Reflections on 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 28 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Samuel had died some time earlier, and people from all over Israel had attended his funeral in his hometown of Ramah. Meanwhile, Saul had been trying to get rid of everyone who spoke with the spirits of the dead. But one day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel. Achish told David, "Of course, you know that you and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army." David answered, "That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!" "In that case," Achish said, "you and your men will always be my bodyguards."
   
2. (SEE 28:1)
   
3. (SEE 28:1)
   
4. The Philistines went to Shunem and set up camp. Saul called the army of Israel together, and they set up their camp in Gilboa.
   
5. Saul took one look at the Philistine army and started shaking with fear.
   
6. So he asked the LORD what to do. But the LORD would not answer, either in a dream or by a priest or a prophet.
   
7. Then Saul told his officers, "Find me a woman who can talk to the spirits of the dead. I'll go to her and find out what's going to happen." His servants told him, "There's a woman at Endor who can talk to spirits of the dead."
   
8. That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, "Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?"
   
9. The woman said, "Why are you trying to trick me and get me killed? You know King Saul has gotten rid of everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead!"
   
10. Saul replied, "I swear by the living LORD that nothing will happen to you because of this."
    
11. "Who do you want me to bring up?" she asked. "Bring up the ghost of Samuel," he answered.
    
12. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said, "You've tricked me! You're the king!"
    
13. "Don't be afraid," Saul replied. "Just tell me what you see." She answered, "I see a spirit rising up out of the ground."
    
14. "What does it look like?" "It looks like an old man wearing a robe." Saul knew it was Samuel, so he bowed down low.
    
15. "Why are you bothering me by bringing me up like this?" Samuel asked. "I'm terribly worried," Saul answered. "The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back on me and won't answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I do?"
    
16. Samuel said: If the LORD has turned away from you and is now your enemy, don't ask me what to do.
    
17. I've already told you: The LORD has sworn to take the kingdom from you and give it to David. And that's just what he's doing!
    
18. When the LORD was angry with the Amalekites, he told you to destroy them, but you didn't do it. That's why the LORD is doing this to you.
    
19. Tomorrow the LORD will let the Philistines defeat Israel's army, then you and your sons will join me down here in the world of the dead.
    
20. At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything since the day before.
    
21. The woman came over to Saul, and when she saw that he was completely terrified, she said, "Your Majesty, I listened to you and risked my life to do what you asked.
    
22. Now please listen to me. Let me get you a little something to eat. It will give you strength for your walk back to camp."
    
23. "No, I won't eat!" But his officers and the woman kept on urging Saul, until he finally agreed. He got up off the floor and sat on the bed.
    
24. Right away the woman killed a calf that she had been fattening up. She cooked part of the meat and baked some thin bread.
    
25. Then she served the food to Saul and his officers, who ate and left before daylight.
    

    ---

    God's timing for the transfer of the kingship from Saul to David was at hand. The Philistines gathered their full military force to fight against Israel. What prompted this event we are not told, but regardless of their reason, God was orchestrating the events. When king Saul saw the huge Philistine army encampment he was terrified and tried to inquire of the Lord for help, but the Lord was silent. Saul was not prone to consulting the Lord, but, like most of us are inclined to be, turned to God he was in trouble. We are reminded in verse 3 that Samuel had died, so Saul did not have him or any other man of God to whom he could turn to aid him in consulting the Lord. He was very much alone. No doubt he sensed the time of his removal had come. He had surely lived in fear of this for many years, ever since the Lord told him through Samuel, "the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." (15:26)
    
    Saul had "removed the mediums and spiritists from the land." (28:3) Possibly he had attempted to gain the Lord's favor by bringing spiritual reform to Israel. But it was to this dark side that Saul now turned for help. Disguising himself, Saul went by night to Endor where he knew a medium still existed. He was desperate. Even the medium was not prepared for what happened, for the Lord intervened and Samuel actually appeared. Whatever the medium had intended to conjure up, it clearly was not the actual appearance of the prophet. Samuel had no comfort to offer Saul. It was time for the kingship to be torn "out of (Saul's) hand and given it to (his) neighbor David." (28:17) Now Saul and his troops would be handed over to the Philistines. Samuel told Saul, "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines." (28:19)
    
    There was nothing left for Saul to do but to accept his fate. Meanwhile, David's fate to become king in Saul's place was also being played out. The Philistine king told David he was expected to march out with the Philistine army to fight against the Israelites. David replied by saying, "Good, you will find out what your servant can do." (28:2) Was David pretending loyalty to the Philistine king and boasting of what he could do? Or did his statement hint of his intention to turn against the king?