekiel also condemns the use of divination among the leaders of Israel, highlighting its role in leading the people astray. Ezekiel 13:6-7 declares, "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?"

New Testament Perspective

The New Testament continues to affirm the rejection of divination. In Acts 16:16-18 , the Apostle Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination: "One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.' She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!' And the spirit left her at that very moment." This account demonstrates the power of Christ over demonic forces and the rejection of divination as a legitimate source of truth.

Spiritual Implications

The practice of divination is fundamentally at odds with the biblical call to trust in God alone for guidance and wisdom. Proverbs 3:5-6 exhorts believers, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Engaging in divination reflects a lack of faith in God's sovereignty and provision, leading individuals away from the truth and into spiritual deception.

In summary, divination is consistently portrayed in the Bible as an abominable practice that leads individuals away from God. It is associated with falsehood, rebellion, and spiritual danger, and is unequivocally condemned in both the Old and New Testaments.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Pagans.
... their indecent gestures, the abominable nature of ... Chinese have likewise a practice
of deifying ... mountebank sciences of astrology, divination, necromancy, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/pagans.htm

Titus ii. 14-Nov
... who are addicted to augury and divination, and the ... by one of the heathen, that this
practice was esteemed ... was the darkness, and the abominable deeds practiced ...
/.../homily v titus ii 14-nov.htm

The Teaching of Add??us the Apostle.
... my beloved, of evil ways and of abominable deeds, and ... and from sooth-saying, and
divination, and fortune ... on them, they themselves exhibited in practice in their ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents the teaching.htm

On the Ten Points of Doctrine.
... these things, abstain not as from things abominable [732] , else ... On the practice
of the Church at various times ... 8. where all such acts of divination are said ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture iv on the ten.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... This then surely cannot be forced into a justification of the practice of returning ...
It has been said they publish the most abominable untruths, and that they ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... of the temple were too prominent, and the crime of killing a sacred goose or stealing
a loaf from the bread offerings was considered as abominable as calumny ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... only doctrinally, but also by shewing them, by his example and practice, what he ...
in his spirit, when the wench that had a spirit of divination did acknowledge ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

Resources
What kind of divination did Joseph do in Genesis 44:5, 15? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about divination? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about palm reading? | GotQuestions.org

Divination: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Divination

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Divination: All Who Practised It, Abominable

Divination: An Abominable Practice

Divination: Could not Injure the Lord's People

Divination: Effected Through: A Lucrative Employment

Divination: Effected Through: Books of, Numerous and Expensive

Divination: Effected Through: Connected With Idolatry

Divination: Effected Through: Cups

Divination: Effected Through: Dreams

Divination: Effected Through: Enchantments

Divination: Effected Through: Inspecting the Inside of Beasts

Divination: Effected Through: Observing Heavenly Bodies

Divination: Effected Through: Observing Times

Divination: Effected Through: Raising the Dead

Divination: Effected Through: Rods

Divination: Effected Through: Sorcery

Divination: Effected Through: The Flight of Arrows

Divination: Frustrated by God

Divination: Practised by Astrologers

Divination: Practised by Charmers

Divination: Practised by Consulters of Familiar Spirits

Divination: Practised by Diviners

Divination: Practised by Enchanters

Divination: Practised by False Prophets

Divination: Practised by Magicians

Divination: Practised by Necromancers

Divination: Practised by Soothsayers

Divination: Practised by Sorcerers

Divination: Practised by Witches

Divination: Practised by Wizards

Divination: The Jews Prone To

Divination: The Law: Forbade Seeking To

Divination: The Law: Forbade to the Israelites the Practice of

Divination: The Law: Punished Those Who Sought To

Divination: The Law: Punished With Death Those Who Used

Divination: Those Who Practised used Mysterious Words and Gestures

Divination: Those Who Practised: Consulted in Difficulties

Divination: Those Who Practised: Regarded As Wise Men

Divination: Those Who Practised: Regarded With Awe

Related Terms

Augury (5 Occurrences)

Divinations (10 Occurrences)

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)

Magician (5 Occurrences)

Devils (48 Occurrences)

Demons (54 Occurrences)

Sorcery (10 Occurrences)

Magic (12 Occurrences)

Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)

Liver (16 Occurrences)

Communion (8 Occurrences)

With (66342 Occurrences)

Omen (6 Occurrences)

Wise (422 Occurrences)

Divine (39 Occurrences)

Python (6 Occurrences)

Witch (2 Occurrences)

Visions (43 Occurrences)

Astrology

Necromancers (8 Occurrences)

Observer (3 Occurrences)

Inquire (95 Occurrences)

Familiar (35 Occurrences)

Times (1875 Occurrences)

En-dor (3 Occurrences)

Endor (3 Occurrences)

Delusive (4 Occurrences)

Diviner (3 Occurrences)

Men (18419 Occurrences)

Auguries (4 Occurrences)

Sorcerer (3 Occurrences)

Magi (4 Occurrences)

Teraphim (14 Occurrences)

Greece (15 Occurrences)

Arrows (59 Occurrences)

Ancient (64 Occurrences)

Cup (86 Occurrences)

Consult (27 Occurrences)

Omens (3 Occurrences)

Enchantments (12 Occurrences)

Soothsayers (16 Occurrences)

Lots (26 Occurrences)

Dividing (23 Occurrences)

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)

Vision (106 Occurrences)

Practice (71 Occurrences)

Images (158 Occurrences)

Falsehood (107 Occurrences)

Vault (2 Occurrences)

Kerchief

Useth (9 Occurrences)

Uses (15 Occurrences)

Oracle (57 Occurrences)

Oak (22 Occurrences)

Junction (1 Occurrence)

Girl (71 Occurrences)

Inquireth (7 Occurrences)

Idolatries (3 Occurrences)

Flattering (11 Occurrences)

Fork (8 Occurrences)

Fortune (7 Occurrences)

Fees (1 Occurrence)

Fee (5 Occurrences)

Forts (12 Occurrences)

Futility (19 Occurrences)

Fortune-telling (1 Occurrence)

Fulfillment (19 Occurrences)

Remind (16 Occurrences)

Rewards (26 Occurrences)

Repeated (16 Occurrences)

Ramp (9 Occurrences)

Ramps (8 Occurrences)

Enchanter (5 Occurrences)

Earned (6 Occurrences)

Engages (1 Occurrence)

Experience (28 Occurrences)

Delusions (7 Occurrences)

Divined (6 Occurrences)

Deception (24 Occurrences)

Divination: All Who Practised It, Abominable
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