When we consider only 1 Samuel 28:7 and 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, it may appear that it was a familiar spirit that showed up and spoke with Saul. However, when you consider the story in its entirety, I believe there is strong biblical evidence that it was Samuel who showed up, as a form of God’s judgement in place of the counsel Saul would have wanted.
Although the Bible said Saul sought a woman who had a familiar spirit (1 Sam 28:7 and 1 Chronicles 10:13-14), it is interesting the Bible did not say that Saul spoke with a familiar spirit or a demon. Rather, when the spirit showed up, the Bible itself, not the witch nor Saul, said multiple times that it was Samuel who showed up and spoke with Saul, i.e., Samuel the prophet who had died (see 1 Samuel 28:12, 1 Samuel 28:15-19). Now, if the Bible repeatedly says it was Samuel that showed up, then I don’t believe the Bible repeatedly made a mistake by saying so. I believe we rather contradict the Scriptures when we claim that it was a familiar spirit or a demon or something else other then who the Bible says it was.
The fact that the woman had a familiar spirit, I believe, means that she had no power to call up the spirit of the dead. However, in the present case, the fact that the Bibles says Samuel showed up means that God permitted Samuel to show up, I believe to the witch’s own amazement (cf. 1 Sam 12:2). Now, this will not even be the last time in Scripture that the spirit of a dead righteous person had shown up on earth to speak to humans. The Bible says Moses died and was buried (Deuteronomy 34:5-6) yet on the mount of transfiguration, Moses appeared and spoke with Jesus, and Peter and the disciples present also saw him (Matthew 17:1-6). Also In the book of Revelation, there was a being who showed John some of the profound revelations he had. This being or angel (also translated as messenger) revealed himself to John as “I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book…” (Revelatiom 22:9). Angels are not necessarily FELLOW servants/prophets with humans. Thus it is possible that this being or messenger was one of the prophets in the world who had died and is now part of the cloud of witnesses or the church in heaven (Heb 12:1, Heb 12:22-23), i.e. the spirits of the righteous in heaven. When these experiences, as we see in Scripture, are sovereignly initiated by God, then they are not sinful as they are in accordance with God’s sovereign will. But when humans decides to contact the dead by whatever means apart from God initiating such experiences sovereignly, that amounts to sorcery and necromancy, which is an abomination in the sight of God (Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:19-12
I believe God allowing Samuel to show up was His judgement on Saul through Samuel’s pronouncement on Saul. Saul sought counsel unlawfully and ended up with a sentence of death and the end of his reign.
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
(c) 2024
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be taught and trained to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ. God bless you.