Did the Witch of Endor Really Summon Samuel's Ghost?

Saul was King over Israel, leading them in a war against the Philistines. Because of his unjustified wrath against David, the Lord was not with him. One day he was so desperate for help, he put on a disguise and consulted a witch (sorceress) in the land of Endor (1 Sam. 28). He told her to summon the ghost of Samuel the prophet, who had died recently (vv. 3 & 11). When "Samuel" appeared to them, he told Saul that the Philistines would kill him, and that David would take his throne as King (vv. 17-19).

Who was speaking to Saul? Was it really the ghost of Samuel, or was it a demonic spirit masquerading as Samuel? I believe it actually was the ghost of Samuel, but it was God--and not the witch--who brought him up from the afterlife. (Naturally, it is insulting to God to suggest that any man or woman can actually summon a human spirit from the afterlife. That is a feat only God can perform.)

Since Satan is behind all forms of witchcraft/sorcery, one might ask if the witch was communicating with a demonic spirit who was masquerading as the ghost of Samuel. That is possible, but I don't think it was so. If it really was a demonic spirit, then why doesn't the text say so? Why does it plainly and directly identify the spirit as Samuel? Furthermore, the spirit came up from the ground (vv. 13 & 14). Demons do not live in the ground; they live in the air (Job 1:7; Eph. 2:2; 6:12; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:7 & 8). Second Peter 2:4 teaches that some demons are confined to "hell" (tartarus in the Greek), but the they cannot escape; they are kept until the final judgment.

Whether the spirit who spoke to Saul was the actual ghost of Samuel or a demonic counterfeit is a peripheral Christian debate. More importantly, we can all learn from this passage to stay away from witchcraft (and all other forms of the occult) at all costs (Deut. 18:10-12; Acts 13:6-10; Gal. 5:19 & 20; Rev. 9:21; 18:23; 22:15)! Saul's actions were sinful. As a result God revealed to him the bad news of his tragic, shameful death (1 Sam. 31). We can only imagine Saul's great sense of fear and despair at that moment.