Commentary on 1 Samuel 28: When God’s Silence Meets Human Desperation
1 Samuel 28 · King James Version
Quick Answer: This commentary on 1 samuel 28 shows Saul’s crisis: he refuses God’s guidance, seeks help through forbidden spiritualism, and hears a terrifying message of judgment. Yet even in darkness, God’s word is clear—obedience matters, and despair cannot replace prayer. Learn how to respond when you feel God is silent: turn back, not sideways.
1 Samuel 28 (King James Version)
“And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold,
there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me
him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying,
As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou
art
Saul.
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
And he said unto her, What form
is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he
is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it
was Samuel, and he stooped with
his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour,
even
to David:
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow
shalt thou and thy sons
be
with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded
it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
And she brought
it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.”
1 Samuel 28 historical background: spiritual practices in Israel and the Philistine threat
In 1 Samuel 28, Israel faces an intensified conflict with the Philistines, a recurring power on Israel’s coastal plain. The narrative places Saul on Mount Gilboa while the Philistines gather near Shunem, highlighting how national pressure exposes spiritual weakness. Saul’s reign has already been marked by disobedience, and the text underscores that he is no longer receiving answers from the LORD “by dreams,” “by Urim,” or “by prophets.”
Culturally, ancient Israel lived among surrounding nations that practiced various forms of spirit consultation and divination. Israel’s law repeatedly warns against such practices, not only because they are deceptive, but because they compete with covenant faithfulness—trusting hidden powers instead of the living God. By the time of Endor, Saul has already removed “familiar spirits” and “wizards” from the land, yet now he seeks one in secret, showing a pattern: when public obedience fails, private compromise follows.
This chapter therefore functions as a turning point. It reveals that religious activity without reverence—trying to force answers through forbidden channels—cannot restore a broken relationship with God. The Philistines threaten the nation, but the deeper battle is Saul’s spiritual condition.
Original-language nuance in the warning signs of 1 Samuel 28
1 Samuel is originally written in Hebrew. In this chapter, the key emphasis is not on a single obscure term but on repeated contrasts in how God speaks versus how Saul searches for answers. The Hebrew phrasing surrounding God’s lack of response stresses that Saul’s standard religious avenues are closed: dreams, Urim, and prophetic guidance are not forthcoming. The language carries the feel of deliberate refusal rather than mere silence.
The chapter also uses terms associated with “familiar spirits” and “divination,” practices Israel is told not to pursue. Rather than presenting them as neutral “information sources,” the text frames them as spiritual contamination—seeking guidance from outside God’s covenant order. The result is a stark moral and spiritual lesson: when obedience is rejected, even religious tactics become instruments of deeper distress.
The crisis: fear and the end of ordinary guidance (lesson from 1 Samuel 28)
The chapter begins with a national emergency: the Philistines gather their armies to fight Israel. Instead of turning to the LORD in calm trust, Saul experiences fear so intense that his “heart greatly trembled.” This emotional collapse matters, because it explains Saul’s next move—he attempts to secure control over outcomes rather than surrender to God’s will.
The narrative then states that Saul “enquired of the LORD,” yet the LORD answered him not—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. In other words, Saul’s usual God-ward channels are unavailable. The point is not that seeking is wrong; Saul is seeking. The tragedy is that he is seeking after a long history of refusing God’s voice. When the covenant relationship has been undermined, God’s silence becomes both judgment and warning.
Saul’s response reveals where his trust is. He instructs his servants to find a woman with a familiar spirit at Endor. This is not simply desperation; it is a direct reversal of the spiritual boundaries he previously enforced. He had removed those practices from the land, but now he disguises himself and asks for forbidden consultation at night. The chapter portrays the heart’s logic: if God will not provide an answer through approved means, Saul will try any means that offers the appearance of an answer.
From a devotional standpoint, the chapter challenges readers to interpret silence wisely. Not every unanswered prayer means God is absent; sometimes it means God is calling for repentance, humility, and a return to obedience.
Saul at Endor: forbidden searching and the cost of spiritual deception (Saul consults a medium at Endor)
Saul disguises himself, travels with two men, and approaches the woman at night. This secrecy underlines the moral conflict: he knows he should not be doing this. His request is specific—he asks the woman to “divine” and “bring up” the person he names. In doing so, Saul treats the spiritual realm like a tool he can summon on demand.
The woman confronts him with a piercing question: she knows Saul has cut off familiar spirits and wizards. Why, then, is he laying “a snare” for her life? Her words indicate the fear and instability created when leaders practice justice in public but seek forbidden methods in private. Saul swears an oath by the LORD to relieve her—yet the oath cannot erase the underlying rebellion.
When Samuel appears, the woman cries out loudly and then interprets the moment: Saul has deceived her because “thou art Saul.” This reaction is emotionally powerful. Saul’s disguised identity fails; God’s truth penetrates hidden motives. Saul bows with his face to the ground, showing that despite his rebellion, he recognizes the figure and its authority.
