I Samuel 28:24-30:24

This sounds like a fun adventure into Jewish texts! I'm excited to guide you through it. Let's dive in!

Hook

Ever felt like you're in a really tough spot, and no matter what you try, you just can't get a clear answer or a good outcome? Maybe you're facing a big decision, or a situation feels completely overwhelming, and you're just looking for a sign, any sign, to tell you what to do next. It's like being in a dark room and fumbling for a light switch, hoping you hit the right one. This week's reading touches on exactly that feeling. We’ll look at a moment when someone desperately needed guidance, but the usual channels weren't working, leading to some pretty unusual and frankly, a little spooky, choices. It’s a story about desperation, about seeking answers when all seems lost, and what happens when we’re willing to go to extreme lengths to find them. We’ll explore what we can learn from this ancient story about how we handle our own moments of feeling lost.

Context

Let’s set the scene for this ancient story. It’s a dramatic moment in the history of the Israelites:

• Who was involved? We've got King Saul, who is the first king of Israel, and he's in a serious bind. We also have David, who is on the rise and is currently in a very complicated position. And then there's Samuel, a key prophet and judge who has recently passed away. There's also a woman who practices a forbidden spiritual craft.
• When did this happen? This takes place during the period when the Philistines, a powerful neighboring group, are gearing up for a major war against Israel. It’s a time of great national anxiety.
• Where are we? The Philistines are mustering their forces near Shunem, and Saul is gathering the Israelites at Gilboa. Later, David and his men are dealing with events in Ziklag.
• Key Term: Witchcraft (or consulting spirits). In ancient Israelite belief, this meant trying to communicate with the dead or using other supernatural means to gain information or power. King Saul himself had actually banned this practice, making his later actions quite a significant turn of events.

Text Snapshot

This is a peek into the intense moments described in the text. It highlights a king in distress and a surprising encounter:

The Philistines gathered their armies for war. King Saul saw the Philistine forces and his heart trembled with fear. He asked God for guidance, but God didn't answer him by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who consults ghosts, so I can go to her and inquire through her." His servants told him there was a woman in En-dor who consulted ghosts. Saul disguised himself and went to her by night, asking her to bring up Samuel. The woman recognized him and cried out, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" Saul swore to her that she wouldn't get into trouble. When she asked whom to bring up, he said Samuel. The woman then saw a divine being coming up from the earth, which Saul recognized as Samuel. Samuel spoke to Saul, telling him God had taken the kingship from him and given it to David because Saul had not obeyed God’s commands. Samuel also predicted that tomorrow, Saul and his sons would die in battle.

Meanwhile, David and his men were told they had to march with the Philistine army. David assured King Achish, "You know what your servant will do," and Achish replied, "I will appoint you my bodyguard for life." However, the Philistine officers didn't trust David and insisted he be sent back. David protested, wanting to fight for his lord the king, but Achish sent him home. When David returned to Ziklag, he found it burned and his family taken captive. David and his men wept until they could weep no more. David's troops were so distressed they threatened to stone him. David sought strength in God and asked the priest to bring the ephod. He inquired of God, "Shall I pursue those raiders? Will I overtake them?" The answer came, "Pursue, for you shall overtake and you shall rescue." David pursued with his men and successfully rescued everyone and everything that had been taken.

• (See the full text here: https://www.sefaria.org/I_Samuel_28%3A24-30%3A24)

Close Reading

This passage is packed with drama and offers some really interesting insights for us, even today. Let's break down a few things we can actually use:

### When the Usual Fails, What's Next?

One of the most striking parts of this story is King Saul's desperation. He's in a dire military situation, facing a massive enemy force, and he can't get a message from God. The text explicitly states God doesn't answer him through dreams, Urim (a special priestly oracle), or prophets. These were the "official channels" for divine communication at the time. When these channels are silent, Saul feels completely abandoned and lost.

