Story of king saul visiting the witch of endor – एंडोर की चुड़ैल से मिलने जाने वाले राजा शाऊल की कहानी

The story of King Saul visiting the Witch of Endor is one of the more unusual and tragic events in the Bible. It is found in 1 Samuel 28 and highlights Saul’s desperation, his estrangement from God, and his eventual downfall.

King Saul had once been chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. However, over time, Saul disobeyed God’s commands and gradually fell out of favor with the Lord. By the time this story takes place, God had already rejected Saul as king due to his disobedience, and the prophet Samuel, who had been Saul’s spiritual guide, had died. David had also been anointed as Saul’s successor, though he was not yet king.

The Philistines, long-time enemies of Israel, were gathering their forces to fight against Saul and his army. Fearful of the impending battle, Saul sought guidance from the Lord, but God did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim (a priestly tool for divination), nor by prophets. In his desperation, Saul decided to seek help from a forbidden source: a medium or witch who could supposedly communicate with the dead.

Saul had previously expelled all mediums and spiritists from the land, in accordance with God’s law, which forbade such practices (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). However, in his desperation, Saul asked his servants to find a woman who was a medium so that he could consult her. His servants informed him of a woman in Endor who could perform such services.

Disguising himself so that he would not be recognized, Saul traveled by night to Endor with two of his men. When he arrived, he asked the woman to conjure up the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. At first, the woman was hesitant, fearing that Saul was trying to trap her into breaking the law. But Saul assured her that no harm would come to her.

The woman then began her ritual, and to her surprise, she actually saw the spirit of Samuel. The Bible describes this moment with an element of mystery. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in fear and realized that her visitor was none other than King Saul. Saul reassured her and asked her to describe what she saw.

The woman described an old man, wrapped in a robe, ascending from the ground. Saul recognized this as Samuel and bowed down in reverence. Then, Samuel’s spirit spoke to Saul, asking, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” (1 Samuel 28:15).

Saul explained that he was in great distress because of the Philistines, and since God had stopped answering him, he needed Samuel’s guidance. Samuel’s response, however, was not comforting. He reminded Saul that the Lord had turned away from him because of his disobedience. Samuel prophesied that the Lord had already given the kingdom to David, and worse yet, he foretold that Saul and his sons would die in the upcoming battle, and Israel would fall into the hands of the Philistines.

Upon hearing this, Saul was filled with terror and despair. He fell to the ground, weakened and overwhelmed by the news. The woman, seeing Saul’s distress, offered him food to give him strength, and after some persuasion, he accepted her hospitality before leaving.

The prophecy given by Samuel’s spirit came true. The next day, the Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle, and Saul’s sons, including Jonathan, were killed. Saul himself was critically wounded, and rather than be captured by the enemy, he fell on his own sword and died. With his death, Saul’s tragic reign came to an end, and David eventually became king of Israel.

Saul’s decision to consult a medium demonstrates his desperation and the depths to which he had fallen. His actions were in direct violation of God’s commandments, showing how far he had strayed from the Lord.

The story underscores the idea of divine judgment. Saul had been given multiple chances to repent and follow God’s ways, but he consistently chose disobedience, leading to his ultimate downfall.

Saul’s inability to hear from God through traditional means (dreams, prophets, etc.) reflects the consequence of his disobedience. When he finally sought guidance, he turned to the wrong source, further compounding his problems.

The story serves as a warning against engaging in occult practices. Throughout the Bible, God forbids His people from turning to mediums, witchcraft, or any form of sorcery, emphasizing that such practices are contrary to faith in Him.

Saul’s story is ultimately one of tragedy. He started with great promise as Israel’s first king, but his repeated failures to obey God and his reliance on his own judgment led to his ruin.

The story of Saul and the Witch of Endor serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience to God and the dangers of turning away from His guidance in times of distress.

 

Story of king saul visiting the witch of endor – एंडोर की चुड़ैल से मिलने जाने वाले राजा शाऊल की कहानी