Samuel’s words strike at the core issue. He does not primarily focus on Saul’s fear of the Philistines. He challenges Saul’s spiritual posture: why ask of Samuel when the LORD has become Saul’s enemy? The message explains that God has already judged Saul’s disobedience, including the failure to execute God’s fierce wrath concerning Amalek. Moreover, God’s plan includes the deliverance of Israel into Philistine hands and the coming death of Saul and his sons.
Thus, the spiritual deception does not end with an “answer.” It exposes Saul’s condition, confirming that forbidden searching cannot substitute for covenant faithfulness. The cost is not only fear; it is confirmation of divine judgment.
God’s message through Samuel: judgment, clarity, and the final turning of Saul’s heart
Samuel’s confrontation functions like a theological summary of Saul’s life. The chapter has already told us God is not answering. Now Samuel gives the reason: Saul disobeyed, and the LORD has “rent the kingdom” from his hand and given it to David.
This is crucial: the warning is not random. It is connected to earlier acts of rebellion, especially Saul’s failure to obey God regarding Amalek. The narrative links past choices to present consequences, teaching that God’s discipline is not arbitrary but consistent with the moral direction a person repeatedly chooses.
Samuel also reveals that Saul’s current circumstances are not merely bad luck. God’s judgment will play out in history: Israel will be delivered into the Philistines’ hand, and Saul and his sons will be with Samuel the next day. Whether one approaches the mechanics of that moment with debate, the devotional meaning remains clear: God’s word is authoritative, and spiritual shortcuts cannot alter what God has declared.
Then the chapter turns unexpectedly practical. Saul lies terrified on the ground, having eaten no bread. The woman, now compassionate and still obedient to the immediate moment, offers bread so Saul can regain strength. Saul refuses at first, but his servants and the woman press him until he eats unleavened bread. This detail is not merely background hospitality; it shows that even in a moment of judgment, God’s providence still supplies necessities.
Finally, Saul’s story does not end in this chapter, but it reaches a point of closure regarding his ability to seek God. He receives a clear message and then departs the scene. The devotional takeaway is sobering: we may still receive temporary physical mercy while experiencing spiritual consequences.
How to Apply This Today: respond to God’s silence with repentance, not substitutes
When you feel God is silent, resist the temptation to replace prayer with shortcuts. Saul sought guidance through forbidden means because he wanted answers on his timetable. In contrast, Scripture calls believers to return to God’s ways when guidance is delayed—examining obedience, confessing known sin, and seeking counsel that aligns with God’s Word.
Begin with three practical steps. First, slow down and name the real issue: is your fear driving you to control outcomes? Saul’s trembling heart pushed him into deception. Second, check your “approved channels”: are you reading Scripture, praying honestly, and listening for God through wise counsel and obedient action? If a door seems closed, treat that as a prompt to seek God more deeply rather than to seek alternatives.
Third, practice repentance before you practice planning. Saul disguised himself and acted first; repentance came too late. You can do better: ask, “What disobedience am I ignoring?” Then follow it with concrete obedience—repair relationships, make restitution, and choose integrity even when you feel anxious.
If you are tempted to chase spiritual experiences for comfort, remember the chapter’s warning: seeking outside God’s covenant order may produce fear, confusion, and spiritual harm. God’s silence can be an invitation to wholehearted return.
Related Bible Passages
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
These verses warn Israel against divination and consulting familiar spirits, helping explain why Saul’s action at Endor is spiritually catastrophic.
1 Samuel 15:22-23
Saul’s earlier failure shows the same pattern—refusing God’s voice—so this chapter’s judgment is not sudden but the result of prior rebellion.
Psalm 66:18
The principle that God does not hear when sin is cherished relates to Saul’s experience of unanswered inquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a commentary on 1 Samuel 28 teach about God’s silence?
It teaches that silence is sometimes not absence but warning. Saul had already rejected God’s commands; when he “enquired” again, the LORD did not answer through dreams, Urim, or prophets. The chapter shows that silence can prompt repentance, but Saul responded with forbidden searching instead.
Why was Saul’s consultation at Endor so serious?
Because it violated God’s covenant boundaries. The episode at Endor reveals a leader who removed spiritual practices publicly yet sought them privately. The story warns that turning to forbidden spiritual channels cannot restore fellowship with God or reverse divine judgment.
What does Samuel’s message mean in 1 Samuel 28?
Samuel clarifies that Saul’s condition has spiritual consequences rooted in earlier disobedience. The message connects Saul’s rejected obedience to the loss of the kingdom and the coming defeat. It also stresses that the LORD had become Saul’s enemy due to persistent refusal.
How can believers respond when spiritual darkness and God’s silence feel overwhelming?
Return to obedience. Saul’s tragedy was substituting shortcuts for repentance and prayer. Seek Scripture, confess known sin, and ask for godly counsel. When answers seem delayed, treat it as a call to realignment—not to spiritual compromise.
A Short Prayer
Lord God, when You seem silent, teach us not to panic or seek substitutes. Give us a repentant heart, courage to obey, and faith to wait on Your timing. Deliver us from secret compromises and help us trust You through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel. Turn fear into surrender and bring us back when we wander. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Key Takeaway: God’s silence calls for repentance and faithful seeking, while forbidden shortcuts only deepen fear and confirm judgment.
