1 Samuel 28

Familiar Spirit

1 Sam 28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

David's lie about fighting the people of Israel had caused the King of the Philistines to believe that David was indeed his man. It was time to go against Israel in battle, the enemy is strengthened even in spirit knowing that the champion of Israel has defected into his camp. No doubt he was thinking that their gods were indeed greater than the God of Israel.

1 Sam 28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

The lie goes on, another lie to cover the first. The king is so happy that David is his now that he makes him his keeper, as Abner was Saul's keeper. The king thinks that David is forever his. But what of God's promise to make David king of Israel. His covenant with David would be given, saying that his throne would be forever. The throne of David would go to the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Sam 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

How can it be that David finds himself serving the enemy and with the enemy king saying it is forever? Have we been as David, serving the enemy king and in the world? Did it seem as if we were trapped forever? Do not give in to lies, nor partner with the enemy. Remember who you are and the promises of God for you.

1 Sam 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

This was a good thing, for God had spoken against those who do these things in his law. There are an abundance of these now in our pagan country.

Lev 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
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.

Should we stone them? No, we give them the gospel message and pray that they be saved. But God in the end will deliver punishment to them according to their works. We also have power to bind their spirits and cast them out, in the name of Jesus. It is better to save the soul first, then deal with the spirits, for they will return in greater number if the heart is not the Lord's.

1 Sam 28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

The Philistines were twenty miles north of any Philistine City; they were an open threat to Israel.

1 Sam 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
1 Sam 28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Saul, only a natural man had lost all of his spiritual power. Our power and strength is of God. He lost the Holy Spirit. His spiritual leader, Samuel was dead. God would not speak to him, why? because Saul turned from God and did not want him in his life. There was no answer from dreams, nor from the priests Urim, nor by the prophets. God had shut the door on Saul and we was afraid for his life, afraid of the Philistines. If we want God to guide us, we must obey what he has already shown us. Saul had repeatedly disobeyed God, even pursuing David, God's choice of king. Does he really want to hear from God?

1 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 inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

Women are more into spiritual things then men. There are more women attending churches than men. They have more open feelings and emotions then men. They generally are more free to share in their hearts and emotions and are sensitive to hidden things. Men are to be leaders, but often are weak in spiritual leadership. Paul spoke of a weakness in women, a lack of discernment, feelings can get in the way.

1 Tim 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Because of their open emotions, they may be led astray by false teachers or false spirits.

2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, (false teachers) but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Tim 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

What, are there no wise women with discernment? Of course there are. Are there no foolish men? Oh yes, many foolish men and women. We have read of wise Abigail who was married to a fool; Nabal. Women are generally moved more by feelings. Because of this many marry foolish and wicked men. These are my observations, as to why Saul asked for a woman with familiar spirits. They seem to be more sensitive and intuitive.

1 Sam 28:8 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.

Divine, to discover by intuition, by the familiar spirit. A familiar spirit is a spirit that knew a dead person, so that they are able to tell things about them no one would know. Saul seeks to actually hear from Samuel through this spirit. This is usually trickery from the one pretending to be the one reaching the dead.

1 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?

She had reason to fear Saul, for he is unstable, even more she should fear God. For he hates these false gods drawing people to themselves. Some who claim to trust God and our Lord Jesus, pay to hear the lies of a psychic. God is not pleased with this behavior. They are opening themselves to a curse, from God and from the destructive spirits.

Exo 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

1 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.

As the LORD liveth, in the mouth of Saul this has no meaning. He spoke this often, yet he was double minded.

1 Sam 14:39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die...

Regarding David, who Saul continuously sought to destroy:

1 Sam 19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

A frustrated David spoke of the end of Saul because of his stubborn disobedience to the things of God. These were prophetic words.

1 Sam 26:10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

1 Sam 28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
1 Sam 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

Apparently Samuel did come to her. How can this be? Well, Did not Moses and Elijah meet with the Lord Jesus at the Mt. of transfiguration?

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

1 Sam 28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

She said, I saw elohiym, the plural name used for God, ascending out of the earth. She being a pagan, may have used this word to mean gods, unknown to her. She was used to evil spirit and was startled at the presence of God.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God ( elohiym ) created the heaven and the earth.

Was it God? Or the presence of God's spirit? Had Samuel literally been transported from paradise, the old time resting place for those who would inherit heaven, to be in the presence of Saul. See the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Luke 16:23 And in hell he (rich man) lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (paradise)

1 Sam 28:14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

Samuel was always the one who spoke to Saul, his intermediary. What was the purpose of Samuel coming to the medium?

1 Sam 28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
1 Sam 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
1 Sam 28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
1 Sam 28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
1 Sam 28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

The LORD sent Samuel, the one who anointed Saul as king, to pronounce God's judgment on him. Samuel reminded Saul of all the times he had refused to obey God. He willfully disobeyed God many times without repentance. His end was coming. Tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me. Be with Samuel? That was that in paradise, not hell? Was God's grace still on Saul? Would he lose his life but not his soul? I don't know. Only God knows. One thing sure was Saul would no longer be living and breathing and making decisions. His time had run out.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Sam 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Saul seeking comfort from Samuel, is devastated. It is reaffirmed, God has turned from him. One question arises in my heart. If this was a familiar spirit and not truly Samuel, what would he seek to do? He would take all hope away and deliver a message of death and destruction. Saul had followed the wrong spirit so long, that possibly both satan and the LORD had given him the death sentence. This is a very bad place to be. If any think they can serve satan and please God, beware, lest both turn on you. The message of grace goes out now, but only if we repent in godly sorrow and seek God's forgiveness with a humble heart.

1 Sam 28:21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
1 Sam 28:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
1 Sam 28:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
1 Sam 28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 1 Sam 28:25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

What good is it to feed the body when the soul is sick? Saul, a condemned man eats his last super, his soul and spirit leave, having lost all hope. A condemned man awaiting his execution. His only comfort came from one who served the darkness, as he. She had no hope to offer him for his soul, for both lived in rebellion to God's word. We do not go to a psychic, for they are of the darkness, any hope would be a lie, a false hope.

Psa 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Psa 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Psa 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psa 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

Superragman@aol.com

My Favorite Web sites

1 Samuel 29
1 Samuel 1 Table of Contents
Eaglewings Ministries
Eaglewings Testimonies