1 Samuel 28:1–25 Saul and the Medium at Endor

[Study Aired August 10, 2026]

In today’s study, we are going to look at the final war of king Saul’s reign as the Philistines gathered to fight against the Israelites. The study also points out David’s unusual position with the Philistines in terms of where his allegiance is. The study also focuses on Saul’s desperate state when the Lord refused to answer him, with the final part of the study highlighting Saul’s visit to a medium at Endor in his desperation.

The Philistines Gathered Their Army Against the People of Israel

1Sa 28:1  And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. 

The Philistines gathering their armies together to war against the Israelites shows us the continual war against our flesh as long as we live here on earth. This constant battle against our flesh is described as follows:

Gal 5:17  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 
Gal 5:18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Achish represents our flesh. The fact that David was living at Gath under Achish means that he was still influenced by the flesh even though he represents the Lord’s elect. Achish asking David to go out with him to battle against the Israelites implies that when we are under the influence of the flesh, our flesh uses us through the influence of the devil, to fight against the Lord’s people. For example, when Jesus was here on earth, the devil through Peter wanted to discourage Him from going to the cross. In response, Jesus rebuked Peter as follows:

Mat 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 
Mat 16:22  And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 
Mat 16:23  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 

1Sa 28:2  And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. 

Achish telling David that he would make him his bodyguard forever implies that when we are under the influence of our flesh, we end up protecting our flesh from destruction by the fire of the Lord’s word. In other words, we come to be appreciative of the fact that we cannot win the war against our flesh and therefore our flesh is strengthened.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

1Sa 28:3  Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.  

Samuel represents the Lord’s elect. Ramah means ‘a hill’ and in the Bible, hills represent places of worship.

Psa 24:3  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 
Psa 24:4  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Isa 2:3  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 

Samuel being dead and the whole of Israel lamenting him and burying him in Ramah, therefore, signifies that the church system of this world considers the Lord’s elect as spiritually dead in the corridors of their assembly. 

Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 
Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 

In verse 3, we are also told that Saul had put all those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. It shows that when we started our walk with Christ in Babylon or the church system of this world, we did put away unclean spirits or false doctrines in our lives. However, these spirits are always finding ways to return to us.  

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 

1Sa 28:4  And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 
1Sa 28:5  And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 

As indicated, the Philistines represent our flesh. It is instructive to note that these Philistines were camped at Shunem which means ‘double resting place.’ It shows that when we are not of Christ, our flesh is doubly at rest within us. On the other hand, it is when Christ comes to us that we are at war with our flesh, as their resting place within us is destroyed over time.  

The Israelites were encamped at Gilboa which means ‘bubbling fountain’ which represents the word of the Lord. When we start our journey as children of Christ, we have access to the truth of the word of the Lord. However, in this case, Israel here represents the church system of this world or Babylon whose leaders are characterized by Saul. The fact that Saul was afraid and his heart greatly trembled when he saw the host of the Philistines, show us that when we were in the church system of this world, we did not think that we can win the war against our flesh as we see his deadly wound healed.

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 
Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

1Sa 28:6  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.  

When we are dominated by our fleshly desires, it is impossible to hear from the Lord, as we see Saul not being answered by the Lord when he enquired of Him. 

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 
Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

Pro 1:24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 
Pro 1:26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 
Pro 1:27  When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 
Pro 1:28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 

Saul Visits a Woman with Familiar Spirit at Endor

1Sa 28:7  Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 

Saul seeking for a woman with familiar spirit shows us that we become worse off during our time in the church system of this world, where the false doctrines in our heavens, signified by the unclean spirit that had gone out of us, returns with seven other spirits. As we know, the number seven means complete. The fact that seven other spirits come to reside in us indicates that we become overwhelmed by the complete false doctrines propagated by the false apostles parading in the corridors of the church system, making us worse off. That was what happened to Saul as he consulted a woman with a familiar spirit at Endor. 

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.  

1Sa 28:8  And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 

Here in verse 8, Saul disguising himself as he put on other raiment to see the woman with familiar spirit at Endor suggests that it is not obvious to see the deplorable state of the church system of this world, led by these false apostles, signified by Saul, unless the Lord opens your eyes to see and your ears to hear the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 

2Co 11:13  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (ESV)

It is also instructive to note that Saul and the two men accompanying him, came to the woman by night. The woman with familiar spirits here represents the church system of the world or Babylon, and it is only in the night, when the moon reigns, and the sun which signifies Christ is not available. It is when the light of the sun or Christ has not shined on us that we become susceptible to the woman or the church system of this world. 