• What this means for us: We all face times when we feel unheard or when our usual ways of finding answers just aren't working. Maybe you've prayed, meditated, or sought advice from trusted friends, and you're still feeling stuck. It’s easy to feel discouraged or even panicked in those moments. This story shows that even leaders, even people deeply connected to the divine, can experience these periods of silence. It doesn't necessarily mean you're doing something wrong, but it can be incredibly challenging to navigate. The key takeaway here isn't about how to get God to answer, but about acknowledging that sometimes, the answers don't come easily or through the expected means. It's a reminder that these moments of feeling lost are part of the human experience, and even biblical figures grappled with them.

### The Danger of Desperate Measures

Saul's response to this silence is to break his own law and seek out a forbidden practice: consulting a "woman who consults ghosts." This is a huge deal! He's going against everything he, as king, had established for the good of the people. He's so desperate for information and control that he's willing to risk his spiritual standing and break his own decrees. The encounter itself is unsettling – he disguises himself, goes in secret, and the "spirit" of Samuel delivers a harsh prophecy about Saul's downfall.

• What this means for us: This part of the story is a powerful warning about the allure of quick fixes or forbidden paths when we're feeling desperate. When we're in pain or fear, we might be tempted to pursue solutions that seem appealing in the moment but could have negative long-term consequences. This could be anything from making rash decisions based on fear, to engaging in unhealthy behaviors, or even seeking out advice from sources that aren't aligned with our values. The story suggests that while Saul got an answer, it wasn't a helpful one, and it came at a great cost, reinforcing his despair rather than alleviating it. It encourages us to pause before making drastic choices driven by fear and to consider if the "solution" might actually create more problems. It's about recognizing that sometimes, the way we seek answers is as important as the answers themselves.

### David's Different Path to Strength

In stark contrast to Saul's actions, we see David facing his own crisis. His home is destroyed, his family is captured, and his own men are turning against him, threatening to stone him! This is a moment of profound loss and danger. Yet, the text tells us, "David sought strength in the Eternal his God." This is a crucial difference. Instead of resorting to forbidden practices or despairing entirely, David turns to the established ways of seeking divine guidance – he asks for the ephod and inquires of God. And he receives a clear directive: "Pursue, for you shall overtake and you shall rescue."

• What this means for us: This is perhaps the most inspiring part of the reading. When faced with overwhelming challenges, David's instinct is to turn to his faith and the established means of connecting with God. He doesn't get an immediate easy fix, but he gets a direction. Even though his situation is dire, he acts based on the guidance he receives. This teaches us the value of leaning into our faith and spiritual practices, especially during tough times. It’s about actively seeking strength and direction from our sources of spiritual grounding, whatever they may be. It shows that even when things feel utterly lost, there’s a path to recovery and resilience if we can find the strength to seek it through our faith and trusted practices, rather than through fear-driven, questionable means. It highlights the power of choosing faith over fear, even when the odds seem impossible.

Apply It

This week, let's try a simple practice that connects with David's approach to finding strength:

The "Gratitude Check-In" Practice (60 seconds/day)

• How to do it: Every day, before you start your main activities or right before bed, take just 60 seconds. Close your eyes for a moment and focus on your breath. Then, think of one specific thing you are grateful for from the past 24 hours. It can be something small – a good cup of coffee, a pleasant conversation, a moment of quiet, or even just the fact that you have a roof over your head. Say it out loud or in your head.
• Why this helps: Just like David "sought strength in the Eternal his God," this practice is about actively seeking out the good, no matter how small, in your life. It shifts your focus from what's going wrong to what's going right, building a subtle but powerful sense of resilience. It’s a tiny act of seeking positivity and connection, which can be incredibly grounding when life feels overwhelming. It’s a simple way to remind yourself of the good that exists, which can be a source of strength when you need it most.

Chevruta Mini

Imagine you're discussing this text with a friend over a cup of tea. Here are a couple of questions to get you talking:

1. If you were Saul, and you felt completely cut off from divine help, what do you think would be your biggest temptation? What would make it hard to resist?
2. David’s situation after the raid on Ziklag was terrifying. What do you think gave him the strength to ask for the ephod and inquire of God, instead of just giving in to despair or his men's anger?

Takeaway

When we feel lost, turning to our trusted sources of strength and guidance, rather than succumbing to fear-driven desperation, can lead us to a path of rescue and recovery.