1 Samuel 28:15-16
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It’s striking how Saul frames his plea: he’s not asking for a divine strategy, but for advice on how to manage his crisis, directly asking Samuel, “tell me what I shall do.” This reveals a deeper disconnect; Saul is seeking tactical instructions from a spiritual source, rather than genuine repentance and a plea for God's presence.
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.” And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul is in a desperate situation, facing an overwhelming Philistine army and feeling completely abandoned by God. Having already been rejected by God and with no help from prophets or dreams, he turns to a forbidden act: summoning the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel through a medium. This verse is the climax of Saul's spiritual and military downfall, setting the stage for his final defeat and death in the following chapter.
Ever feel like your prayers hit a ceiling? Saul's desperation reveals the profound agony of spiritual isolation.
Saul's plea, 'God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams,' isn't just a statement of fact; it's the cry of a soul in crisis. This silence from God is often more terrifying than any outward enemy. It means the divine guidance and reassurance Saul once knew, and desperately needed, was gone. This absence signifies a deep break in their relationship, leaving Saul utterly alone and vulnerable.
When we're desperate, we might grasp at any lifeline. Saul’s act shows the peril of trying to bypass God’s ways.
Saul's ultimate mistake wasn't his distress, but his choice of how to deal with it. God had already removed his favor from Saul because of his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:23). Instead of repenting or seeking God through legitimate means that were still available (even if difficult), Saul resorted to forbidden practices—consulting a medium to bring up a deceased prophet. This shows a desperate attempt to regain control or insight outside of God’s established order. It’s a stark warning against seeking forbidden knowledge or solutions when we face spiritual dryness or difficult circumstances.
Understand the original words
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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.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
A term used for the God of Israel, indicating His covenant name, His self-existence, and His active role as the redeemer of His people. It signifies the One who is holy, personal, and supreme in authority.
oyeb · Hebrew Noun
An adversary or opponent. In a biblical context, it refers to one who opposes God or His people, though here it specifically refers to God's divine judgment against Saul’s persistent disobedience.
Saul's desperate act of consulting the medium at Endor shows his complete spiritual and political breakdown, a stark contrast to his early anointing and the hope for Israel's monarchy.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, the last judge of Israel, anoints Saul as the first king, marking a significant shift in Israel's governance from tribal confederation to monarchy.
c. 1025 BC
Saul's Rejection
Saul disobeys God's direct commands through Samuel on multiple occasions, leading to Samuel declaring that the kingdom will be taken from his family.
c. 1015 BC
David Anointed King
While Saul is still king, Samuel secretly anoints David, a young shepherd, as the future king of Israel, setting up a future conflict and tension.
c. 1010 BC
Philistine Threat Escalates
The Philistines, a major enemy of Israel, gain significant military advantage and control over key regions, increasing pressure on the Israelite monarchy.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Saul's Desperation and Witchcraft
Facing a massive Philistine army and feeling abandoned by God, Saul desperately seeks forbidden spiritual counsel from the medium at Endor.
c. 1010 BC
Battle of Gilboa
The Philistines decisively defeat the Israelite army, and Saul and his sons are killed, marking the tragic end of Saul's reign.
This passage explains *why* God turned away from Saul, showing that his disobedience led to his rejection and isolation from divine guidance.
Isaiah 8:19This verse warns against seeking guidance from spirits of the dead, mirroring Saul's desperate act and highlighting the dangers of turning from God's prescribed ways of seeking counsel.
Psalm 77:7-9This passage expresses a similar feeling of abandonment and unanswered prayer, showing that even faithful individuals can experience seasons of distress where God seems distant, but it's in faithfulness, not forbidden practices, that hope is found.
Jeremiah 29:12-13This offers the contrast to Saul's situation, promising that God *will* listen and be found when people seek Him wholeheartedly with prayer and earnest desire.
It’s striking how Saul frames his plea: he’s not asking for a divine strategy, but for advice on how to manage his crisis, directly asking Samuel, “tell me what I shall do.” This reveals a deeper disconnect; Saul is seeking tactical instructions from a spiritual source, rather than genuine repentance and a plea for God's presence.
Saul is in a desperate situation, facing an overwhelming Philistine army and feeling completely abandoned by God. Having already been rejected by God and with no help from prophets or dreams, he turns to a forbidden act: summoning the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel through a medium. This verse is the climax of Saul's spiritual and military downfall, setting the stage for his final defeat and death in the following chapter.
Saul is in a desperate situation, facing an overwhelming Philistine army and feeling completely abandoned by God. Having already been rejected by God and with no help from prophets or dreams, he turns to a forbidden act: summoning the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel through a medium. This verse is the climax of Saul's spiritual and military downfall, setting the stage for his final defeat and death in the following chapter.
"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…" — It’s striking how Saul frames his plea: he’s not asking for a divine strategy, but for advice on how to manage his crisis, directly asking Samuel, “tell me what I shall do.” This reveals a deeper d…
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Last reviewed October 2026
