32: A witch became Saul’s prophetess ( 1Samuel 28:1 – 25)

Amid the Philistine invasion, Saul, having been rejected in his inquiry of God, resorted to a witch who summoned the spirit of the dead. His dependence on a dead man's spirit rather than the living God foreshadows his imminent downfall.

👉 Read 1Samuel 28:1 - 25

Q1. What was David's dilemma? (v1-2)

Achish asked David to fight against Israel for the Philistines.

Q 2. (3 – 11) What was Saul’s dilemma? 

He had no one to tell him about how to win the battle. Samuel had died and no mediums were in the land. God was ignoring his direct inquiry. Finally, he ended up asking a witch for help.

The Bible details how Saul sought out a witch and assured her of her safety by disguising himself and even swearing in God's name. How could Saul, who had previously banned mediums from his kingdom, now seek one? When he had Samuel, he needed no mediums. But now, with no one to tell him his fortune, he sought guidance even from a witch. Saul had a pattern of seeking God only when he needed help, especially in battle. Now, finding no answer from God, he turned to a witch instead. 

Info: A ritual pit was where they called out the spirit of the dead. In their worldview, when a man dies, his spirit goes down. 

Q3. Samuel said it was useless for Saul to ask Samuel because the Lord had done this. What was Saul’s fault? 

Saul did not obey the Lord by failing to carry out His fierce anger against the Amalekites. 

Saul destroyed them but not in God's heart. God intended him to pour out His wrath upon them, but Saul’s heart was captivated with the desire for glory. God’s workers must align their hearts with God's heart. Regardless of our emotions or values, we are called to carry out the task entrusted by God, whether it involves exposing sin or embracing wounded hearts.

When you work for God, possessing God's heart is more important than merely accomplishing the mission.

Q4.  What was Saul’s response on hearing of his death? Note how the Bible details Saul’s emotional status. 

He was so despaired and didn’t want to eat any. 

The Bible repeatedly says he was terrified and despaired (20). He let go of the hope of life because his dynasty meant everything to him. His priority had not been God's kingdom but his own. Our ministry or mission should never take priority over God's kingdom.

The Bible also describes how the woman encouraged and supported Saul. She butchered a calf and urged him to eat. The witch, in a sense, became Saul’s prophetess.

Why did she help Saul? Perhaps she did not want Saul to die in her house, especially after hearing from Samuel that he would die. She persuaded him to eat and leave (v.22), and Saul left that night (v.23).

When Saul repeatedly ignored God's messages, God stopped speaking to him and rejected him as king. Yet God allowed him to remain on the throne for a time, convicting him of his sin through David’s words. This period was given for Saul to repent. But he did not. In the end, his downfall was announced through the words of the dead, with the aid of a witch.