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1SAMUEL
CHAPTER 28

1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. 2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

This is an Old Testament picture of what happens when we are "unequally yoked together with unbelievers." (2Corinthians 6:14).
Achish had given David a safe place to reside, and had been David's protector from the other Philistines. Also David was protected from Saul. But now, the Philistines are preparing for war against Israel. And Achish wants a "pay back" from David.
Achish approached David and requested that he bring his troops to war WITH the Philistines AGAINST Israel.
Did you see how David used guarded words? Obviously David is uncomfortable with this situation, but he leads Achish to believe that he will come and fight.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

We are reminded that Samuel is dead, and told at the same time that Saul has gotten rid of all the "witches" - or people who CLAIM to be guided by a spirit.
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid, and wanted some spiritual advice. Why would God not answer Saul?
Hebrews 10:26-27 tells us that when we sin willfully after knowing God, we receive a "fearful looking for of judgment (or discipline)." Saul was afraid because the Presence and Power of God was no longer upon him. He had forsaken God, and the anointing of God's Spirit upon him to carry out his duties as king was GONE!
Saul's salvation is not the question here. But he could no longer contact God and get an answer because he had not truthfully begged forgiveness and he had too long forsaken God. In Isaiah 1:15 and Jeremiah 11:14 God told Israel that He would not hear them when they called upon Him because they had not been listening to Him. THAT'S what happened to Saul. God did not forsake him, he left doing what God told him to do.
Since Saul couldn't get an answer from the Lord, he decided to go to a "fortune teller." Now WHY would a man who believed in the Omnipotent, Omniscient God go to a "fortune teller?"
When a person KNOWS God, and then sets up an idol of "self" in his heart, he becomes VERY confused! That's why. He finally understands that he doesn't have the anser to life in himself! And he just absolutely MUST have direction from SOMEWHERE! Therefore, he'll seek advice from almost anybody. ((See Ezekiel 14:3-6))
The only answer for a Christian in Saul's position is GENUINE REPENTANCE to God.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

Why did Saul disguise himself? No person caliming to be in touch with a "spirit" would admit it to Saul, because he (as king) had driven them all out of the country. He had decreed that they all be chased out of the country or PUT TO DEATH (according to God's Word - Leviticus 20:27).
Notice that Saul particularly wanted to speak to Samuel (verse 11).
When the woman called upon her "spirit" Samuel actually showed up!! That produced a squeal of fear from the woman!!
You see, she KNEW she had no real powers to raise the dead or speak to the dead (no one does). But there was SAMUEL!! And it almost scared her to death!!

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

Saul calmed the woman down and asked who it was she saw.
She described the only person Saul knew that was an hones JUDGE and REPRESENTATIVE of God -- Samuel.
When Saul heard that, he reverently bowed to the ground. Then Samuel spoke to Saul.
Why would God allow Samuel to speak to Saul? First, let me say that there is this ONE incident in the Bible of the dead speaking to the living; but, there is ONLY ONE!!
(Unless you count when Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus at His transfiguration in front of the disciples - Matthew 17:2)
Don't let people tell you that they can call on the dead to speak to you!!
God allowed this ONE incident for a number of reasons. First, nothing is beyond the power and scope of God. Second, Samuel is shown to be ALIVE. Think about that! Third, Samuel delivers a message that Saul needs to hear and obey.
Saul had miserably failed to conquer the Amalekites as God had ordered. Saul had disobeyed God's prophet. Saul had persecuted and chased David, God's anointed successor to Saul. Saul had killed the high priest of Israel because of his jealousy and anger.
He didn't WANT to hear God! And he wouldn't OBEY God when he heard God. But NOW, he MUST obey God! There is ONE thing that God gives Saul through Samuel that Saul MUST do.
In verse 19, Samuel tells Saul he MUST fight with the Philistines, and he and his sons MUST die!!
But God's grace is inexhaustible, incomprehensible, majextic and goes beyond all we can ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
God also tells Saul (through Samuel) that "tomorrow thou shalt be with me."
WOW!!
Saul has sinned, and will now have to die in disgrace at the hands of the Philistines. BUT - he will go to be with God! What a GRACIOUS God we have!!

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

Saul fainted! Fear, anxiety, pressure, spiritual chastising from God, and exhaustion had made him so physically weak that he FAINTED!
The woman was now deeply concerned because she knew that Saul was the king of Israel. She offered him food, but he refused. Then his servants and the woman together persuaded him to eat so that he would have strength.
When Saul left the so-called "witch's" house, it was still night. He had come under cover of darkness and he left under cover of darkness.

Christians are "children of light" (1Thessalonians 5:5), and should have nothing to do with the "unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11)
May our spiritual eyes be set on Christ Who is the "author and finisher of our faith," and may we not set our spiritual eyes on ANYONE else, including SELF!

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