April 2nd

April 2nd -- 1 Samuel 28 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2028&version=NLT)

Saul consults a medium (as in, a spirit medium)

So the Philistines are gathering for yet another war against the Israelites. David is called to battle and appointed by King Achish to be his personal guard for life. In the meantime, Samuel had died and Israel had mourned for his death. Saul had also banished from Israel all mediums and people who consult spirits of the dead.

So the Philistines set up a camp in Shunem and Saul gathered Israel's armies at Gilboa. Saul sees the Philistine army and its huge size and becomes afraid. He starts asking God what to do out of fear, but God does not answer, so after trying everything else, Saul calls for a medium he can ask. Saul finds out there's one in Endor, so he dresses up as a normal person (as opposed to the king) and goes to her, asking her to summon a spirit of a dead man. She is shocked he asked, reminding him Saul has outlawed this. Saul takes an oath in God's name, though, swearing no harm will come to her by her doing this. So she asks who he wants to summon, and when he says Samuel, she does so. But when she sees Samuel, she realized the man is Saul. Saul tells her not to be afraid and asks instead what she sees. She says there is a god that looks like an old man wrapped in a robe coming up from the earth. Saul realizes this is Samuel that she speaks of, and falls on the ground before her. Samuel asks why Saul has bothered him by calling him, and Saul explains that the Philistines have gone to war with them and God will not answer him. Samuel though, says that God has done as he said he would, ripping the kingdom from Saul's power and handing it to David. This was done because Saul would not kill the Amalekites like God wanted him to, and now Saul and the Israel army will also be handed to the Philistines tomorrow in defeat. Saul falls on the ground and is temporarily paralyzed out of fear for what Samuel said. The woman offers him food, but he won't eat (even though he hadn't eaten for the full day and night before this). Everyone begins to urge him to and he finally gives in. He eats and then he and his advisers leave.

So, I think the first thing that jumps out at me is the fact that Saul consults a medium. This woman summons back Samuel's spirit from the dead. We know the Bible is true, which means, therefore, that this story is. This suggests that as much as we may want to think summoning spirits, or things like ouija boards are just a thing kids do with no harm, they are actually quite real and VERY dangerous. I just feel that if it could happen/be done then it's safe to assume that still applies today.. which is honestly kind of a scary thought, if fascinating. In the Bible we are told not to converse with mediums and ghosts/spirits and such (Leviticus 19:31 and 20:6 then also Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Clearly these occurrences happen, as there are multiple ones recorded in the Bible, and we would not be warned not to do something that wasn't real/true. However, many people think that the spirits are not actually dead loved ones, but rather demons/fallen angels impersonating them. I really don't know, but I do find the whole topic rather interesting (NOT in the sense that I'd want to get into witchcraft and such, but in the sense that I want to find the accurate Biblical perspective on it all and answer for it all).

Well, that shall be all! God bless! Shalom!