1 Samuel 28 Commentary

This verse foreshadows the moral dilemma David faces in aligning with the Philistines while remaining faithful to God’s calling.

This verse shows David’s strategic diplomacy with a Philistine ruler while maintaining his ultimate allegiance to God.

Samuel’s death leaves a leadership vacuum that sets the stage for Saul’s struggle to find divine guidance without God’s chosen prophet.

This verse shows how Saul and the Philistines positioned themselves for a decisive clash that would shape Israel’s future.

King Saul’s scared heart shows the stark contrast between trusting in God’s might and relying on human power.

Saul’s failure to hear from God reveals the depth of his separation from divine guidance in the critical moment of his leadership.

Saul’s desperation to consult a medium at En-dor shows the tragic result of failing to trust God’s counsel.

Saul sought an answer, but he found greater confusion.

This verse demonstrates how fear and desperation can cause contradicting behaviors in biblical figures.

Saul’s promise to the medium reveals his desperation and tragic disconnection from God’s will.

Saul, in a moment of tragic desperation, disobeyed the LORD by seeking a medium in Endor to raise the prophet Samuel from the grave for one last message.

Saul’s fear drove him to break his own decree, revealing the fragile state of his faith.

This verse illustrates the peril of seeking guidance outside of God’s design.

Saul’s fear and recognition of Samuel’s form serve as a stark illustration of how turning away from God leads to isolation, confusion, and dire consequences.

Saul, abandoned by God because of his disobedience, desperately summons the deceased Samuel for guidance but receives only a reminder of his own failure and the irreversible consequences of forsaking the LORD’s commands.

This verse demonstrates how rejecting God’s authority leads to separation and loss.

Saul’s disregard for God’s commands results in his kingship being stripped away, fulfilling the divine pronouncement that David would inherit the kingdom.

Saul disobeyed God, so the prophecy was fulfilled and his kingdom was torn from him.

Saul’s imminent death and Israel’s defeat.

Saul’s dire collapse on the ground reflects a tragic fall from favor, revealing how disobedience and desperation led him to fearfully face his own demise.

Saul’s anxiety and the woman’s response emphasize the frailty that results from straying afar from God’s direction.

This verse describes a caring moment in a dark chapter of Saul’s life.

Saul, at his lowest, is gently cared for and urged to find physical strength again.

This verse shows both a final mercy offered to a troubled king and a continued sincerity of hospitality that permeated ancient Israelite culture.

Saul’s last recorded meal with the medium at Endor concludes his clandestine visit and prepares him to face the impending doom announced through Samuel’s prophecy.