Turning From God in Fear

Saul faced the Philistines without Samuel and without God's guidance. He had earlier obeyed God's law by sending away those who had familiar spirits. But now, when the Lord gave no answer, Saul turned to the very thing he had banned. He disobeyed God by seeking a medium.

Saul disguised himself and went by night to a woman at Endor who had a familiar spirit. He swore to her by Yahweh that she would not be punished. When she saw Samuel, she cried out and recognized that her visitor was Saul.

Samuel's message repeated what God had said before. Yahweh had departed from Saul and torn the kingdom from his hand, giving it to David, because Saul did not obey Yahweh's voice about Amalek. Israel would be delivered into the hand of the Philistines. Saul fell full length on the earth. He had no strength, for he had eaten nothing all day and night.