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SAUL AND THE MEDIUM AT ENDOR (I)

I Samuel 28:1-12

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    ACHISH READIES FOR BATTLE AGAINST ISRAEL (I Sam. 28:1-2)

ii.                  SAUL REQUESTS A WOMEN WITH FAMILIAR SPIRIT (I Sam. 28:3-5)

iii.                SAUL REQUESTS FOR SAMUEL TO BE BROUGHT UP (I Sam. 28:7-12)

 

2.      Who gathered for warfare against Israel? (I Sam. 28:1)

 

And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel…

 

A.    The Philistines prepared to fight against Israel.

 

3.      Who did Achish want to go with him into battle? (I Sam. 28:1)

 

…And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

 

A.    David and his men

 

B.      LESSON:  When we associate with the enemy, the enemy expects us to side with them.

 

4.      How did David respond? (I Sam. 28:2)

 

And David said unto Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do.

 

A.    “Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do.

 

B.      David’s answer is what one called “equivocal.”  It could be taken in two ways.

1.      By the end of the battle, Achish would know whether David was for him or against him.

2.      Based on the events of the previous chapter, Achish would find out that David would fight against him in the battle.

3.      NOTE:  David had put himself in a very precarious situation by siding with the enemy.

a.      Would he fight against his own people because of his relationship to Achish?

b.      Would he fight against Achish who had been good in receiving him?

 

5.      What did Achish desire for David to be forever? (I Sam. 28:2)

 

…Therefore I will make thee keeper of mine head forever.

 

A.    Keeper of mine head forever.

 

B.      This is the position of the captain of the life-guards of the king.

1.      It was given because of Achish’s trust in David.

2.      It should be a position assumed with loyalty.

 

 

 

6.      Who had died and was buried in Ramah? (I Sam. 28:3)

 

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him in Ramah, even in his own city…

 

A.    Samuel, the prophet and priest in Israel

 

7.      Who had Saul put out of the land? (I Sam. 28:3)

 

…And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards out of the land.

 

A.    Those that had familiar spirits

1.      Strong (178):  mumble, necromancer

2.      These were well trained ventriloquists who acted like they could contact the dead.

 

B.      The wizards

1.       Strong (3049):  a knower

2.      A male who was also associated with the spirits of the dead

 

C.     NOTE:  As some point in his reign, Saul had followed the Law of Moses in this matter.

1.      Deuteronomy 18:10-12

 

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord:  and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

 

2.      The sentence against these practices was death (Lev. 20:27).

 

A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death:  they shall stone them with stones:  their blood shall be upon them.

 

8.      Where did the two warring armies pitch their camps? (I Sam. 28:4)

 

And the Philistines gather themselves together, and came and pithed in Shunem:  and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

 

A.    Philistines:  Shunem

 

B.      Israel:  Gilboa

 

Related image

 

9.      How did Saul react when he saw the host of the Philistines? (I Sam. 28:5)

 

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

 

A.    He was afraid.

1.      Strong (3372):  to be afraid

2.      BDB:  to fear, be afraid, terrify, be dreadful

 

B.      His heart greatly trembled.

1.      Strong (2729):  shudder with terror

2.      BDB:  tremble, quake, be terrified

 

C.     One of Saul’s weaknesses was fear. 

1.      His fear paralyzed him.

2.      His fear caused him to sin against God.

3.      His fear caused him to seek after an innocent man to kill him.

 

D.    LESSON:  All of us must deal with fear.  There are very few who move with courage all of the time.  We have to put our trust in passages from the Word of God (II Tim. 1:7).

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 

10.  What happened when Saul inquired of the Lord? (I Sam. 28:6)

 

And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not…

 

A.    The Lord answered him not.

 

 

11.  What three methods did he use to inquire of the Lord? (I Sam. 28:6)

 

…neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

 

A.    Dreams

 

B.      Urim

 

C.     Prophets

 

D.    LESSON:  When we forsake God, God will forsake us.  He will leave us on our own to fiend for ourselves.  It is a sad condition.  It is a scary condition.  It is a helpless condition.

 

12.  Who did Saul ask his servant to find so he could make inquiry of her? (I Sam. 28:7)

 

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…

 

A.    A women with a familiar spirit

 

B.      LESSON:  There are times in life that we practice things that earlier we condemn. 

1.      Saul had put away those with familiar spirits earlier in his reign.  Now, he is seeking the counsel of one. 

2.      This often happens with sin:  adultery, homosexuality, missing worship services, etc.

 

13.  Who did his servants tell Saul about? (I Sam. 28:7)

 

…And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

 

Image result for endor in the bible

 

A.    Endor was a city of Manasseh and was located in the plain of Jezreel at the foot of Mt. Gilboa.

 

B.      Notice that he “inquired of the Lord” (v. 6) and wanted to “inquire” of the familiar spirit.  The two words are synonymous, but are not the same Hebrew word.  The second term is usually applied to inquiring of false gods (See I Kings 1:2; Isa. 8:19; 19:3).

