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Today we discover the life-changing difference between Saul’s self-destruction and David’s God-dependent obedience — and how God still restores, strengthens, and uses His grateful & gracious people.

If you know the story, then you know that David’s life will NOT end as a bodyguard for a pagan Philistine king.

Now the author does a little bit of backtracking to set up what comes next.

This will be a pivotal statement in the next few moments. Saul had, done away with those who practiced these wicked things, based on…

Deuteronomy 18:10-11

No one among you is to sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire, practice divination, tell fortunes, interpret omens, practice sorcery, cast spells, consult a medium or a spiritist, or inquire of the dead.

All of these practices are disobedient to the One True God.

A medium is someone who claims to consult with the dead on behalf of the living. This is known as necromancy. Following the example of Samuel and the commands of Scripture, Saul had removed these people from public life - a practice of which Yahweh demanded DEATH for the medium (Lev 20:27) & banishment for those who consulted the medium (Lev 20:6).

Saul is told of a medium who lived in a place not far away - En-dor, but very, very close to the Philistine army.

Think about the audacity of this vow. “I swear by Yahweh” (the God who demands that those who practice this act of contacting the dead should be killed) “that you won’t be punished for disobeying Yahweh”. Saul is disobeying Yahweh and telling others they can too - with no fear of consequences.

• We hear our culture make the same kinds of claims: “God won’t punish those sexual sin, gossip, drunkenness, seeking other gods/spirits…after all, He’s a loving God!”

This is no figment of her imagination. God actually allows this woman to see Samuel, who has previously died. 

• This is evidence that people don’t die and then lay in a state of soul sleep. 
• Nor do they just cease to exist. Instead, they change addresses, while the body dies & decays, the spirit is very much alive.

And now this woman realizes she is in the presence of Saul, the man who had put the ban on doing what she is doing. She has no need to fear Saul, because she has done all this on behalf of a HYPOCRITE (someone who tells others what to do without being willing to do the same).

Samuel’s old body has died and his spirit was currently separated from his body and he didn’t take his old body nor clothing with him to the afterlife. So, while Samuel is ‘seen’ by this lady, this imagery of an old man wearing a robe helps Saul to know that it is Samuel.

Samuel was not down in the earth. There is no place inside our planet that we could drill down to be reunited with those who have died. This ‘coming up out of the earth’ language is the imagery that only she can see - describing the living spirit of Samuel.

• This unlawful meeting DESCRIBES what DID happen, it does not PRESCRIBE what SHOULD happen, since we’ve already seen that consulting the dead is outlawed for those who follow God.

It sure seems like it’s too late for Saul. But it also seemed too late for the Assyrian enemies of Israel in Nineveh. Remember the story of Jonah? God gave them a warning about coming judgement, with no mention of the possibility of forgiveness. But Jonah detoured rather than go because he didn’t want his enemies to be warned about Yahweh’s wrath because…

It’s NOT too late for YOU to turn from your sin and turn to Him. He IS gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and quick to love - willing to turn from judgment.

Notice the difference between David & Saul. 

• Saul seeks Yahweh when he is in trouble - and God doesn’t answer, because Saul disobeyed Him multiple times in the past. When Yahweh doesn’t answer, Saul disobeys the clear teachings of Yahweh to get some sort of answer.
• David seeks Yahweh, receives God’s response, and then does what God says.

The Amalekites had a lot more stuff with them than just what they had raided from Ziklag. So, David’s plunder amounted to much more than what had been taken from them.

The author already noted the lack of character these particular men had - corrupt and worthless. Although God had been gracious to them, they refused to be gracious to others.

• We receive more than we deserved, God has forgiven us much and blessed us in so many ways. And yet, rather than allowing that joy & thankfulness to overflow onto others, we selfishly keep it to ourselves.
• During this time of the year, a time when we GIVE THANKS to God our Provider, it is appropriate for us to ask God to give us opportunities to extend kindness and care for others.

Notice WHO David gives the credit to - not their incredible military might, but to Yahweh Who had given them more than what they lost, and certainly more than what they deserved. 

David is Grateful for God’s provision & restoration, & Gracious with the extra He has given. The life of King David points us to the Ultimate King of Creation, who stepped into skin and came to rescue & restore captives.

Then Jesus sat down and said, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” (Lk 4:21) 2,000 years later, Jesus is still setting captured people free, and giving them more than they ever deserved. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this when he writes these words.

God extended His grace to us, but He didn’t do so that we could SIT, but that we would SERVE the Lord Jesus by good works towards others. We are GRATEFUL that God has given to us and forgiven us, and we should be GRACIOUS to give to others and extend God’s forgiveness to them too.

BE GRATEFUL to God every day of this week - not just on Thanksgiving.

• Start your day by THANKING GOD for His provision & forgiveness. End your day the same way. In between, take moments to talk about God’s goodness around others.

BE GRACIOUS toward others every day of this week.

• Go out of your way to TELL people and SHOW people that they are VALUABLE. 
• Pray for, look for, and TAKE the opportunities that follow, to tell people of God’s graciousness to you and offer it to them.

These discussion questions are designed to help you LIVE what you LEARN with your Family, Friends, or Small Group.

1. Where do you most see yourself in this story — like Saul, who only sought God when he was desperate, or like David, who consistently sought God and obeyed Him? Why?
2. Read 1 Samuel 28:5-6 & 30:6-8. Why do you think God did not answer Saul, yet clearly answered David? What warning or encouragement does that give you personally?
3. What are some blessings, provisions, or protections from God that you tend to take for granted? How can you grow in gratefulness this week?
4. When have you been tempted to respond like the “corrupt and worthless men,” wanting to withhold grace or generosity from people who didn’t “deserve it”?
5. Read 1 Samuel 30:21-30. David shared the plunder with those who didn’t fight — what does that teach you about God’s grace toward you? How might God be calling you to extend that same grace to someone else this week?
6. Which part of this story most clearly points you to Jesus — the One who gives grace, rescues the lost, and restores what the enemy has taken?