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Reading First Samuel is quite revealing regarding Saul going through
a witch/medium to contact Samuel.
There are some things I noticed:
1) Saul had earlier gotten rid of those that
had familiar spirits, those that talked to the dead, really demons.
2) Later, he seeks out one that had a familiar
spirit (demon) to talk to Samuel who was dead.
3) So wouldn't this mean that those today that seek to talk to or pray
to the dead are doing the same thing as this witch/medium.
4) God wouldn't answer Saul's prayers, and Samuel wasn't
happy about Saul calling him up. None of the saints would be happy about that.
5) It only made the situation worse
when Samuel finally showed up. Saul would have been better not calling Samuel up.
6) Saul tried this method because
God wouldn't listen to him. Anyone who tries to communicate or pray to the dead or have the dead pray for them are either
ignoring or aren't able to communicate to God the legitimate way.
My understanding of those with familiar spirits is
the they don't normally speak to the dead, they just have a spirit/demon that is familiar with the one that was dead. Hence
the name 'familiar spirit.'
So from this story we can only rightly conclude that we should not call up the dead or
try to have them pray for us.
I have put certain parts of the following chapter in CAPS, so you will see what I am
alluding to.
3 Now SAMUEL WAS DEAD, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city.
And Saul had PUT AWAY THOSE THAT HAD FAMILIAR SPIRITS, and the wizards, out of the land. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves
together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul
saw the host of the Philistines, HE WAS AFRAID, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when SAUL ENQUIRED OF
THE LORD, THE
LORD ANSWERED HIM NOT, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 Then said Saul unto his servants, SEEK ME
A WOMAN THAT HATH A FAMILIAR SPIRIT, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there
is a woman that hath a FAMILIAR SPIRIT at Endor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and
two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and
bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath
done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a
snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment
happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12
And when the woman saw Samuel, SHE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me?
for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw
gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is
covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
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And Samuel said to Saul, WHY HAS THOU DISQUIETED ME, TO BRING ME UP? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines
make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore
I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16 Then said Samuel, WHEREFORE THEN DOST THOU ASK
OF ME, SEEING THE LORD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE, and is become thine enemy? 17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by
me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst
not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee
this day. 19 MOREOVER THE LORD WILL ALSO DELIVER ISRAEL WITH THEE INTO THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES: and TO MORROW SHALT THOU
AND THY SONS BE WITH ME: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. (1 Samuel 28)
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