Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 28
1 Samuel 14:36-42 describes a previous occasion when God refused to answer Saul’s prayer. On that occasion, the reason was that one of Israel’s soldiers had carried out an evil deed (compare Isaiah 59:1-2). Saul realised that fact at once. He then asked God to show him who was responsible.
On this later occasion, God had again refused to answer Saul’s prayer, and Saul felt desperate. Now, Saul did not need to ask who was responsible for this situation. Saul himself had chosen not to obey God, and he was living in a very wicked manner.
Although Saul was not willing to obey God, he was praying. He needed God’s help for his next battle against Philistia’s army. Saul could see that the battle would be one of the most important battles in Israel’s history. He was desperate for support from God.
For that reason, Saul made an extraordinary and terrible decision. He could not, of course, force God to speak to him. However, Saul believed that he could force one of God’s prophets (Israel’s holy men) to speak to him. In particular, Saul wanted Samuel, who had often declared God’s messages to Saul in the past, to speak to him. As God’s servant, Samuel had authority to speak on behalf of God.
Samuel had been dead for two years, but that fact did not stop Saul. By means of witchcraft (magic), some people claim to have power over spirits and to contact dead people. The Bible considers witchcraft to be a very wicked act, witchcraft is against God’s law (Deuteronomy 18:9-14; 1 Samuel 15:23).
On the night before the battle, Saul sent his men to find someone who used witchcraft. They found such a woman in Endor. To get there, Saul had to follow a long and dangerous route. He actually had to go round to the other side of his enemies’ camp. That fact shows how desperate he was.
Next part: Saul urges a woman to contact a spirit for her (1 Samuel 28:8-10)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.