Study 39: 1 Samuel 28: 3-25

In 1 Samuel 28, Scripture presents one of the most sobering moments in the life of King Saul, revealing the tragic end of a heart that once knew obedience but slowly drifted into spiritual compromise. As Saul faces overwhelming fear from the Philistine threat and finds God silent, he turns not toward repentance but toward forbidden sources of guidance. This chapter exposes the difference between seeking answers from God and truly seeking God Himself. Through Saul’s encounter with the medium at Endor, we are confronted with the dangers of disobedience, misplaced desperation, and hardened hearts. The passage ultimately serves as a warning and an invitation, reminding God’s people that humility, repentance, and wholehearted pursuit of the Lord are always the path to life.

Sermon Outline

1. Setting the Stage: A Silent Heaven

   00:07:42–00:09:00

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:3

   Samuel’s death is reiterated, and Saul’s earlier obedience in removing mediums is contrasted with his present condition.

2. Fear Reveals Unprepared Hearts

   00:11:42–00:14:35

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:4–5

   Saul’s terror exposes years of misplaced focus, pursuing David instead of preparing for the true enemy.

3. Inquiring Without Seeking

   00:14:42–00:18:08

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:6; 1 Chronicles 10:13–14

   Saul asks God for direction but does not pursue God Himself, revealing the difference between shallow inquiry and true devotion.

4. God’s Silence and Saul’s Response

   00:18:17–00:20:27

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:6–7

   When God does not answer, Saul defaults to disobedience rather than repentance.

5. Returning to What God Condemned

   00:20:27–00:22:05

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:7

   Saul seeks out a medium, embracing what he once drove out, exposing the depth of his spiritual decline.

6. Disguise, Darkness, and Deception

   00:22:39–00:24:40

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:8

   Saul travels by night in disguise, symbolizing his spiritual darkness and separation from God.

7. God’s Sovereignty in Judgment

   00:32:50–00:33:38

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:12

   God allows Samuel to speak, not to validate necromancy, but to pronounce judgment on Saul.

8. Truth Spoken from the Grave

   00:36:50–00:42:26

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:15–19

   Samuel confronts Saul with the reality of his disobedience and announces the coming defeat and death.

9. A Broken King in the Wrong House

   00:44:22–00:45:29

   Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:20–25

   Saul, once king of Israel, sits broken in the home of a medium, leaving as he arrived, unchanged.

Scripture References

• 1 Samuel 27:1 (00:01:07)

  • David reasons within himself rather than seeking God, setting the contrast for Saul’s story.

• 1 Samuel 28:3 (00:07:42)

  • Samuel’s death and Saul’s earlier obedience are restated to frame the narrative.

• Leviticus 19:31 (00:09:31)

  • God’s command forbidding consultation with mediums and spiritists.

• Isaiah 8:19–20 (00:09:31)

  • A prophetic warning against seeking the dead instead of God.

• 1 Samuel 28:4–5 (00:11:42)

  • Saul’s fear when he sees the Philistine army.

• 1 Samuel 28:6 (00:14:42)

  • Saul inquires of the Lord but receives no answer.

• 1 Chronicles 10:13–14 (00:16:17)

  • A summary of Saul’s death and his failure to truly seek the Lord.

• Jeremiah 29:13 (00:19:06)

  • God’s promise to be found when sought wholeheartedly.

• Luke 11:9–10 (00:19:26)

  • Jesus’ teaching on asking, seeking, and knocking.

• 1 Samuel 28:7 (00:20:27)

  • Saul commands his servants to find a medium.

• Psalm 66:18 (00:39:01)

  • Iniquity in the heart hinders prayer and communion with God.

• 1 Samuel 28:15–19 (00:36:50–00:42:26)

  • Samuel’s message of judgment and the announcement of Saul’s death.

Word Study

Original Language: Hebrew

Original Word: דָּרַשׁ (darash)

Strong’s Number: H1875

Pronunciation: dah-RAHSH

Simple Definition:To seek, pursue, or inquire with diligence.

Extended Definition:Darash conveys an active, wholehearted pursuit. It implies devotion, obedience, and an ongoing desire for relationship, not merely information. In Scripture, it often reflects the posture of God’s people when they genuinely seek the Lord rather than His benefits.

Synonyms:Seek, pursue, inquire diligently

Antonyms:Neglect, ignore, abandon

Key Supporting Scriptures:

• Deuteronomy 4:29

• Jeremiah 29:13

• Amos 5:4

• 1 Chronicles 10:13–14

Connection to the Sermon’s Main Theme:Saul’s tragedy lies in the fact that he sought answers without darash. He wanted relief, not repentance; direction, not devotion. The sermon highlights that God responds to those who seek Him, not merely solutions.

Questions for Deeper Study

1. In what ways might I be seeking God’s help without truly seeking God Himself?

2. Are there areas of my life where I have allowed past compromises to resurface?

3. What would wholehearted repentance and humility look like for me today?