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encounter at En-dor

1 Samuel 28:1-14 (JDV)

1 Samuel 28:1 At that time, the Philistines gathered their camps into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army with me.”
1 Samuel 28:2 David replied to Achish, “Good, you will find out what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.”
1 Samuel 28:3 By this time Samuel had died, all of Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city, and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
1 Samuel 28:4 The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem. So, Saul gathered all of Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
1 Samuel 28:5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid, and his heart pounded.
1 Samuel 28:6 He inquired of Yahveh, but Yahveh did not answer him in dreams or by the Lights or by the prophets.
1 Samuel 28:7 Saul then said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” His servants replied, “Notice, there is a woman at En-dor who is a medium.”
1 Samuel 28:8 Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you.”
1 Samuel 28:9 But the woman said to him, “I notice that you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for my throat to kill me?”
1 Samuel 28:10 Then Saul swore to her by Yahveh: “As surely as Yahveh lives, no punishment will come to you from this.”
1 Samuel 28:11 “Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel for me,” he answered.
1 Samuel 28:12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!”
1 Samuel 28:13 But the king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” “I see a spirit form coming up out of the ground,” the woman answered.
1 Samuel 28:14 Then Saul asked her, “What does he look like?” “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “He’s wearing a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.

encounter at En-dor

The Bible consistently describes the intermediate state between death and resurrection as an unconscious sleep, from which good and evil must be awakened before beginning to experience their eternal destiny. This story seems to contradict that theology, but it really does not.

If this was really a revival of Samuel, it was a miracle of God. The medium herself was surprised to see him (12). She probably expected a demon pretending to be him.

Note that she did not see Samuel descend from heaven. She said she saw him “coming up out of the earth” (13).

Death is not the reward for which the believer seeks. We seek that reward in resurrection life. We wait for the Lord to come, not our deaths. He is our rescuer and redeemer. We long to put on our heavenly dwellings, our immortal bodies. That does not happen at death.