WITCH OF ENDOR

 *25/01/2023*

*MID WEEK SERVICE*

THEME:

*UNNAMED PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE*

TOPIC:

*WITCH OF ENDOR*

Text:

1 Samuel 28

Rather than repent of his sin and continue to seek God's forgiveness, Saul turned to a forbidden source of counsel.

Exodus 22:18

Leviticus 19:31

Deuteronomy 18:9-14

This tragic decision resulted in his death.

1 Chronicles 10:13

The law of the Lord called for the death penalty on mediums.

Leviticus 20:27

En Dor was located in the Jezreel valley, about a mile northeast of the Hill of Moreh.

The woman was aware of what Saul had done to those of her profession. She recognized the risk of being punished with death for practicing necromancy.

Exodus 22:18 and sought to make sure that her visitor was not laying a trap.

When her seance really worked, the seer finally saw that her client was Saul. The appearance of Samuel has been interpreted in various ways. It has been suggested that the appearance took place in Saul's mind, as part of his psychological breakdown.

The church fathers believed that a demon impersonated Samuel and appeared to Saul. Others have thought that the medium was a fraud who tricked Saul into thinking that he saw Samuel. It seems best to follow the early view that this was a genuine appearance of Samuel which God Himself brought about.

*Several points favor this interpretation:*

1. The medium was surprised

1 Samuel 28:12

2. Saul identified the figure as Samuel

1 Samuel 28:14

3. The message Samuel spoke was clearly from God.

1 Samuel 28:16-19

4. The text says that the figure was Samuel.

1 Samuel 28:12,15,16.

There is no inherent difficulty with God bringing back the spirit of Samuel from heaven and allowing him to appear to Saul - in spite of the woman's evil profession.

The Israelites believed in life after death.

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