1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ
1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ
1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ
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108 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 <strong>Samuel</strong> 2007 Editiona demon posing as <strong>Samuel</strong>, but, to her amazement, God really permitted <strong>Samuel</strong>, or avision <strong>of</strong> him, to appear. This seems to have been a divine revelation to Saul, the last oneGod gave him. 301"The incident does not tell us anything about the veracity <strong>of</strong> claims toconsult the dead on the part <strong>of</strong> mediums, because the indications are thatthis was an extraordinary event for her, and a frightening one because shewas not in control." 302Mediums and spiritists do not have access to the dead but communicate with evil spiritsposing as people who have died. That is why these spirits are called "lying spirits" (1Kings 22:22). This passage does not say that the witch brought up <strong>Samuel</strong> from the dead.God revealed <strong>Samuel</strong> to Saul.Saul assured the medium that she did not need to fear him. Any supernatural guidance hecould obtain with her help was worth her life to him. She described <strong>Samuel</strong> as a divinebeing (Heb. elohim, lit. strong one). This is, <strong>of</strong> course, a common name <strong>of</strong> God in the OldTestament. However it also describes the judges in Israel who were divine beings in thesense that they served as judges under the Great Judge (Ps. 82:6; cf. John 10:35). Perhapsthe woman meant that the man she saw looked like a judge or like a divine being becausehe was imposing. <strong>Samuel</strong> was one <strong>of</strong> the judges in Israel. She saw <strong>Samuel</strong>, or hisapparition, coming up out <strong>of</strong> the earth (i.e., the netherworld). The ancients connected thearea under the surface <strong>of</strong> the earth with the place <strong>of</strong> departed spirits because they buriedpeople under the surface <strong>of</strong> the earth.The writer identified <strong>Samuel</strong> as old and wrapped in a robe (v. 14). This is an interestingdetail since Saul had previously torn <strong>Samuel</strong>'s robe when <strong>Samuel</strong> announced that Godhad rejected Saul from being king (15:27). <strong>Samuel</strong> had told Saul, "The Lord has torn thekingdom <strong>of</strong> Israel from you today" (15:28; cf. 24:4). Saul recognized <strong>Samuel</strong> and bowedbefore him out <strong>of</strong> respect. This too was hypocritical since he had not previously obeyed<strong>Samuel</strong> nor was he about to act on the warning that <strong>Samuel</strong> would soon give him.Saul's conversation with <strong>Samuel</strong> 28:15-19<strong>Samuel</strong>'s soul had been at peace in the place <strong>of</strong> departed spirits, but now Saul haddisturbed that rest. Saul described his reason for doing so. He wanted to obtain divineguidance concerning the Philistines from <strong>Samuel</strong> since he could not get it from the Lordthrough other means. <strong>Samuel</strong> replied that Saul was wrong in thinking that <strong>Samuel</strong> wouldtell him what strategy to use since the Lord would not. The prophet was, after all, simplythe mouthpiece <strong>of</strong> God. The Lord had become Saul's real adversary, more so than thePhilistines, since the king had refused to obey Yahweh. <strong>Samuel</strong> repeated God's judgmenton Saul: ". . . the Lord has torn the kingdom out <strong>of</strong> your hand and given it to yourneighbor, to David" (v. 17; cf. 15:27-28).301 See Keil and Delitzsch, pp. 265-69.302 Baldwin, p. 159.