Lesson #28

1 SAMUEL
Lesson #28
THE ABOMINATION OF WITCHCRAFT

• Memory Verse: Lev 19:31

• In our last lesson we discussed David’s wrong decision based on a lapse of faith and how that brings an entrapment. We are going to see how God brings David out of this situation.

• Read 1Sam 28:1-6
• The Philistines were encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.
• The Israelites were 5 miles to the South at Mt. Gilboa. (4)
• The Urim (6)
• What was the Urim?
• The Urim and Thummim were a means by which the High Priest determined the will of God. The High Priest kept the Urim and Thummim in the pocket of the breastplate.
• We do not know exactly the form of the Urim and Thummim, but many theologians think they were in the form of black and white stones, by which the High Priest would cast like dice to determine God’s perfect will.
• The names, Urim and Thummim, means = Light and Perfection.
• Therefore, they were a prefigure of the Holy Spirit who guides the believer in Jesus Christ and reveals to the believer the light of the perfect will of God.
• Why did God not answer King Saul since we are told in the Bible to seek God and that God would hear those who call upon Him?
• Saul never repented before God for his sins, and sin separates man from God.
• Read Psa 66:18
• King Saul had gotten rid of most of the mediums in Israel but a few remained.
• Saul disguised himself in order to seek one out when he got no help from God.
• Read 1Sam 28:7-25

Saul’s Disobedience	The Sin
He took the glory from Jonathan (1Sam 13:4)	Pride
He delayed going to Gilgal (Isa 10:8 1Sam 13:8)	Presumption
He made the offerings instead of waiting for the priest to do it (1Sam 13:9)	Presumption
He kept King Agag alive and the best of the animals (1Sam 15:8-9)	Compromise
He refused to give up the kingdom (1Sam 15:28 1Sam 18:8-9)	Anger and Jealousy
Murder (1Sam 28:7-25)	Disrespect for Life Disrespect for God’s order
He sought false counsel from a witch (1Sam 28:7-25)	Idolatry

• Saul’s latest sin was idolatry by seeking false counsel from a witch.
• What is so wrong about what Saul did?
• Read Lev 19:31. This sin is idolatry.
• Read Lev 20:6-7 The punishment for this sin.
• He will be cut off from God’s people.
• Read Lev 20:27
• The Law says that he will be put to death.
• Deu 18:10-12 All occult practices are an abomination to God and forbidden to God’s people.
• What specifically are these practices?
• =1= Divination = fortune telling (Eze 21:21)
• =2= Observer of times = astrology
• =3= Enchanter = one who uses omens and curses.
• =4= Witch = one who uses magic formulas and incantations.
• =5= Charmer = that which is called “white” witchcraft which is neither white nor good.
• =6= Consulter of  mediums ( familiar spirits) = one who speaks with evil spirits.
• =7= Wizard = the medium who leads others to speak to evil spirits.
• =8= Necromancer = one who seeks to speak to the dead.
• Saul and the Witch of Endor:
• The witch thought it was a trap because she knew about Saul’s law to rid Israel of witches. (9)
• Saul asked her to bring Samuel from the dead.
• Why was the woman surprised to see Samuel appear when that was what she hoped would occur?
• Seances that seek to call up the dead are either fakery or they call up “familiar spirits”.
• What are “familiar spirits”?
• A familiar spirit is an evil spirit who masquerades as a real person, a family member, who had died. This spirit pretends to be familiar with the dead person and familiar to the living family members.
• These are lying spirits.
• Read 1Kin 22:22
• However, 1Sam 28:15-16 tells us that this was truly Samuel. This is what really surprised the Witch of Endor.
• The appearance of Samuel brings up an interesting thought.
• Is there such a thing as reincarnation?
• Based on this appearance of Samuel and the appearance of Elijah and Moses on the Mt. of Transfiguration in Mat 17:3 and Luk 9:30, if there was such a thing as reincarnation, they would have immediately been reincarnated into another body and not been in the form of a spirit.
• Are there any scriptures that tell us there is no reincarnation?
• Read Job 14:7-12
• Read Heb 9:27
• These appearances of Samuel, Moses, and Elijah were not reincarnated into other individuals, but forever remained themselves.
• The message from Samuel:
• Notice that Samuel does not answer Saul’s question of “What shall I do?”
• There is nothing Saul could do at that point, for it is too late. Everything that was going to happen was already in process.
• In other words, there comes a time when a person has crossed a spiritual line and it is too late to repent.
• Why did God use a medium to bring back Samuel to give this message to Saul when believers are not us use mediums?
• God works in mysterious ways.
• God turns evil for his own purposes.
• God knows what will get through to a person.
• Note that the message was not new to Saul.
• Saul was not open to hearing from God.
• The essence of the message:
• Saul’s kingdom is given to David (17)
• The reason for the transference of power was disobedience. (18)
• Israel and Saul will be delivered into the hands of the Philistines (19)
• Saul and his sons will die in battle the next day. (19) (1Sam 31)
• Summary:
• Saul paid for his sins in the end.
• Read 1Chr 10:13-14
• The witch paid for this sin in the end as well.
• Read Psa 83:10
• In our last lesson we discussed making major decisions in times of weak faith and the consequences of wrong decisions.
• In this lesson we learn where not to go for counsel.
• We need to repent for any occult practices in our lives.

HOMEWORK
PSALMS 27
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of 1Sam 28
• Write down the occult practices in which you have been involved in the past. If you have not asked God for forgiveness, do it now, then put a big “X” through your list and mark, “paid” on the side of the page.
• Preparation for Psa 27
• Read Psa 27:1-14
• Give a title to this Psalm
• Make a list of the positive statements of faith
• Identify the past, present, and future presence of God in verses 1-3
• What is the result of wickedness?
• What are David’s deepest heart’s desires and what do they mean?
• What are your deepest heart’s desires?
• List the actions of praise to God.
• In verses 7-15, find scriptural answers to David’s prayer. For example:
• Requests:Answers

:

• Hear O Lord when I pray 1Joh 5::14-15
• List the commands from God
• What is David’s final result of obeying God’s commands?
• Memory Verse: Psa 27:1