The Woman of Endor

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.  When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.  He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.  Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

  So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

  But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

~I Samuel 28:4-9

The woman of Endor enters this story fearfully.  Why was she afraid?  Why did she think meeting with Saul might bring about her death?

• she may have been afraid that she was going to be captured as a prisoner
• because he didn't care for people of her kind

Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this.”

  Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

  When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

  The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

  “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

~I Samuel 28:10-14

Who do you think appears?  Is it really Samuel, or is it another spirit impersonating Samuel?  What does this tell you about occult practices?

• Samuel definitely appears
• That, if you talk to the right person, they can reveal the truth, possibly

What "spirits" have you consulted in order to know or plan your future, or just for "fun"?  Horoscopes?  Cards?  Fortune-tellers?  Ouija boards?  How do you react when told nothing like this should be done for "fun"?

• It has been a really long time but I've probably looked at horoscopes now and then.
• Even if I were to look into doing it more often, I would never do it just for fun

Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

  Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy?  The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David.  Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today.  The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

  Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

~I Samuel 28:15-20

How did Saul react when he found out he would die the next day?

• with fear

How would you react if you truly knew today was your last day alive?   What would you do?

• I think I would be pretty scared at first, but do anything in my power to accept that fact.  I think on my last day I would spend every last second with my closest loved ones

When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.  Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

  He refused and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

  The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast.  Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

~I Samuel 28:21-25

What does the woman of Endor's reaction to Saul in these verses tell you about her underlying character?

• that she is a very caring person and doesn't want someone to inflict harm on themselves

When have you shown kindness to someone you knew for sure was in the wrong?  What did you do?

• I believe I have shown kindness to people who have wronged me or others nearly all the time!  If it was a wrong against me, I would simply pray for them to come to a realization that they were wrong and that the would ask me for my forgiveness