| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | ESV (2016) | ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026 |
1 Samuel 28
Observation & Interpretation
The Philistines gathered for war and Achish told David that he and his men were to go out with Achish in the army (v. 1). David agreed and Achish made David his bodyguard for life (v. 2). At this point, Samuel had died and Saul had put all mediums and necromancers out of the land (a subtle foreshadowing of events that would follow) (v. 3). The Philistines assembled and encamped at Shunem while Saul and all Israel encamped at Gilboa (v. 4). Saul was afraid when he saw the Philistines and inquired of the LORD, but He did not answer either by dream, Urim or prophets (v. 5-6). Saul then told his servants to seek out a female medium so that he could inquire of her and his servants found such a medium at En-dor (v. 7). Saul disguised himself and engaged with the medium, asking her to divine for her whomever he would name (v. 8). The woman rebutted that Saul had cut off the mediums and necromancers from the land and accused him of laying a trap for her to bring about her death (v. 9). Saul swore by the LORD that no punishment would come to her and the woman acquiesced, asking Saul whom she was to bring up (v. 11). Saul told the woman to bring up Samuel and when Samuel appeared, the woman recognized Saul and accused him of deception (v. 12). Saul told the woman not to be afraid and when he heard that Samuel had been brought up, Saul bowed his face to the ground in homage (v. 14).
Samuel asked Saul why he had disturbed him by bringing him up. Saul expressed to Samuel his great distress over the Philistines making war against him and that God had turned away from him (v. 15). Samuel sharply questioned why Saul had asked such a thing of Samuel since the LORD had turned from him and become his enemy (v. 16). Samuel explained that the LORD had responded thus to Saul because he had not obeyed the LORD in carry out His wrath against Amalek (v. 18). Adding to this, Samuel told Saul that the next day the LORD would give Israel into the hand of the Philistines and that Saul and his sons would be with him, “an unmistakable verdict of death on Saul and his house” (CSB Notes).
Application
In Saul, we see the compounding effects of disobedience and misplaced fear. His unwillingness to do as the LORD commanded in destroying Amalek had led to the LORD turning away from him. Now in despair, Saul consulted a medium to seek guidance a different way. How much this reflects the sinful nature of man to resort to unrighteous means when pressed. Rather than abiding in God’s Word and submitting to the Spirit’s leading, we seek our own path forward through the employment of self-gratifying methods. May God’s people be mortified by our idolatrous inclinations, realizing their treasonous nature and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- Colin Hansen (Editor in Chief), TGC Bible Commentary (Columbia, MO: The Gospel Coalition, 2022)
- Iain M. Duguid (Series Editor), ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018-2025)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- The New American Commentary (Brentwood, TN: Holman Reference)
- Lane T. Dennis and Wayne Grudem (Editors), ESV Study Bible, Crossway, 2008.
