Saul Visits a Medium
(1 Samuel 28)
In those days, the Philistines gathered their armies to fight against Israel. King Saul saw the vast Philistine camp, and his heart trembled with fear. He tried to ask the Lord for guidance, but the Lord did not answer him, not by dreams, not by the Urim, and not by prophets. God was silent.
Samuel, the great prophet who had anointed Saul as king, was dead. All Israel had mourned him and buried him in Ramah. Saul himself had earlier driven all mediums and spiritists out of the land because God's law forbade consulting them. Yet in his desperate fear, Saul made a terrible choice. He told his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." His servants told him there was a medium at Endor. So Saul disguised himself, put on different clothes, and went to see her at night with two of his men.
When he arrived, Saul said to the woman, "Consult a spirit for me, and bring up the one I name." The woman was afraid. She knew that Saul had cut off mediums from the land, and she thought this was a trap. But Saul swore to her by the Lord, "As surely as the Lord lives, no harm will come to you for this." The woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up?" Saul answered, "Bring up Samuel".
When the woman saw the spirit of Samuel, she cried out in terror and realized the disguised man was actually King Saul. Saul asked her what she saw, and she replied, "I see a god rising from the earth." He asked what the figure looked like, and she said, "An old man wearing a robe is coming up." Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground.
Samuel spoke to Saul, asking, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul explained his desperate situation: the Philistines were attacking, God had departed from him and would not answer, so he had called for Samuel to tell him what to do. But Samuel's message was not what Saul wanted to hear. Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the Lord and carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today".
Then Samuel delivered the final blow: "The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me". Saul was so terrified that he fell full length on the ground, completely weak, for he had eaten nothing all day. The woman, showing compassion, urged him to eat, and she prepared a calf and baked unleavened bread for him and his men. They ate and left that same night. The next day, as Samuel had foretold, the Philistines defeated Israel, and Saul and his sons died in the battle.
A Curious Question
Why do you think King Saul chose to travel at night in disguise to see a medium instead of turning back to God, even though he knew God had forbidden that kind of magic?
Jesus Connection
This story shows what happens when people try to contact the dead or use magic instead of trusting God. God's people were told never to do these things (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Instead of needing a medium to talk to the dead, believers today can pray directly to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one true Mediator between God and people (1 Timothy 2:5). He is alive and always ready to hear us. Unlike Saul, who had no way to reach God, we can always come to God because Jesus died and rose again to open the way for us. Jesus gives us direct access to the Father through prayer, so we never need to seek forbidden sources. We can call on Jesus and He will hear us.
Discussion Questions
- Saul felt scared and alone because God was silent. Why did God stop answering Saul, and how did Saul's past choices lead to this moment?
- Instead of trying to fix things his own way, what could Saul have done differently when he felt that God was not answering him?
- The medium at Endor was surprised and scared when she saw Samuel. What does her reaction teach us about who was really in control of that situation?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
- When you feel scared, who do you talk to first? Saul talked to a medium instead of turning to God. Who are your go-to people for advice? Are they people who point you to God?
- What do you do when you pray and feel like God is not answering? Instead of giving up or looking for wrong answers, trust that God hears you. Keep praying and wait for His timing.
- How can you remember that God wants to hear from you directly? You don't need a special person or object to reach God. You can talk to Him anytime, anywhere, just like a child talks to a loving Father.
Memorize God's Word
Jeremiah 29:12: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
- Then you will call on me cup your hands around your mouth like you are calling out.
- and come and pray to me fold your hands together in prayer.
- and I will listen to you cup your hand to your ear like you are listening carefully.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank you that we can always talk to you directly through Jesus. Forgive us for the times we try to solve our problems on our own instead of coming to you. Help us to trust that you always hear our prayers, even when we cannot see the answer yet. In Jesus' name, amen.
Craft or Activity
Direct Line to God Cup Phone
Kids will create a "cup phone" to remind them that they have a direct line to God through prayer, unlike Saul who tried to use forbidden ways to get answers.
Materials Checklist:
How to Make the Direct Line to God Cup Phone:- Cut a length of string about 3 feet long.
- Poke a small hole in the bottom of each cup.
- Thread one end of the string through the hole in each cup and tie a knot on the inside so it stays put.
- Decorate your cups with messages like "Prayer" and "Jeremiah 29:12" using markers.
- Pull the string tight between you and a friend and take turns whispering into one cup and listening with the other.
Effective Teaching Techniques
For Younger Children: Focus on the feeling of being scared and needing help. Ask them what they do when they are scared. Emphasize that God wants us to come to Him, not to other things.
Prep Shortcut: Pre-poke the holes in the cups before class to save time and frustration, especially for younger children.
Classroom Management: When making the cup phones, let kids work in pairs. Encourage them to decorate their cups quietly and then test them with a partner when everyone is done.
For Older Kids: Discuss the idea of spiritual dangers more deeply, such as why God forbade mediums and spiritists (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Talk about how seeking guidance from fortune-telling or astrology today is the same kind of wrong choice as Saul's.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did Saul go to a medium at Endor?
- Saul was terrified of the Philistine army and God would no longer answer him through dreams, priests, or prophets. In desperation, Saul disguised himself and sought out a medium, even though he had once banned mediums from the land.
- Why is talking to mediums or spirits wrong?
- God's law forbids consulting mediums and spiritists because it means turning to forbidden sources of guidance instead of trusting God. It shows a lack of faith and disobeys God's clear commands.
- What did the spirit of Samuel tell Saul?
- Samuel's spirit told Saul that God had turned away from him because of his disobedience, that the kingdom would be given to David, and that Saul and his sons would die in battle the next day.