1 Samuel 28:3
Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
Now Samuel had died
The phrase marks a significant transition in Israel's history. Samuel, whose name in Hebrew (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shemu'el) means "heard of God," was a pivotal figure as the last judge and a prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel. His death signifies the end of an era of direct prophetic guidance for Israel. Samuel's role as a spiritual leader and mediator between God and Israel was unparalleled, and his passing left a void in spiritual leadership, contributing to the nation's instability.

and all Israel had mourned for him
The mourning of "all Israel" underscores Samuel's profound impact on the nation. Mourning in ancient Israel was a communal expression of grief, often involving rituals such as fasting, wearing sackcloth, and lamentation. This collective mourning indicates the deep respect and love the people had for Samuel, recognizing his role as a faithful servant of God who led them with integrity and wisdom.

and buried him in Ramah, his own city
Ramah, located in the territory of Benjamin, was Samuel's birthplace and home. The burial in "his own city" signifies a return to his roots and honors his life and legacy. In ancient Israel, burial in one's hometown was a mark of respect and a way to maintain familial and tribal connections. Ramah served as a center for Samuel's ministry, and his burial there symbolizes the lasting influence of his prophetic ministry in the heart of Israel.

And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land
This action by Saul reflects a partial obedience to God's commands found in the Torah, specifically in Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which prohibit engaging with mediums and spiritists. The Hebrew terms for "mediums" (אוֹבוֹת, 'ovot) and "spiritists" (יִדְּעֹנִים, yidde'onim) refer to those who claim to communicate with the dead or spirits. Saul's removal of these practitioners was an attempt to align with God's law, yet it also highlights the tension in Saul's reign, as he later seeks out a medium himself, revealing his spiritual decline and desperation. This act of removal, while commendable, is overshadowed by Saul's inconsistent faithfulness to God's commands, illustrating the tragic complexity of his kingship.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Samuel
A prophet and judge of Israel, Samuel was a pivotal figure in Israel's history, anointing both Saul and David as kings. His death marked the end of an era of direct prophetic guidance for Saul.

2. Saul
The first king of Israel, Saul's reign was marked by initial success but later characterized by disobedience to God and a decline into fear and desperation.

3. Ramah
The hometown of Samuel, where he was buried. It served as a center for his prophetic ministry.

4. Mediums and Spiritists
Individuals who claimed to communicate with the dead or the spiritual realm. Saul had previously expelled them from Israel in accordance with God's law.

5. Israel
The nation chosen by God, mourning the loss of Samuel, who had been a spiritual leader and guide.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly Leadership
Samuel's death left a leadership void that Saul struggled to fill. Godly leaders are crucial for guiding people in righteousness.

Obedience to God's Commands
Saul's initial obedience in removing mediums was commendable, but his later actions showed inconsistency. True obedience requires steadfastness.

The Danger of Desperation
Saul's fear and desperation led him to seek forbidden practices. In times of crisis, believers must turn to God, not ungodly solutions.

The Role of Mourning and Reflection
Israel's mourning for Samuel reflects the importance of honoring those who have spiritually led us and reflecting on their teachings.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Saul's life is a cautionary tale of how disobedience to God can lead to spiritual decline and poor decision-making.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the death of a spiritual leader like Samuel impact a community, and what can we learn from Israel's response?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our obedience to God's commands remains consistent, even in challenging times?

3. How can we guard against desperation leading us to seek ungodly solutions, and what scriptures can help us in such times?

4. Reflect on a time when you had to mourn a spiritual leader. How did their teachings continue to influence you after their passing?

5. Considering Saul's actions, what are the dangers of not fully trusting in God's guidance, and how can we apply this understanding to our own lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
This passage condemns the practice of divination and consulting with mediums, which Saul had initially obeyed by removing them from the land.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
Highlights Saul's disobedience to God, which led to his rejection as king. This context is crucial for understanding his later actions in seeking a medium.

Leviticus 19:31
Warns against turning to mediums and spiritists, emphasizing the need for holiness and reliance on God alone.
Darkening. Shadows of RetributionB. Dale 1 Samuel 28:1-6
Night Preceding BattleH. E. Stone.1 Samuel 28:1-25
People
Achish, Amalek, Amalekites, David, Israelites, Samuel, Saul
Places
Amalek, En-dor, Gath, Gilboa, Ramah, Shunem
Topics
Arts, Aside, Body, Buried, Bury, Control, Dead, Died, Divined, Expelled, Familiar, Ghost, Lamented, Mediums, Mourn, Mourned, Necromancers, Ramah, Removed, Resting-place, Samuel, Saul, Secret, Soothsayers, Spirit, Spiritists, Spirits, Town, Weeping, Wizards
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Samuel 28:3

     6112   banishment
     7775   prophets, lives

1 Samuel 28:3-9

     4906   abolition

1 Samuel 28:3-15

     4155   divination

1 Samuel 28:3-16

     4175   mediums

1 Samuel 28:3-20

     4190   spiritism

Library
So Then we must Confess that the Dead Indeed do not Know what Is...
18. So then we must confess that the dead indeed do not know what is doing here, but while it is in doing here: afterwards, however, they hear it from those who from hence go to them at their death; not indeed every thing, but what things those are allowed to make known who are suffered also to remember these things; and which it is meet for those to hear, whom they inform of the same. It may be also, that from the Angels, who are present in the things which are doing here, the dead do hear somewhat,
St. Augustine—On Care to Be Had for the Dead.

An Exhortation to Love God
1. An exhortation. Let me earnestly persuade all who bear the name of Christians to become lovers of God. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Psalm xxxi. 23). There are but few that love God: many give Him hypocritical kisses, but few love Him. It is not so easy to love God as most imagine. The affection of love is natural, but the grace is not. Men are by nature haters of God (Rom. i. 30). The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. They fear God,
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Covenant of Grace
Q-20: DID GOD LEAVE ALL MANKIND TO PERISH 1N THE ESTATE OF SIN AND MISERY? A: No! He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that state, and to bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer. 'I will make an everlasting covenant with you.' Isa 55:5. Man being by his fall plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover himself, God was pleased to enter into a new covenant with him, and to restore him to life by a Redeemer. The great proposition I shall go
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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