Saul Hears Terrible News

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 28

Saul's Thoughts

Yes. I told the soldiers to remove all mediums, people who talk to dead people. 


Yes. I tried to speak with the Lord and received no answer. The prophet Samuel told me this would happen because I didn't obey the Lord's commands. Still. I needed answers.


I had hoped a prophet would come to me and say he heard a message sent by God in a dream. Even that didn't work.


I needed to know what to do. A zillion Philistine soldiers camped in the valley over the hill. My spies confirm the Philistines planned to take out our army.


I chose to disguise myself and visit one of the mediums in hiding. She refused to help, because of my law. I rubbed my hands over her fire and said, "I promise, as the Lord lives, you won't be punished. I need your help...tonight."


She squinted her eyes as if looking close to see who I was. She didn't act like she recognized me. "All right, pay me my money and tell me who you want bought up."


I nodded to my guard to give her the money. "I want to see Samuel."


"Samuel?, the prophet Samuel? All right."  She said her mysterious words and moved her hands in a form of a dance. Her movements and sayings must not normally bring any real dead people, but this time it worked. She fell backwards when Samuel appeared. She sure looked angry. She pointed her finger and screamed, "Liar! You are Saul!"


I held my hands palm up to reassure her. "Don't be afraid. What did you see?"


She backed away from us again. Her hands trembled and her voice quivered. "I--I saw a spirit coming up out of the earth." 


"It's okay. What did the spirit look like?"


"It...looked like an old man and he is wearing a coat."


I knew the spirit must be Samuel. I lowered my face to the ground and bowed low.


A voice came from the spirit saying, "Why have you disturbed me by bring me up?"


"Samuel," I said, "I am deeply upset for the Philistines have come to war against me, and God left me. He doesn't answer me anymore. I haven't heard from any prophets or received any dreams. How else will I know what to do. I had to call you to find out what to do."


Samuel said, "Why do yo ask me? The Lord departed from you and became your enemy. He did this on His own as He told me He would. The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hands, Saul, and gave it to your neighbor, David. 


"Had you obeyed the Lord's commands with Amalek things might have been different. Instead you will be punished. You and the Israelite army with you will be given to the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me."


I fell flat on my face unable to move. Samuel's message repeated over and over in my mind. I had lost everything.


The woman offered me a piece of bread, and a meal to strengthen me before I left. I refused at first, but my servants and the woman convinced me I needed to eat something before traveling back to my army.


We left late that night. I thought about Samuel's words and shook. He said tomorrow I would be with him. No! What have I done?


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1.  Why did Saul go to a medium for help?
2.  Who did he want to talk to?
3.  Did that person come?
4.  Why was the medium afraid?
5.  What did Saul ask?
6.  What did the person answer?
7.  What will happen to Saul and his sons tomorrow?


picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Saul Looks for Help in all the Wrong Places

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 28

From Saul's Journal

I had never seen such a vast army. The Philistines must have called every available soldier alive and a few more. From on top the mountain they looked like an invasion of insects, numerous, endless, ready to conquer our land. We didn't stand a chance.


I ordered every Israelite soldier to prepare for battle. We gathered at Mt.Gilboa and looked down at our enemy. We may have had the height advantage, but they had unbelievable numbers and superior weapons. 


My hands shook and my heart beat hard enough to burst from my chest. I had no idea what to do. The prophet Samuel had recently died. I couldn't go to him. I forced all the spiritists out of the land a while ago. I couldn't go to any of them. Who could I ask for help?


I wore a rut pacing and still couldn't decide what to do.


I even tried asking the Lord. I went off by myself and asked God what to do. Did He have a battle plan or instructions to save us? But I received no answer from Him. Neither did anyone come forward to report receiving word from God in a dream. He didn't even send a prophet to speak to me. 


What could I do? We were as good as dead.


Then I had an idea. I called one of my servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium. One who is known for her work in speaking with dead people. There must be at least one hiding in the country. Find her. I want to ask her a few questions."


The servant said, "I happen to know of a woman who is a medium. She lives in En Dor."


"Good, good." 


I ordered two soldiers to go with me. We traveled along the base of Mt. Gilboa past the Philistine camp and turned towards the Hill of Moreh, careful to remain out of the sight of the Philistines. En Dor was on the other side of the hill.


I had changed my clothes and wore a disguise to prevent anyone from recognizing me as the king. That night we entered the city and found the woman's home.


"Come in weary travelers," she said. 


Her home looked like any other home. Nothing special like I'd expect to find in a medium's home. "Please conduct a seance for me. I will tell you which dead person I want to speak to."


"I can't do that, sir. You know what Saul did. All mediums and spiritist have been banned from the country. Are you trying to get me in trouble. Maybe you're laying a trap to get me killed. No way. I won't do it." She folded her arms and pointed to the door.


Now what should I do? Maybe I can get her to change her mind.


Come back next week to read what happened.


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1. Why was Saul worried?
2. Who had the better position for a battle?
3.  Who had more men?
4. Saul was mad because who was dead and therefore couldn't help him?
5. Saul asked God for directions, why didn't God answer (email me if you get stuck with this question. The answer isn't in this story. mimary_vee@yahoo.com)
6. Saul risked his life to visit someone. Who did he want to see? 
7. What did he want her to do?


Author's note: Once again Saul tries to solve problems his own way. If only he chose to obey God he'd find the answers he needed.


picture courtesy of visualbiblealive.com