1 Sam 28:3-28:25, What place is God's word in our life?

1 Samuel 28:3–7 (ESV) — 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”


• The author sets the stage for this whole chapter. What is the key point and why is it so important?
• Samuel has died
• Saul had leaned on Samuel
• It is clear that Saul had leaned on Samuel at some point, but what do we know about the relationship between Saul and Samuel
• After the disobedience against the Amalekites (15:35), they did not meet again until the day of his death
• Also, Samuel's death was recorded in chapter 25
• Saul needed someone to go to for answers from God, why?
• Because God did not answer, why?
• Because Saul never develop a relationship with God on his own
• Why is Saul calling on God now, and how then does Saul see God?
• Saul is in crisis
• Saul calls on God to meet him in his crisis but ignores him in his everyday life
• What does that make God to Saul?
• God was Saul's servant. But God did not respond when Saul called to him because he is not anyone's servant
• Saul was supposed to be God's servant
• What else do we notice about this incidence with the medium or witch?
• Saul has the appearance of faith. Saul is religious. Saul does do the right things. But Saul has no relationship with God
• Saul is a hypocrite, because when following God's law no longer suits him, he changes the rules
• APPLICATION: Do we see ourselves as a servant to God or God as our servant? How can we tell the difference?


1 Samuel 28:11–19 (ESV) — 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”


• This is a tough passage but let's move through it slowly. Saul requests to talk to Samuel. How does the woman respond to the request and how does the woman respond to the actual appearance?
• There is no commentary on the request suggesting she had no issue
• But, her response is very atypical for someone who should be use to this business
• What does the woman's response to Samuel suggest?
• One, this was all make believe and fake, but now real
• Or two, she met with demons and they looked quite different
• Samuel is called a god, but the term can be used for a judge
• The color contrast made have made a difference too
• Either way, this was all quite surprising even to her. Therefore, it is quite possible this was actually Samuel
• Why does Samuel come up from below?
• In the OT, everyone went to Sheol (also called Hades)
• There are two compartments in Sheol
• One is Abraham's bosom or Paradise
• The other is the place for the unrighteous. This place has three parts
• Hades Proper (Hell) for humans
• Abyss, a temporary place for fallen angels
• Tartarus, a place for angels who sinned in Genesis 6
• Jesus removes the occupants of Paradise and takes them with him to Heaven during his resurrection
• Ephesians 4:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
• Let's assume this is Samuel, what does he say?
• Samuel repeats his previous prophecy (nothing has changed in God's judgement)
• Samuel adds that God has become his enemy -- far from being his servant, God was against him, why? Because Saul did nothing to bring God glory. Being religious does not bring God glory, only a relationship with God can truly change a person
• Samuel also adds a prophecy that Saul and his sons would die that day
• APPLICATION: Do we have a relationship with God? Or are we just religious?


1 Samuel 28:20–25 (ESV) — 20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.


• You have to ask yourself, is this section really important. Scripture seems to be very abridged and to the point, yet we have this seemingly innocuous passage. Let's assume it has a purpose, what might that be?
• This all started when Samuel chose to disobey God and perform the sacrifice himself
• He participated in worship but did it on his own terms
• Here, he shares a meal with a medium. The term slaughter is the same term as sacrifice
• As he ends his life, he is sharing a meal with the unrighteous and clearly in disobedience to God
• The passage is a contrast and puts the final stamp on Saul's life. He failed to follow God. He had no heart for God. He had no relationship with God. He lived a duplicitous life. How could he have avoided such a painful ending? What did David do differently (and David made mistakes as well)?
• David loved God's word
• David loved God
• David was obedient to God's word in his life. He applied it
• APPLICATION: The beginning of wisdom is always God's word -- how do we treat God's word in our life? Is regular daily time in God's word a priority for our life?