Saul and the witch of Endor

"This bizarre incident recorded in God's Word is really the only passage that provides a description of someone who is being called up from out of the dead.

I Samuel 28:7-9: [7] Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

[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.
[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?

"Fundamentally, the idea of a familiar spirit is one who passes himself off as an authority, a mediator who is able to communicate to someone revelation and knowledge from the soul of a dead individual," explains Alex Kurz.

"You notice the root word 'family' in familiar and there's an interesting reason for that. It carries the idea of friendship. They're accommodating, they're 'friendly,' but there is an interesting interest in ancestor worship, hence the family idea. There's this interest in contacting lost loved ones for the purpose of receiving some sort of information.

"The individuals with familiar spirits are lumped together with witches, wizards, necromancers, sorcerers and actually child sacrificers. They're all lumped together and that's why I'm not going to have a problem calling her the witch of Endor, but technically she possesses a familiar spirit.

Leviticus 19:31: [31] Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

"Saul is guilty of actually practicing witchcraft. He's going to die the death that's reserved for the witch. 

Leviticus 20:27: [27] A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.

"Saul's going to be put to death. He's going to die the death penalty that the witch is supposed to have. By the way, the witch is spared. Ultimately, Saul is taking the place of the witch. Why? Because he's practicing witchcraft.

"Saul did cast out all of those who had the familiar spirits as a king. He sadly is going to participate in the satanic policy of evil and he's going to actually align himself with the evil.

"He started out well but sadly he ends in a catastrophic way due to his stubborn, chronic rebellion and hardheartedness.

*****

"In I Kings 22 we have a real peculiar incident. You have God who is sitting in counsel with His angels and in verse 22: [22] And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

[23] Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.

"I don't think it's a strong argument to say, 'Well, God would never use a witch.' God can use people who are desired by people. If God wants a lying spirit, He'll send it.

"He reasons, 'If Israel rebels and rejects me then I'll send the Gentiles via Nebuchadnezzar. If the world rejects me, I'll send strong delusions so they'll believe a lie."

(to be continued tomorrow)