1 Samuel 28

[zrs6v4]

Well I had a very unexpected question from a women at work who had been reading the bible straight through. She had a ton of questions and I believe I was able to help her in a very positive way with the Gospel, but this question I had to honestly tell her I didnt know and would have to check into it.. Although, praise God, it led to a 2 hour conversation about very important truths, which I love...

1 Samuel 28- it is when Samuel was raised from the dead.

can anyone give me a background on this particular situation?

-Mediums (KJV- wizards) what purpose they served and whatever else might be helpful to her.

- Saul booted all of the mediums and necromancers
- then became afraid at the sight of the Philistines
- called on the Lord and was ignored
- then went to a medium (probably due to his selfish intent)
- Saul found a medium and swore by the Lord to her she wouldnt be harmed for her raising the dead
- Samuel rose
- he gave Saul the one last prophecy that he probably didnt need to hear (hence the reason God didnt tell him)
- on a side note I saw it odd that Samuel told Saul he and his sons would be with him after death... I always assumed Saul was not of God

anyway, thanks

 

[Aaron]

Matthew Henry's comments on this passage are the best I've read thus far.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc2.iSam.xxix.html

 

[Marcia]

In my ministry, I am often asked about this passage when I speak about the mediums. There are some Christians who do not think this was Samuel, but since the text says it was Samuel, I think it was Samuel.

Also, Samuel rebuked Saul for his disobedience to God and then gave an accurate prediction of what would happen. So this also shows it was Samuel.

1 Chron. 10:13 shows God's view of what Saul did and condemns Saul for consulting the medium.

Mediums apparently claimed to call up the dead from the ground (I guess since they were in the grave); this was also called necromancy. Consulting a medium or spirits or trying to contact the dead is denounced and forbidden by God in several places. Mediums were apparently common among the pagans.

As far as Samuel saying to Saul that he and his sons would be with him (Samuel), I wonder if that could mean that they would be with Samuel in the sense of being dead, not necessarily in the same place Samuel was.

I have an article on my website on this topic (spirit contact/contact with the dead) as well as a more lengthy article I wrote that was published in the Christian Research Journal:

Website:
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_SpiritContact1.html

CRI Journal:
http://www.equipresources.org/atf/cf/{9C4EE03A-F988-4091-84BD-F8E70A3B0215}/DD810.pdf

 

[zrs6v4]

Marcia-

So would it be right to say that God is the one who raised Samuel which seemed as if it were a work of a medium? or did God simply allow mediums to raise the dead on occasion?

It is such a random event that happened and is very hard to give an answer to, IMO..

 

[Marcia]

Marcia-

So would it be right to say that God is the one who raised Samuel which seemed as if it were a work of a medium? or did God simply allow mediums to raise the dead on occasion?

It is such a random event that happened and is very hard to give an answer to, IMO..

Well, if you had read one of my articles, you'd know! :laugh:

Yes, I would definitely agree that God is the one who brought back Samuel, in order to rebuke Saul and give a judgment on Saul. I do not believe any medium has ever contacted a dead person. We can't contact dead people. The Samuel incident was a very abnormal situation and God was the only one who could have done this.

 

[zrs6v4]

Well, if you had read one of my articles, you'd know! :laugh:

Yes, I would definitely agree that God is the one who brought back Samuel, in order to rebuke Saul and give a judgment on Saul. I do not believe any medium has ever contacted a dead person. We can't contact dead people. The Samuel incident was a very abnormal situation and God was the only one who could have done this.

Whoops :smilewinkgrin:

I actually just read the first one and it is really good, thanks

It really seems to clear up what happened and I will pass on the info to her.

So in your intro you said you had a spirit guide in the 70's (I'm guessing before you knew Christ)... if you want can you expound on that? if not its ok.. Im just cureous as to what a convert would say about having experienced those things..

 

[Marcia]

Whoops :smilewinkgrin:

I actually just read the first one and it is really good, thanks

It really seems to clear up what happened and I will pass on the info to her.

Thanks for reading it and passing it on. I hope it helps. :godisgood:

So in your intro you said you had a spirit guide in the 70's (I'm guessing before you knew Christ)... if you want can you expound on that? if not its ok.. Im just cureous as to what a convert would say about having experienced those things..

I don't mind. I do this all the time as I am a public speaker and am on the radio as well. I also write. I've given my testimony well over 100 times in public and it's been published in several countries and languages.

I was introduced to my spirit guide via a guided visualization/meditation in a class called Inner Light Consciousness, at Quaker House (they agreed to host the group's class). We were led into a meditation every evening, and the last evening, or next to last one, we were told we would meet our "spiritual master" who would be with us the rest of our lives, and who would contact us, and we could contact him/her. This was very exciting to us - of course, we all knew this was not a person of flesh and blood but a disembodied being. So at the end of the meditation, sure enough, each of us "met" our Master/guide.

All people in the occult and New Age have guides and are aware of it. These guides, whom some believe to be angels, dead people, ascended masters, Jesus, spiritually advanced beings on other planes, etc., etc. are all demons. But people in the New Age and most people in the occult do not believe in demons (and if they do,their view differs from a biblical view of demons).

This is how psychics, astrologers, mediums, etc. get some of their information - from the guides (demons) and why sometimes they are very accurate (but not about the future).

My story is here, if interested:
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/AboutCANA_SpiritualJourney.html


This is a general overview of my background:
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/AboutCANA_Background.html

 

[Jedi Knight]

"but since the text says it was Samuel, I think it was Samuel." Totally agree! The scripture said "Then Samuel said to Saul". I was studying this passage about the Medium and Saul and a coworker asked me "if I had see the TV show Medium?" Well I saw it as and opportunity"from the Lord" to tell her I was reading about a Medium, and she asked me where was the scripture.:godisgood:

 

[zrs6v4]

"but since the text says it was Samuel, I think it was Samuel." Totally agree! The scripture said "Then Samuel said to Saul". I was studying this passage about the Medium and Saul and a coworker asked me "if I had see the TV show Medium?" Well I saw it as and opportunity"from the Lord" to tell her I was reading about a Medium, and she asked me where was the scripture.:godisgood:

I think the biggest issue that comes from this as discussed above is that yes it was Samuel, but it seems that a medium is the one who actually resurrected Samuel from the dead.. But actually I believe it was God who did it for Samuel to give the last message to Saul even though it seems as if the medium had some sort of power to do so.

Marcia- thanks... Ill have to read your links, but did you actually experience the presence of a spirit (fallen angel) or do you think it was more of an imaginary type of thing. Im sure there are both cases that may happen.

 

[Marcia]

I think the biggest issue that comes from this as discussed above is that yes it was Samuel, but it seems that a medium is the one who actually resurrected Samuel from the dead.. But actually I believe it was God who did it for Samuel to give the last message to Saul even though it seems as if the medium had some sort of power to do so.

Marcia- thanks... Ill have to read your links, but did you actually experience the presence of a spirit (fallen angel) or do you think it was more of an imaginary type of thing. Im sure there are both cases that may happen.

No, it was a fallen angel, not imaginary. There are many ways I know this but I am not going to go into that here. Also, it would take time. I would have to be face to face with you and then I'd be glad to explain.

This is quite common with people in the New Age and the occult, although they think these beings are benevolent.