Tanak Foundations- Concepts in First Samuel-Part 22

1 Sam 28.1-25 tells us that the Philistines gathered for war against Israel, and Achish told David that he would go out to fight with him against them. And David agreed and told Achish that he knew what David and his men could do, and Achish made David and his men his bodyguard. This was a common practice because foreigners were not involved in all the politics and allegiances to the nation. David would use Philistines as his bodyguard as we shall see.

Samuel was dead and it is mentioned again here to show the spiritual void left by his death. In obedience to the Lord, Saul had removed all the mediums and spiritists from the land (Lev 19.31, 20.6, 27; Deut 18.10) in his earlier days when Samuel was still around and had an influence on Saul. We learn that the Philistines penetrated into Israel and camped at Shunem (“double resting place”), a place in the valley of Jezreel, about twenty miles north of Aphek. They had reached the ancient trade route that led through Gilboa up to Beit Shean and it showed just how dominant they were over Saul’s kingdom. Saul camped in Gilboa (“swollen heap”).

When Saul saw the Philistines he was afraid. Just as he had pursued David, now the Philistines are pursuing him. This is a far cry from Saul’s earlier days when he was filled with courage (1 Sam 11.6-11). But as the Lord had departed from Saul, he did not have the courage he had before, but Saul sought the Lord anyway. However, the Lord did not answer in dreams, or by the Urim and Thummim or by the prophets. The Urim and Thummim was with David (1 Sam 23.9). Saul was in a place of judgment because Saul had rejected the Lord’s will for him before. Since Saul doesn’t want to obey God, the Lord will not answer him. So, Saul decided to seek the help of a medium, who weren’t that easy to find since Saul had purged the land of them. He particularly asked them to find a woman who is a medium, but why?

It is a fact that women are more drawn to the occultic arts than men are. If we asked Paul this question he would say, “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression” (1 Tim 2.14). Adam was just as guilty about the fall and sinned knowing exactly what he did, but he was not deceived. So, Saul knew that a woman was more likely to be found who practiced these arts and that is why he asked for one, and they found one at En-dor (“spring of Dor”). Now, En-dor was a short distance away from where Saul was and he could get to it, but it was only about four miles northeast of Shunem where the Philistines were camped.

Saul disguised himself and went to this medium, bringing on him a curse (Lev 20.6), and he wanted her to call up Samuel so he could talk to him. This shows just how far Saul has fallen, and he certainly isn’t thinking clearly here. The medium, or better yet this “necromancer” thought that this might be a trick to catch her (v 9) and that these people were working undercover, but Saul took an oath in the name of Yehovah that no harm would come to her. This oath was illegal because the Lord had already said what to do with mediums. Now he swears an oath using the name of Yehovah to do the exact opposite of what God told him to do.

So the woman calls up Samuel and he appears and she cries out with fear. She is familiar with demonic spirits most likely, but this was a different matter altogether. She sees a power that was superior to her own and she had no power over this, and she didn’t really expect to see him. He didn’t come because the medium did anything, this was by the will of God alone. She was just as surprised as anyone. She now realizes this is Saul and wants to know why he had deceived her. The text doesn’t say how she knew, but she knew. He asks her what she sees, and she sees a “elohim” (or power) but this does not mean she saw God, but this was all she could say coming from her pagan background and vocabulary. The deceased were referred to as “gods” (elohim). She describes an “old man” coming up and he is wrapped with a robe (1 Sam 15.27). Saul knew this was Samuel and for real. God allowed this to happen because he had a reason for it, and that was to confirm the coming judgment on Saul’s kingdom. It also taught the medium a valuable lesson about the dangers of doing this type of thing, even though it was not by her power that it came about.

So Samuel speaks to Saul in 1 Sam 28.15-18. He tells Saul why the Lord will not communicate with him, and coming back to earth “disturbed” Samuel’s peace in Abraham’s Bosom. At that time, Samuel was not in heaven yet. This is explained in the parable (aggadah) of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke 16.19-31. This happened before Yeshua died on the cross and was resurrected. All believers who died went to a place called Abraham’s Bosom, and unbelievers went to a place called Torments. Once Yeshua was resurrected, everyone in Abraham’s Bosom, including Samuel, went to heaven.

Saul explains his problem to Samuel. The Philistines are at war with Israel, and God has departed from him and he did not know what to do. So Samuel says, “Why do you ask me since the Lord has departed from you and has become your adversary?” Samuel is on the Lord’s side, and did Saul really think he was going to get better news? Samuel then confirms what the Lord has already said to Saul (1 Sam 15.28-29). Samuel then tells Saul about his fate in 1 Sam 28.19. Saul learns that he and his sons will be dead tomorrow, with Samuel. Does that mean Saul and his sons went to Abraham’s Bosom? Maybe, but not necessarily. In Yeshua’s parable in Luke 16, Abraham’s Bosom and Torments were in the “same area.”

Israel is going to lose the battle the next day, and Saul was going to be taking many innocent lives with him. Of course, Saul loses his strength and collapses. The medium comforts Saul and prepares a meal for him. Later, he leaves knowing what awaits him, but he never repents. What lessons can we draw from this story?

First, if we want to hear from the Lord we should obey what we know in the Torah (which includes all the Scriptures overall). We should also reject any connection to the occult (like tarot cards, horoscopes and Ouija boards). When we stop listening, the Lord will find unusual ways to get our attention and speak to us. We also learn that there is another world beyond this one. We also learn that God’s word stays the same no matter what world we are in and no matter how much time is involved. God spoke on Mount Sinai 3500 years ago and it still applies today. If we are involved in rejecting the Torah or the occult, etc, we should not expect to stand before God and hear him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You figured out that my word has changed and that I spoke again through my servants Constantine and the Church fathers. You listened to them and knew you were free from the Torah and all that has been done away with. You rightly rejected what I had said in the Torah and followed the teachings of your pastors and priests.” No, that is not going to happen. We should learn from this episode with Saul and not expect that the Lord has changed his word over time, and that the Torah still applies to us today. Saul learned that the word of the Lord had not changed, and he resigned himself to his fate as he left the house of the medium of En-dor.

In Part 23 we will pick up here.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*