Study 40: 1 Samuel 29: 1-11: Trent Evans

In this study of 1 Samuel 28, we witness the tragic final descent of King Saul as fear, disobedience, and spiritual compromise culminate in his encounter with the medium at Endor. Having silenced the voice of God through years of unrepentant disobedience, Saul seeks direction without truly seeking God, revealing a heart that wants answers but not obedience. The passage serves as a sobering warning about the cost of ignoring God’s voice, pursuing guidance in the wrong places, and refusing repentance even when mercy remains available. This text calls God’s people to honest self-examination, wholehearted pursuit of the Lord, and humility before it is too late.

Sermon Outline

1. Setting the Stage: Saul and David on Diverging Paths

   1. 1 Samuel 27:1–12; 28:1–2

   2. Timestamp: 00:03–05:01

   3. David compromises through self-reliance, while Saul continues a pattern of decline through disobedience.

2. Samuel Is Dead and God’s Voice Is Silent

   1. 1 Samuel 28:3

   2. Timestamp: 07:42–09:31

   3. The text establishes two critical realities: Samuel is dead, and mediums were once driven out under Saul’s earlier obedience.

3. Fear Reveals Unprepared Hearts

   1. 1 Samuel 28:4–5

   2. Timestamp: 11:42–14:36

   3. Saul is overwhelmed by fear because he spent years fighting the wrong enemy and neglecting spiritual preparation.

4. Seeking Answers Without Seeking God

   1. 1 Samuel 28:6

   2. Timestamp: 14:39–18:58

   3. Saul inquires of the Lord for direction but not devotion. God does not answer through dreams, Urim, or prophets.

5. The Difference Between Asking and Pursuing

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

   2. Timestamp: 15:58–17:56

   3. The sermon highlights the Hebrew contrast between seeking information and seeking God Himself.

6. Turning to Forbidden Sources

   1. 1 Samuel 28:7–10

   2. Timestamp: 20:11–29:03

   3. Saul deliberately violates God’s law by seeking a medium, invoking God’s name to justify sin.

7. God Allows Judgment to Be Spoken

   1. 1 Samuel 28:11–19

   2. Timestamp: 32:07–42:00

   3. God permits Samuel to speak, not to validate necromancy, but to pronounce judgment and confirm Saul’s rejection.

8. Ownership of Disobedience

   1. 1 Samuel 28:17–18

   2. Timestamp: 39:20–40:41

   3. Saul’s downfall is traced directly to his failure to obey God, not to external enemies.

9. The Cost of Refusing Repentance

   1. 1 Samuel 28:20–25

   2. Timestamp: 42:55–46:39

   3. Saul leaves exactly as he arrived, broken, fearful, and unchanged, carrying the weight of coming judgment.

Scripture References

• 1 Samuel 27:1

  • David reasons without consulting God, setting a pattern of self-reliance.

  • Timestamp: 01:07

• 1 Samuel 28:3

  • Samuel’s death and the removal of mediums frame the spiritual crisis.

    • Timestamp: 07:42

• Leviticus 19:31

  • God’s clear prohibition against consulting mediums and spiritists.

  • Timestamp: 09:31

• Isaiah 8:19–20

  • God’s people are commanded to seek the living God, not the dead.Timestamp: 09:31–10:31

• 1 Samuel 28:4–5

  • Saul’s fear reveals spiritual neglect.

  • Timestamp: 11:42–14:36

• 1 Samuel 28:6

  • Saul seeks answers but not repentance.

  • Timestamp: 14:39

• 1 Chronicles 10:13–14

  • A theological summary of Saul’s death due to unfaithfulness.

  • Timestamp: 16:17

• Jeremiah 29:13

  • God promises to be found when sought wholeheartedly.

  • Timestamp: 19:06

• Luke 11:9–10

  • Jesus affirms God’s responsiveness to genuine seekers.

  • Timestamp: 19:26

• Psalm 66:18

  • Sin blocks communion with God.

  • Timestamp: 39:01

• 1 Samuel 28:15–19

  • Samuel announces God’s final judgment on Saul.

  • Timestamp: 36:50–42:00

Word Study

Word: Inquire / Seek

• Original Language: Hebrew

• Words: שָׁאַל (shaʾal) and דָּרַשׁ (darash)

• Strong’s Numbers: H7592 (shaʾal), H1875 (darash)

• Pronunciation: shah-AL; dah-RASH

Simple Definitions:

• Shaʾal: To ask, request, or seek information.

• Darash: To diligently seek, pursue, or follow after with devotion.

Extended Definitions:Shaʾal reflects a surface-level request for answers, often motivated by crisis. Darash expresses wholehearted pursuit, relational devotion, and covenant faithfulness.

Synonyms / Antonyms:

• Synonyms: seek, pursue, inquire, consult

• Antonyms: ignore, abandon, neglect

Key Supporting Scriptures:

• Jeremiah 29:13

• Deuteronomy 4:29

• Amos 5:4

• 1 Chronicles 10:13–14

Connection to Sermon Theme:Saul asked God for information but did not pursue God Himself. His failure was not silence from heaven but resistance in his heart. True discipleship requires darash, not mere shaʾal.

Questions for Deeper Study

1. Am I seeking God Himself, or only seeking answers to escape difficult circumstances?

2. Are there areas of compromise in my life that are dulling my ability to hear God’s voice?

3. What would genuine repentance look like for me if God is revealing something I have ignored?