C.     Three things are very intriguing in this answer.

1.      Even though familiar spirits had been put away, at least one still existed in the land.

2.      The servants of Saul knew about this woman and exactly where she lived.

3.      These servants were willing to give this woman up to the king.

 

14.  What did Saul do before he went to the woman at Endor? (I Sam. 28:8)

 

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment…

 

A.    He disguised himself and put on clothes that differed from his kingly attire.

 

B.      There may have been three reasons for this.

1.      The camp of the Philistines was not too far away.  He did not want to be detected by them.

2.      He did not want to be seen by anyone in Israel while he sought out the medium

3.      He did not want the witch at Endor to detect who is was and refuse to assist him.

 

15.  When did Saul go to the woman at Endor? (I Sam. 28:8)

 

…and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night…

 

A.    They came to the woman by night

 

B.      At night, there was less of a chance of being detected by others, the enemy or the citizens of Israel.

 

16.  What request did Saul make of the woman? (I Sam. 28:8)

 

…and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

 

A.    He asked her to bring up the familiar spirit whose name he would give her.

 

B.      LESSON:  The deed is now done.  What Saul had condemned, he is now guilty of doing. 

1.      Prior to the act, there is hope, hope that one will see his error and turn from it.

2.      Once the deed is done, there is no going back.

 

17.  What did the woman accuse Saul of doing? (I  Sam. 28:9)

 

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land:  wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die.

 

A.    She accused him of laying a snare so she could be reported to Saul.  She was well aware of the penalty for her crime, death.

 

B.      As to how many remained in the land, we do not know.  It does not appear to have been many.  They may have been others who had been trapped and punished for their wizardry and witchcraft.  Thus, she was very hesitant.

 

 

 

18.  What promise did Saul make to the woman? (I Sam. 28:10)

 

And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

 

A.    Saul assured her that she would not be punished.

 

B.      She probably took this as meaning that this was not a trap.  He was a person who truly desired the services of one with a familiar spirit.

 

19.  Who did Saul tell her that he desired to bring up? (I Sam. 28:11)

 

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to thee?  And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

 

A.    He wanted her to bring up Samuel.

 

B.      This was an extremely famous person in Israel.  His credentials as a prophet and priest were well known.  It would have been interesting to have been in the mind of the medium when she heard this request.

 

20.  When the woman saw Samuel, what did she do? (I Sam. 28:12)

 

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice…

 

A.    The woman cried with a loud voice.

 

B.      Her reaction indicates that she was not accustomed to actually seeing the spirits she claimed to bring up from the hadean realm.  If she really did this on a regular basis, his presence would not have startled her in the least.  She would have been ready to see him.  Thus, it is an evidence that she was really a fraud.

 

21.  What did the woman immediately come to understand? (I Sam. 28:12)

 

…and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me?  for thou art Saul.

 

A.    Since the spirit of Samuel actually appeared, she was convinced that the man who made the request was Saul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAUL AND THE MEDIUM AT ENDOR (II)

I Samuel 28:13-25

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.      Outline:

 

i.                    I SAMUEL 28:13-14

ii.                  I SAMUEL 28:15-19

iii.                I SAMUEL 28:20

iv.                I SAMUEL 28:21-25

 

2.      What words of comfort did Saul give to the woman who saw Samuel? (I Sam. 28:13)

 

3.      What answer did this woman give to Saul’s question when he asked:  “…for what sawest thou?” (I Sam. 28:13)

 

4.      What was Saul’s second question to the woman? (I Sam. 28:14)

 

5.      What was her answer? (I Sam. 28:14)

 

6.      What did Saul do when he perceived it was Samuel? (I Sam. 28:14)

 

7.      What question did Samuel ask Saul? (I Sam. 28:15)

 

8.      How did Saul answer Samuel? (I Sam. 28:15)

 

A.

 

B.

 

C.

 

9.      T – F    Since the Lord had departed from Saul, Samuel understood why Saul called for him. (I

Sam. 28:16)

 

10.  T – F    Samuel reminded Saul that the Lord did as He had promised regarding the kingdom. (I

Sam. 28:17)

 

11.  What did Samuel say was the reason the Lord did not answer Saul regarding his battle with the Philistines? (I Sam. 28:18)

 

12.  T- F      Samuel told Saul that he would win the battle the next day. (I Sam. 28:19)

 

13.  Where would Saul be after the battle? (I Sam. 28:19).

 

14.  How did Saul react to the word of Samuel? (I Sam. 28:20)

 

15.  Why didn’t Saul have any strength in him? (I Sam. 28:20)

 

16.  Who was immediately concerned for Saul and addressed his situation? (I Sam. 28:21)

 

17.  What did she tell the king that would give her the right to make request of him? (I Sam. 28:21)

18.  What did she want the king to eat? (I Sam. 28:22)

 

19.  T – F    Saul was grateful to the woman and immediately ate the bread she offered. (I Sam. 28:23)

 

20.  Who finally compelled Saul to eat? (I Sam. 28:23)

 

21.  “So he arose from the ___________________  and sat upon the _____________” (I Sam. 28:23).

 

22.  What two things did the woman with the familiar spirit prepare for Saul to eat” (I Sam. 28:24)

 

A.

 

B.

 

23.  T – F    After the food was prepared, Saul still refused to eat. (I Sam. 28:25)

 

24.  T – F    Saul and his men left the woman’s house before sunrise. (I Sam. 28:25)