Witch Way to Go

Introduction

A. Who hasn’t wished that they could see into the future? Who hasn’t thought “I wish I knew what was going to happen.”

1. Parents with newborns wonder. What will the future hold for this child? What will this child grow up to be and to do?

2. Those who are experiencing poor health would like to know what the outcome will be. Those undergoing surgery would like to know how the surgery will work out.

3. Those who are working would like to know what retirement will be like. We wonder when we can retire and what kind of things will be do.

4. The stock analyst would like to be able to see how a new company will do and if the stock value will rise. If I had only bought Microsoft when it first came out or Google stock, I could have retired early.

B. While most of the time we are content not to know the future, there are times that we do want to know it. Some in an attempt to try to discern the future will spend time, money, and energy consulting various agents of the occult — psychics, tarot card readers, and daily horoscopes. All in an attempt to discern the future. What is the point? To control what is going to happen. If we knew that we are going to have an auto accident, wouldn’t we change our routes or leave earlier or later? If we knew that a Microsoft was coming out tomorrow, wouldn’t we jump into the stock?

C. Trying to learn the future is about gaining control of our lives. To avoid the unpleasant and maximize the good. If I could only know. And then there are those times that we wished we didn’t know the future. Fortuneteller, gazing into crystal ball, to frog: You are going to meet a beautiful young woman. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you—you’ll fascinate her.” Frog: “Where am I? At a singles club?” Fortuneteller: “Biology class.” In our text, Saul learns the future, but he wished he didn’t know it.

D. In 1 Samuel 28, Saul makes contact with a witch — a diviner of the dead — in order to discern the future. This episode is here for a reason. It is to show us just how far from God Saul is. Since 1 Samuel 16, the focus has been on David and his escapes from Saul. But the author inserts this chapter to basically show us something — nothing is worse than leaving the presence of God. We have gathered this morning to be in God’s presence. I hope you came today with your mind prepared to enter God’s throne room to praise and learn. Today we will realign ourselves with God. Today we will renew our faith. Let’s turn our minds to a time of prayer as we enter into God’s throne room.

The Future

A. The Philistines and the Israelites are preparing for battle. In verse 3 we are told that Saul had done the right thing by expelling the mediums and spiritists from the land. Saul sees the large Philistine army and he is scared out of his wits. He inquired of the Lord but the Lord did not answer him by dreams, Urim, or prophets. There is no communication between Saul and God. Saul is seeking God’s guidance and God is not talking. So Saul seeks out a witch. He wants to find someone who is skilled at conjuring up the spirit world. He wants to talk with Samuel. Since God will not talk with him, perhaps Samuel will. Saul disguises himself to go to this witch. The witch is not willing that anyone would know what she does.

B. Notice the irony of verse 10. Saul swears by God’s life that he will not harm the woman. Saul swears by God’s life to do something God has forbidden. Do you see the irony? God doesn’t endorse evil. Yet, Saul uses God’s name to confirm safety for this woman. It is similar to using God’s name to curse something. We flippantly throw God’s name around without understanding that God wouldn’t do half the things that we say he will do. Saul made a promise using God’s name when God himself would not make that promise. We would do well to only use God’s name reverently rather than flippantly.

C. The witch is persuaded to engage the world of the dead. Samuel is called and he arrives. The passage says he looked old and had on a robe. This passage also tells us that only the woman sees Samuel. Saul carries on a conversation with Samuel. Saul’s questions for Samuel express how separated he is from God. “I am in great distress. The Philistines are fighting against me. God has turned away from me.” This discussion quickly centers on Saul. Samuel’s response is to reshape Saul’s thinking. Saul you are estranged from God. Israel will fall. You and your sons are going to die in battle tomorrow.

D. Saul was only concerned about himself. Samuel reminds Saul that he has forgotten about Israel. Samuel reminds Saul of a previous prophecy and that this battle will not result in victory. Saul is overwhelmed. He has been fasting and all his strength was gone. The witch comes to Saul and offers him nourishment. She is concerned that Saul will kill her. But I do not think that the author intends for us to feel good about this witch at the end of the story. There are two clues we need to look at very carefully.

E. First, the author specifically mentions unleavened bread. Why not just bread? In a similar situation in Genesis 18:6 when bread had to be made quickly, it is just called bread. Why then does the author mention unleavened bread? This is the bread of covenant or fellowship meals. Second, the word “butchered” in verse 24 comes from the root word which means “slaughter” and is usually used to describe a sacrifice. This word “butchered” is used several times in Leviticus and is translated “offer.” In Lev. 17:7 it is used to describe a sacrifice to idols.

F. What we may have here is a covenant meal with the dead. The witch certainly would not prepare a meal for worship of God. She reminds Saul of his promise and offers to perform an additional strengthening exercise in which with unleavened bread and a sacrificed calf, perhaps Saul’s demise can be allayed. Saul is looking for any solution to manipulate the future.

Application

A. First, there is nothing more hopeless than to be abandoned by God. Saul searches for God’s answers. But God has left him. In 1 Samuel 22, God wasn’t consulted when Saul killed all the priests and yet he uses the Urim, a priestly stone, to try to discern God’s will. God has left him. Saul is right when he speaks in verse 15, God has turned away from me. Sadder words could not be spoken. Samuel refers to the episode in 1 Samuel 15 in which Saul had not obeyed God’s word. In 15:22-23, Samuel says that God wants us to hear his voice and obey. Saul didn’t listen then. Saul hasn’t been listening. God is now no longer listening to Saul.

1. If we despise God’s word, he will take it from us. If you persistently refuse to obey God’s word, then you will have to endure God’s silence. When we hear the word of God, we need to respond. To wait or to ignore will only result in missed opportunities and the development of heart that refuses to hear and obey.

B. Second, we need to notice the author’s intent in 1 Samuel. Since chapter 16, the focus has been on David and his escapes from Saul in order to become king. We see the numerous times that God has delivered and protected David. Saul has only been mentioned in passing and is clearly in the wrong every time he is mentioned from chapter 16 onward. When we come to the end of chapter 27, David is in the heart of enemy territory. He is being hired to become the chief bodyguard of a Philistine king. Then all of sudden here comes this story about Saul. In chapter 29 David’s story picks up again. Why insert this story here?

1. Ever been watching a tv program when we hear the words “we interrupt our regular programming for a special news bulletin”? That is what is going on here. The author wants us to compare David and Saul.

2. David is in the heart of enemy territory. So is Saul. David is talking with the enemy. So is Saul. David is in bad shape. He is going through some tough times. He is forced away from the land God had promised to give him. But look at Saul. He has chosen to separate from God. He is face down in a witch’s house trying to find meaning.

3. God is still with David. God has left Saul. Who is in worse shape? The author wants us to compare the two and understand that there is something worse than being among the Philistines, namely, being cut off from all communion with God.

4. The author illustrates through story selection and breaking up the main plot that there is nothing worse than getting to your darkest hour and finding out that you have long ago placed yourself outside of God’s voice and that you are totally alone. David and Saul have troubles, but Saul is without God.

C. The point is that with all our trials and sufferings, do you realize how great it is that we can take those things to our Father? Can you imagine trying to deal with life’s darkest hours without God? Can you imagine having those problems and having to say “God has turned away from me” and know that it is true?” I am saying keep the right perspective. We are not alone. God has not turned away from us. I like what Corrie ten Boom wrote: Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. If you hear his voice then respond to it today. Do not wait. Do not hesitate. Hear the word of God today and obey. Invitation.

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