1 Samuel 28: Witch Way? Saul Seeks Samuel

The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Churubusco, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Samuel 28.

In a moment of crisis, David faces a dilemma: should he fight with the Philistines against his own people? Meanwhile, Saul faces a dead end: God won’t talk to him, so he turns to a forbidden source of guidance—the witch of Endor! He summons the spirit of Samuel, only to hear a terrifying message from beyond the grave.

The Book of 1 Samuel beings with the unique birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel. Soon, the people of Israel begin to press upon the aging prophet Samuel to anoint a king over them like the other nations. YHWH assures Samuel that the people are rejecting their God, not Samuel. He advises Samuel to give the people what they want. What follows is the rise and fall of King Saul, the eventual anointing and coronation of David as king, the forerunner of Jesus. It’s a true story of political intrigue and warfare, but it’s also more than that. 1 Samuel shows us God working to save his people from their enemies and even from themselves.