When Faced With a Dilemma

INTRO

I want to break down 1 Samuel 27 in order to truly understand 1 Samuel 28. Dale Ralph Davis breaks up chapter 27 into four sections: David’s plan (27:1–4); David’s town (27:5–7); David’s practice (27:8–12); and David’s dilemma (28:1–2).¹

David’s Plan: In verses 1–4, David fled to the enemy land of the Philistines, thinking Saul wouldn’t chase him there. David’s 600 men and their families all went to the Philistine land of Gath. David had two wives with him: Ahinoam and Abigail (Nabal’s widow). When Saul heard where David was, he stopped his search. At this point, it looked like David’s plan worked, but he was in the enemy camp.

David’s Town: Apparently, David (the anointed king) was willing to settle there, because he asked the Philistine king Achish to give him a town to live in. Achish gave David the city of Ziklag and David stayed there for a year and four months (vv. 5–7).

David’s Practice: During that time, David’s practice was to raid enemy towns and kill everyone, but take all the animals and clothing. Achish would ask, “Where did you raid today?” David killed the people in each town so they could not tell Saul what he was doing. David even invaded the south country of Judah. Achish believed David had made himself so detestable to the people of Israel that he would remain Achish’s servant forever.

TEACHING

1 Samuel 28:1–2: David’s Dilemma came when Achish brought the army together to fight Israel and Achish expected David and his men to fight with them (v. 1). Achish had seen how David had raided towns of their enemies and expected David to fight with them against their ultimate enemy—Israel. David’s response to Achish was ambiguous. He did not promise to fight but gave the impression he would (v. 2). David did not reveal his plan, or he may not have had a plan at the time.

1 Samuel 28:3: Saul also faced a dilemma. Saul heard the Philistines were coming, that Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned him (v. 3). Saul removed the mediums and spiritists from the land (Deuteronomy 18:9–12). Saul knew the Word of God and he followed it. Constable explains, “Mediums are people who communicated with the dead, and spiritists are people who communicated with evil spirits.”²Wizards were part of the spiritists (Isaiah 8:19).

1 Samuel 28:4–8: The Philistines camped at Shunem, and Israel camped on the other side of the Jezreel Valley at Gilboa (v. 4). Saul looked on the Philistine camp and was afraid. He told his servants to go find a woman who was a medium he could consult with (v. 7a). His servants replied there was a medium in En-dor (v. 7b). Saul disguised himself by removing all regal clothing and left with his servants to make the ten-mile journey to En-dor, passing near the Philistine battle lines.³Saul even asked his servants to do his talking for him (v. 8). Saul took things in his own hands and went against the teachings he was supposed to obey. Scripture says when we give into sin and temptation, we will suffer death (James 1:13–15).

1 Samuel 28:9–14: The medium stated that they were setting a trap for her since she knew Saul had killed the mediums (v. 9). In response, Saul swore to her “by the Lord” that nothing would happen to her (v. 10). The Lord didn’t want her to live, but Saul used His name to get her to do his bidding. Saul wanted her to get him in touch with Samuel (v. 11). When Samuel appeared, she screamed and asked why Saul had deceived her (v. 12). Saul promised she was in no danger and asked what Samuel looked like (v. 13a). She told him she saw a “spirit form” (v. 13b). This spirit being could be a divine being (an Elohim) or the judges of the Great Judge. Samuel was wearing a robe (v. 14), a reminder of Saul grabbing the hem and tearing Samuel’s robe in 1 Samuel 15:27–28.

1 Samuel 28:15–25: Samuel asked why Saul had bothered him, and Saul explained that God had turned away from him (v. 15). This is an example that God can use any means to fulfill His purposes. In this case, He used evil to release a prophetic word onto Saul. Samuel told Saul God had done what He said He would and that Saul and his sons would be killed by the Philistines on the next day (vv. 16–19). Saul fell on the ground, terrified and weak from lack of food (v. 20). The medium saw Saul’s reaction, and offered him food (vv. 21–22). Although he first refused, the woman and his servants urged him to eat. She killed a fatted cow and served Saul his last dinner (vv. 23–25).

CLOSING

At the beginning of chapter 29, David was trying to figure out how to handle the Philistines, and Saul was trying to deal with the news that he and his sons would be killed the next day. Saul had no hope; he was separated from Christ. However, we’re in the new covenant with Christ. We are no longer far away from God, and there is no sin too big that can keep us away from Him (Ephesians 2:12–13). Jesus set us free.

As far as the east is from the west, God has removed our sin from us when we recognize we’ve messed up (Psalm 103:12). We have to go from the state of Saul to the state of David. Saul kept thinking he didn’t need God.

Are you listening to this right now and know there are things you are hiding from others—little things and big things? You’ve got the disguise on, and you don’t think you’ll ever be caught. If you confess your sins, God is faithful and righteous, and He will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God gives everyone of us a chance to come clean.