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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2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 <strong>Samuel</strong> 109<strong>Samuel</strong> also explained that the Lord had ceased speaking to Saul because Saul hadstopped listening to God. Specifically he had failed to obey the Lord by slaying Amalek(ch. 15). <strong>Samuel</strong>'s final revelation was that Yahweh would hand His people over to thePhilistines tomorrow, and Saul and his sons would die in the battle. They would soon bewith <strong>Samuel</strong> in Sheol, the place <strong>of</strong> departed spirits. Yahweh was still the true king <strong>of</strong>Israel and would control the destiny <strong>of</strong> His people, even His king, though Saul alwayswanted to be the ultimate authority in Israel.The reason God told the Israelites not to consult the spirit world was that He promised toreveal what was best for them to know about the future through prophets (Deut. 18:9-22).There are some things concerning the future about which we are better <strong>of</strong>f ignorant.<strong>Samuel</strong> had knowledge <strong>of</strong> Saul's future, but he was a prophet. Nothing in Scriptureindicates that demons know any more about the future than what God has revealed topeople. In this case Saul would probably have been better <strong>of</strong>f not knowing he would diethe next day. Yet knowing this he still went into battle evidently convinced he could alterthe will <strong>of</strong> God as he had tried to do so many other times in his life. He still had notlearned that Yahweh was his sovereign master.Saul's failure to listen 28:20-25Why did the writer give us so much information about this woman's concern for Saul?For one thing, it is another instance <strong>of</strong> the reversal <strong>of</strong> fortune motif that is so common in1 and 2 <strong>Samuel</strong>. Saul should have executing the woman for witchcraft as the Lawcommanded, but instead she ministered to Saul. A disobedient medium became a source<strong>of</strong> blessing for the disobedient king. Saul had departed so far from God that even thiswoman, through whom he had just learned about his own death the next day, couldnourish and refresh him.Beyond this the similarity between the woman's words and <strong>Samuel</strong>'s is striking. <strong>Samuel</strong>had said that because Saul had not obeyed God, God had done something to Saul (v. 18).The woman said that because she had obeyed Saul, Saul should do something for her (vv.21-22)."Saul realizes he has landed in a situation which resembles a covenantwith the medium instead <strong>of</strong> with YHWH." 303<strong>Samuel</strong>'s words terrified Saul, but they did not move him to listen and obey. Saul had noteaten and was physically weak. Perhaps he had been fasting to get a word from God. Thewoman reminded Saul that she had listened to the king's promise that no harm wouldcome to her, and her conduct reflected her faith in him. She then begged him to listen toher and to eat something since he was so weak, but Saul would not listen to her as he hadnot listened to God. Only after prolonged entreaty by the medium and Saul's servants didthe king concede to eat. This proved to be Saul's "last supper." 304 What a contrast it is303 W. A. M. Beuken, "1 <strong>Samuel</strong> 28: The Prophet as 'Hammer <strong>of</strong> Witches,'" Journal for the Study <strong>of</strong> the OldTestament 6 (1978):8.304 Walter Brueggemann, First and Second <strong>Samuel</strong>, p. 196.
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