1 Samuel 28:7 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.’ Saul's hypocrisy; it is typical of him. He is superstitious in mind. It turns out, he never really believed that the God of Israel was exclusively the true God. Now you are getting an insight into Saul all along. Brought up an Israelite, he became king, he defended these principles and this religion, he consulted the priest, but now you discover he never really believed it at all. He believes, in his heart, that if the God of Israel isn't available to him, then he can go and see a medium, and he will raise up a spirit from the dead. That is all equal; that will work; in desperation he will turn to that. Now he cannot let it be known, so it has to be a night-time visit. Bearing in mind the geography, it was about eight miles from where he was pitched to Endor where this medium was, and in between lay the Philistine camp. So he had quite a long walk to get round the Philistine camp. He goes on foot instead of in a carriage. Nobody must know it is the king or doing this thing, and he takes only two of his servants with him. So he demands a medium, and they know where there is one. Of course they do, because they are hypocrites too in all likelihood, and in court there are people who consulted the odd medium, who have survived the purge and are still functioning. While there are one or two writers who like to imagine that Saul's courtiers went round the countryside looking for a medium and this all took some time, it seems more likely that they knew where this witch of Endor was.‘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.’ She does not recognise Saul, but she is nervous and puts up a bit of resistance. She puts up a bit of resistance: ‘Don't you know that Saul has outlawed all those who have familiar spirits.’ She is protecting herself, naturally. And Saul swears to her that not through him will any punishment come about. He has not disclosed he is the king; he urges her to believe, but he does it in the name of the Lord. This man's idea of faith! Words are just tools to be used to achieve whatever ends are in mind. There is no adherence to the truth. The king, who is supposed to protect and enforce the law, is actually swearing an oath in the name of the Lord he is currently betraying, that no harm will come to her. He is a total mess, is Saul in his outlook and in his phoniness. How can Saul protect her from the punishment that is due to her for her violation of God’s law? What easy and worthless consolations unbelievers give to each other!