A SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT SAUL SEEKS TO DEMONIC SOURCES FOR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE IS LEFT TO HIM (1 SAMUEL 28:3). Having briefly summed up the situation from the Philistine point of view, the writer now switches to Saul's situation as the king who had learned that his country was about to be... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL CONSULTS A NECROMANCER AND SAMUEL APPEARS TO HIM (1 SAMUEL 28:3). Having been unable to obtain any response from God, Saul, in desperation, determined to turn to a necromancer. It would, however, only be in order to receive bad news. For Samuel's message to him would be that his case was hopel... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL'S RESPONSE TO WHAT HE HAD HEARD (1 SAMUEL 28:20). Once Samuel had gone Saul's response to his words are illuminating. It is clear that he had no thought of repentance or of calling on YHWH. Rather he was terrified as he considered the implications of what he had heard. We note again in this an... [ Continue Reading ]