1 Samuel 28:15 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Samuel 28:15

Comments

Either way, whether you believe it was Samuel or it wasn't, the message is exactly the same. Samuel appeared from the dead in some shape or form, and delivered to Saul the message he had heard previously, but never taken seriously: the condemnation of God on his reign. He wants some word from Samuel. What is he doing? He didn't listen to Samuel when he was alive, and after Samuel announced that God had withdrawn from him, and removed from him the right to rule, he never sought Samuel again, and Samuel never visited him. Why does Saul think that Samuel can help him now? Why does he feel there is no one else he can turn to, and even finds it necessary to call up Samuel from the dead?Saul protests that God is not answering him and therefore he has had to come and seek an answer from Samuel himself. Samuel believes him, but his conclusion is solemn and fearful. If God will not answer Saul by normal means, can the Lord be forced to provide an answer by Saul using wholly illegitimate means to gain access to the dead prophet? That will only bring Saul into greater condemnation. Is Samuel going to give an answer independent from the Lord? Is there any value in an answer that has not come from the Lord? Saul’s squirming before God is not going to produce any different result. Asking again is not going to get any different answer. In fact the message is going to get worse and the judgment is going to be increased, because he has ignored God for so long, and comes hoping to get a different answer. The message to Saul is that God won't have anything to do with him, that God has judged him, and the next day he will be defeated in battle, his life and that of his sons will be taken, and he will appear before God, not as a saved person, but in judgement.

Application

Some people are like this; indeed at some time, all people are like this. They just don't take God seriously. ‘You are doomed; your life is removed; you will perish; you will come under judgement.’ They tremble for a moment, and then say to themselves, ‘Not really. Surely, not really. There will be another opportunity. I can go on as I am.’ As Saul says, ‘Let me go to a medium; please get me Samuel.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because I imagine somehow I can appeal to him at the last minute and make things right. And all the threats and all warnings and all the judgements: I can get past them.’ People think they can avoid some hard duty before the Lord by asking again in the hope of getting a different answer. Never imagine that! Even as a Christian, as a believer, under the smile and the kindness of God; when God says, ‘Don't do this, and don't do that’, take it seriously. Don't, like an unbeliever, like Saul, say to yourself, ‘I don’t think God will really disapprove of me if I just push along, keep doing this, keep doing that.’ What happened in the case of Saul was that, through the apparition of Samuel, the judgement of God was delivered to him, and he swoons out flat.

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1 Samuel 28:15 Commentary and Bible Study