The Woman of Endor

Day 1

Her Character: Compassionate to Saul on the eve of his death, she exercised power by acting as a medium.

Her Sorrow: To have delivered a hopeless message to Israel's king.

Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:3-25

That night the woman of Endor had looked into the eyes of the most powerful man in Israel and had seen the terror there. Did the vision shake her? Did she recognize herself in him? Did her encounter with a true prophet cause her to forsake her trade as a medium? We have no idea what became of her. Sadly, her meeting with Saul marks one of the lowest moments in the life of Israel's first king, revealing his disintegration as a man whose future was destroyed by disobedience.

Saul's tragic ending reminds us that the antidote to fear is always trust. Only faith can cure our worst nightmares, and faith is a gift that is either fed by obedience or starved by disobedience. Forsaking our own desire to manipulate and control people and circumstances, we must trust God to use his power on our behalf.

Day 2

Witchcraft

Dear friends, I have to say that when I first started studying this woman of Endor, I wondered how it could relate to me. In God's amazing wisdom and through prayer I have found much reflection in this woman. This weeks devo has helped me question some of the things I put my trust in. I challenge you to do the same. How many of us have placed a fortune from a cookie on our refrigerator because it said exactly what we thought we needed to hear? How many of us take a few minutes a day to read our horoscope's in hopes it will tell us what direction our life will go today? How many times have I sought to know the outcome of a decision before making it? How often have I sought out advice from people to direct my path instead of trusting God and taking it to Him in prayer?

Before I was a follower of Christ I had put my trust in things of the occult. I was studying Wicca and tarot cards. I may have just dabbled in those things but they did have an effect on me. I was searching for answers. Luckily, God got hold of my heart and turned me from the occult. Have you ever sought out a psychic/medium? Had your palm read? Talked to the dead? How does the things you experienced line up with God's word?

I truly believe God can use anything, even the Devil's work, for his good. I believe in prophetic words and God using people we trust to guide us. But I am learning to take each thing that I am looking for guidance in, first to God in prayer, then seek out the advice of others, then I take it to God's word. If it is truly from Him, it will line up with His word.

Now a little more from our book:

Right from the start, God commanded his people not to have anything to do with witchcraft in any form. His words are clear and firm--we might even think harsh: "A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads" Leviticus 20:27

Today, when the interest in spiritism and mediums is once again strong, it is good to consider what may be fueling the fascination. Words like waiting, depending, surrendering, and obeying rankle. We would much rather find ways to control the course of events. Yet the spiritual life is often counter-intuitive. When we embrace the way of faith and trust in God, following him even when the path is unfamiliar or unknown, what seems like it should diminish us actually enlarges us. The story of Saul and the woman of Endor reminds us that there's really nothing new about human behavior. Under the skin we all experience the same desires, temptations, and needs. Then, as now, our happiness lies in faith and trust.

Day 3

1Samuel 28:15-20
15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."
16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 19 The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."
20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.

How did Saul react when he found out he would die the next day?

How would you react if you truly knew today was your last day alive? What would you do?

1 Samuel 28:21-25
21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way."
23 He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
24 The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

What does the woman of Endor's reaction to Saul in these verses tell you about her underlying character?

When have you shown kindness to someone you knew for sure was in the wrong? What did you do?

Day 4

In a backhanded sort of way, the woman of Endor reveals for us our need to trust God. As human beings, many of use are like Saul, afraid of the future, estranged from our loved ones and God, willing to go anywhere for help. But God is our only true source of help and comfort. He has promised to guide and direct us and plan our steps. He doesn't promise to reveal the future to us, but he does promise to go with us as we step into it.

Isaiah 30:19-21
Isaiah 35: 3-4; 8-9
Jeremiah 6:16

Heavenly Father, Thank you that you have plans to prosper me and bless me. Thank you that you have given me your word full of your promises. Help me Lord with my faith. I want to learn to trust you. I want to trust that you will guide me, protect me, comfort me and love me because you created me to desire this relationship with you.

Day 5

"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." ~Leviticus 19:31

Praise God that he protects us from evil.

Thank God that he doesn't hide himself from those who love and follow him.

Confess any dealings you may have had with the occult: using tarot cards, consulting horoscopes, visiting fortune-tellers, reading occult books.

Ask God to cleanse and free you from any ill effect of your contact with the occult.

Father, forgive me for my involvement in the occult. I want nothing whatever to do with the realm of evil. Draw me out of the darkness and into the light of your presence. Free me from any lingering effects of my involvement and help me to trust you completely for my future.