1 Samuel 28:15
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Saul's desperation isn't just about the Philistines; it's about God's silence. He can't even get a word from Samuel, his once-reliable spiritual guide, highlighting how far he's fallen from God's presence. This isn't just a military crisis, it's a profound spiritual crisis born from disobedience.
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul, facing utter defeat by the Philistines and abandoned by God, desperately seeks guidance from the deceased prophet Samuel through a forbidden medium. This act of necromancy occurs just before his final, tragic battle, highlighting his profound spiritual crisis and Saul's complete departure from God's path, a stark contrast to his earlier days as king.
King Saul is in a tight spot. The Philistines are on his back, and he feels utterly abandoned by God. What pushed him to such a drastic, forbidden measure?
A King's Last Resort
Saul's situation in 1 Samuel 28 is dire. The Philistine army is massive, and his own forces are terrified.
The Silence of God
What's worse for Saul is that God is silent. He can't get an answer through prophets, dreams, or any other means. This spiritual isolation is crushing him.
Breaking Divine Law
In his desperation, Saul turns to the Witch of Endor to summon the spirit of Samuel. This was a direct violation of God's commands, a forbidden practice for Israelites (Leviticus 19:31). It shows how far he's fallen from his earlier obedience, driven by fear and a lack of faith.
Saul feels completely cut off from God's help. How does this feeling of being unheard by the Almighty impact his choices and his understanding of his situation?
When God Stops Speaking
The most terrifying aspect of Saul's plight isn't the Philistines, but the silence from God. He explicitly states, 'God has turned away from me and answers me no more.'
The Consequences of Disobedience
This silence wasn't random; it was a direct consequence of Saul's repeated disobedience. God had warned him, and now the lines of communication were closed.
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Seeking Answers in the Wrong Place
Instead of repenting and seeking God humbly, Saul tried to force an encounter by forbidden means. This demonstrates a crucial truth: when we push God away through our actions, seeking His guidance becomes incredibly difficult, and the temptation to turn to worldly or even demonic alternatives grows strong.
Understand the original words
ragaz · Hebrew Verb
To agitate, trouble, or cause confusion and unrest in another. It implies a disruption of someone's state of peace or rest.
tsar · Hebrew Noun
An intense state of mental or spiritual anguish, suffering, or helplessness, often resulting from being abandoned by God or facing overwhelming circumstances.
nabiy · Hebrew Noun
A designated messenger of God who receives divine revelation to communicate God's will to the people. Prophets were essential for Israel's guidance and relationship with Yahweh.
This passage highlights Saul's desperation as his kingdom crumbles and God's presence seems withdrawn. His attempt to consult the 'spirit' of Samuel, forbidden by Israel's law, underscores his total departure from God's guidance in his final, dire moments.
c. 1075 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, the prophet and judge, anoints Saul as Israel's first king, marking a significant shift in Israel's governance.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Rejection by God
Due to disobedience, God rejects Saul as king, and Samuel informs him that the kingdom will be given to another. This marks the beginning of Saul's spiritual and political decline.
c. 1050 BC
David Anointed King
While Saul is still king, Samuel secretly anoints David, the young shepherd, as the future king of Israel. This sets up a period of tension and conflict.
c. 1015 BC— this verse
Philistine Threat Escalates
The Philistines, a major and persistent enemy of Israel, gather a large army for a decisive war against Saul's kingdom. This is the immediate context for the events of 1 Samuel 28.
c. 1015 BC
Battle of Mount Gilboa
The Philistine army engages Saul's forces at Mount Gilboa. The battle results in a devastating defeat for Israel and the death of Saul and his sons.
This passage explains the root of Saul's spiritual abandonment, showing that his disobedience led to God rejecting him as king, which directly contributes to his desperate situation in 1 Samuel 28.
Jeremiah 14:11-12This prophetic passage illustrates God's withholding of answers and His refusal to hear the prayers of a people who have sinned, mirroring Saul's experience of God turning away from him.
Isaiah 8:19This verse warns against seeking guidance from mediums and spirits instead of consulting God, directly paralleling Saul's forbidden act of consulting the witch of Endor when God was silent.
1 Corinthians 10:13This passage offers hope that God will not let us be tempted beyond our ability and will provide a way out, contrasting sharply with Saul's feeling of utter helplessness and his inability to find a way forward.
Saul's desperation isn't just about the Philistines; it's about God's silence. He can't even get a word from Samuel, his once-reliable spiritual guide, highlighting how far he's fallen from God's presence. This isn't just a military crisis, it's a profound spiritual crisis born from disobedience.
Saul, facing utter defeat by the Philistines and abandoned by God, desperately seeks guidance from the deceased prophet Samuel through a forbidden medium. This act of necromancy occurs just before his final, tragic battle, highlighting his profound spiritual crisis and Saul's complete departure from God's path, a stark contrast to his earlier days as king.
Saul, facing utter defeat by the Philistines and abandoned by God, desperately seeks guidance from the deceased prophet Samuel through a forbidden medium. This act of necromancy occurs just before his final, tragic battle, highlighting his profound spiritual crisis and Saul's complete departure from God's path, a stark contrast to his earlier days as king.
"Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by d…" — Saul's desperation isn't just about the Philistines; it's about God's silence. He can't even get a word from Samuel, his once-reliable spiritual guide, highlighting how far he's fallen from God's pre…
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Last reviewed October 2026
