At the beginning of his life, King Saul often heard God’s voice through the prophet Samuel, but when Saul persistently rebelled against the Lord’s instructions because of his pride, he could not hear God’s voice. After one of his most blatant rebellions, Samuel warned Saul that ”rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23). By this Samuel meant that if Saul did not want to obey God, he might as well obey the supposed spirits of the dead at séance.
The Canaanite and Moabite religion involved séances in which those who were dead were considered gods and were asked to predict the future. However, these spirits they were contacting were actually demons impersonating the dead (Psalm 106:37,38).
Because Saul didn’t repent of his evil ways, God eventually stopped communicating with him. But when Saul was faced with the threat of the Philistines attacking him, he was desperate to hear God’s voice once more. So, in desperation, he sought the help of a witch that she may contact the prophet Samuel, who had since died. Saul knew clearly that this act was against God’s will for God had commanded His people never to consult a witch or medium (Leviticus 19:3120:27).
The Canaanite witch did her rituals and the apparition of Samuel appeared which she referred to as the spirit of “gods” (1 Samuel 28:13). The witch offered a fatted calf (v. 24), as a “sacrifice” according to her false religion. God condemned Saul’s action (1 Chronicles 10:13,14) and said that this final act of rebellion against His clear commandments would cause his death.
Instead of encouraging Saul, the demon impersonating Saul gave him a hopeless message. And Saul believed the demon. The following day as he got wounded and discouraged, Saul fell on his sword and ended his own life (1 Samuel 31:2-4). This is the sad story of a man who had turned away from God to the spirits of devils.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
