Any Port in a Storm: Daily Thoughts from 1 Samuel (1 Samuel 28)

Sometimes our self-made solutions to our problems are dependent on our own abilities, at times when, though the problems are great, we feel we can manage them our way. Other times the problems are so overwhelming that our self-made solutions are to seek the help of someone else.

Saul is facing that overwhelming problem and he seeks for help from someone he previously had outlawed getting help from. Any port in a storm.

In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. (1 Samuel 28, ESV)

When we don’t find our direction from God we inevitably look to other sources for direction. We inherently recognize our own inability to adequately direct ourselves. Even the arrogant man or woman who thinks he or she can wisely guide him or herself, will, in the face of overwhelming odds, look to someone or something else to provide guidance.

Saul wanted guidance from Yahweh about the Philistine attack, but Yahweh refused to give it through any of the means He had ordained, dreams, Urim and Thummim, and prophecy. Consulting a medium or necromancer, indeed, seeking any guidance through divination (seeking to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means, such as reading tea leaves, animal scat, consulting the dead, witchcraft, etc.) was expressly forbidden by God (Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deut. 18:10–12; see also 1 Sam. 15:23). Saul knew this and in honor of Samuel had banned from Israel all mediums (people who could mediate between dead and living people). But now in his desperation he thought he could consult Samuel by this means. And he succeeded!

The medium, this witch of Endor, did have an ability to connect with spirit beings. She thought Samuel was a “god” and this only shows the danger of such divination, for demons have routinely been passing themselves off as gods or spirit guides, leading people astray from the true and living God. But here Yahweh allowed Samuel to come up from Sheol or Hades, the place of departed spirits prior to Jesus’ ascension to heaven. But Samuel only told Saul what he should already have known, that his kingdom was doomed and David would be his successor. Samuel indicated to Saul that he and Jonathan would be with him due to their death in battle. And Saul was depressed.

David is facing his own situation, expected now to fight in this battle against his own people, Israel. He no doubt realizes he will have to turn his hand against the Philistines, betraying Achish’s trust. He undoubtedly anticipates becoming a fifth column within the Philistine army. But God will change all of that.