In the previous blog we saw how the Bible warns against what we now call ‘spiritism’. Seeking contact with the dead. We also know an example of this in Scripture.
Saul
In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul is besieged by the Philistines and asks God for advice, but He receives no answer, because God had departed from him. Then Saul goes in search of a soothsayer and his servants indicate that there is a woman at Endor, who is a medium and has power over the spirits of the dead. Saul disguises himself and visits this woman.
1 Samuel 28
11 And the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? And he said, Bring up Samuel for me!
12 And the woman saw Samuel, and she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spake unto Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? seeing thou art Saul.
This is a special story, in which a few things stand out. Saul asks the medium to summon the deceased Samuel. Samuel appears and the woman is frightened and cries out, from which we can deduce that this goes much further than the practices she was used to.
How this happens is not stated, but the moment the woman sees Samuel, Saul’s disguise falls away and she recognizes Saul.
13 And the king said to her, Fear not: what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see gods (>elohim) ascending from the earth.
Elohim
The Hebrew Elohim is a plural and from Genesis 1:1 it has been the designation for God, but it is also used for other (false) gods (e.g. Ex. 20:23; Ps. 97:9). The word ascending is also a plural.
The most logical conclusion is that God appears to Saul here, but because God is invisible (Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17), He manifests Himself here in the form of Samuel. Just as YAHWEH appeared many times in the Old Testament in the form of a messenger (Ex. 3:2) or in the form of one or more men (Judg. 13:16; Gen. 18:2).
all that is made manifest is light
As soon as ‘Samuel’ appears, Saul becomes manifest. The truth comes to light and Saul can no longer hide. This is also an argument that this is an appearance of God himself. In the light of God’s presence everything becomes manifest and nothing remains hidden (1 Cor. 4:5).
14 And he said to her, What is his appearance? And she said, An old man cometh up, and he is wrapped in a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel. And he bowed his head toward the ground, and fell down.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why do you disturb me by bringing me up? And Saul said, I am exceedingly distressed, because the Philistines fight against me. And God withdrew from me, and answered me no more, neither by the hand of prophets, nor in dreams. And I called to you, that I might know what I shall do.
16 And Samuel said, And why askest thou of me? And the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy.
17 And the LORD has done as he spoke through me. And the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David,
18 because you did not listen to the voice of the LORD (…)
19 Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
predict
Here Saul is accurately foretold what would happen. He would die, but not only he, but also his sons. Israel would be defeated by the armies of the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 31 we read how this is fulfilled. There is only one who can predict the future and that is God (Isa. 46:10). It is God who appeared to Saul in the form of Samuel and told him how things would go.