Pro 7:9  In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 
Pro 7:10  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Pro 7:11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Pro 7:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 
Pro 7:13  So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 

1Sa 28:9  And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 

The woman telling Saul and his two men that they pose a trap for her life to bring her to death as a result of Saul’s decree to cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land implies that Babylon or the church system of this world knows that she is not faithful to her husband Christ because of her actions and that she is on her way to the chambers of death. In other words, the church is spiritually dead.

Pro 7:24  And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 
Pro 7:25  Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, 
Pro 7:26  for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 
Pro 7:27  Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. 

1Sa 28:10  And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 

Saul assuring her that no punishment would happen to her for her deeds  signifies that the church system of this world does not think she would be punished for her sins. Our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world think that because the Lord is merciful and that He does not deal with us according to our sins, that they will not face punishment for their actions. 

Psa 103:10  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 
Psa 103:11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;    

However, this is not the sum of the Lord’s words. We are told in the word of the Lord that whatever a man sows, that is what he reaps.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

1Sa 28:11  Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 

Necromancy is the magical practice of communicating with or summoning the spirits of the dead, typically, to foretell the future, gain hidden knowledge, or influence events. We can see that the woman practiced necromancy which the Lord had forbidden the people of Israel from practicing. Saul dealing with this woman shows that we become worse off during our time in the churches of this world as we go back to our vomit as dogs.  

Pro 26:11  As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

1Sa 28:12  And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 

It was when the woman saw Samuel that she perceived that it was Saul who was making the request. It is when we are given eyes to see those who are the Lord’s elect that we come to see the deception of the leaders of the church system of this world represented by Saul. That is when we come to see how we have been deceived when we were in Babylon.

Jer 20:7  O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 

1Sa 28:13  And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 

The woman seeing gods ascending out of the earth speaks of the first resurrection, when those who died in Christ and also His elect who are living shall arise to meet the Lord in the air. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

1Sa 28:14  And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.  

The fact that the woman saw an old man come up indicates that in the resurrection, we shall be recognized by those who know us. The old man being covered with a mantle or cloak suggests that we do not yet know what kind of body we shall resurrect with. When we shall see Jesus, we shall be like Him.

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  

The word of the Lord makes it clear that it is only Jesus Christ who has risen from death. All others, from Adam to date, are still in their graves. 

Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 
Job 14:13  O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 
Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 
Job 14:15  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 

This implies that what Saul perceived as Samuel, may be a spirit in the form  of Samuel speaking, to make it look like Samuel coming out of the grave to talk to Saul. The Lord indeed deceives us according to the idols of our own hearts.

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

1Sa 28:15  And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 
1Sa 28:16  Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 

Saul’s inability to hear from the Lord caused him to be sore distressed. The question is, “What will make the Lord not answer our petition?” The word of the Lord provides the answer as follows:

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 
Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.   

It is our sins that cause us to fall away as the Lord departs from us. This was the situation in which Saul found himself, as he could not renew again unto repentance. 

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

1Sa 28:17  And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 

The Lord taking the kingdom from Saul and giving it to his neighbor David implies that we, His elect, have been shown mercy at the expense of our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world in this age. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.  

1Sa 28:18  Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 

It is important that one of the things that disqualified Saul from the kingship was not executing the fierce wrath of the Lord upon Amalek. In other words, he could not overcome Amalek, who represents our flesh. Without overcoming the flesh, we are not going to sit on thrones with Christ.  

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

1Sa 28:19  Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 

The Lord delivering Israel into the hands of the Philistines indicates that being in Babylon implies that we are under the domain of our flesh. The prediction of the death of Saul and his sons shows us that being under the dominion of our flesh implies being spiritually dead. 

1Sa 28:20  Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. 
1Sa 28:21  And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 
1Sa 28:22  Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 

Saul having no strength in him as a result of not eating bread all day shows that there is scarcity of the word of the Lord in the church system of this world. It is the word of the Lord that sustains us and therefore where there is scarcity of the word of the Lord, we do not receive the strength of the Lord to sustain us. 

1Sa 28:23  But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 
1Sa 28:24  And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 
1Sa 28:25  And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night. 

The food provided by the woman is the false doctrines of man’s wisdom and traditions which are prevalent in the church system of this world. These false doctrines represent great swelling words of vanity which made us worse off when we were in Babylon.  

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

We thank the Lord for His mercy towards us in favoring us in this age. Amen!!