Necromancy is the practice of communicating with the dead, usually in order to gain insight into the future or to complete an otherwise impossible task. Such activity was prevalent among the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans in ancient times; in medieval Europe, it became associated with black (i.e., harmful or antisocial) magic and was condemned by the church (source Britannica). Prior to the church’s condemnation of this practice, God had already warned the people of Israel against this: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Saul had disobeyed the Lord in offering sacrifices and sparing king Agag in their battle with the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15). Prophet Samuel told Saul that “rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (1 Samuel 15:23). Saul had zeal but his disobedience caused him the throne. Therefore, when Samuel died, Saul had no way to hear the voice of God. Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets (1 Samuel 28:6). In his zeal for the Lord, king Saul had driven out all the witches, wizards and the practitioners of familial spirits (1 Samuel 28:3b). However, when Saul couldn’t hear from God, his best option was to go back to the same people who are detestable to the Lord. Saul said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said (1 Samuel 28:7). The witch slayer was going to get help from a witch. Such an irony! When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” (1 Samuel 28:12) The witch of Endor had escaped from Saul’s persecution. The fact that the attendants knew her effortlessly meant she was a well patronized witch. Her line of business was to communicate with the dead. Obviously, this practice is occultic and demonic because familial spirits are engaged. Even if the message from the dead carries some form of truth, it is not God’s word. The witch of Endor did not want to assist Saul because she didn’t want to be arrested by Saul. The necromancer did not even know outright that she was communicating with king Saul until she saw the ghostly figure she called from the earth. Saul’s visit confirmed his own fears. He and his sons and the army of Israel will be defeated in their battle with the Philistines. The very scared and weak Saul had to be fed by the witch to gain strength. Certainly, Saul and his army were defeated in the battle. Saul and his sons who were on the battlefield were all killed. However, this does not justify Saul’s visit to the witch. Similarly, it does not promote the act of necromancy. If God is against something, no matter how much we garnish it, it still does not please the Lord. Sin is sin irrespective of how the world perceives it. The witch of Endor escaped from Saul’s persecution but she ended up delivering the message of Saul’s death through necromancy. Like Saul, some Christians show public disdain for evil, but when they are hard pressed, they run to their own witches of Endor. They secretly consult with practices that are abhorred by God. You cannot serve God and the devil at the same time. It is impossible. Remember that God is God irrespective of the times and seasons. Be ready to pray until something happens to change your situation. Whenever we face hard times and seasons, whenever we struggle to hear the voice of God in a particular situation, we don’t go to the devil to know the mind of God. Our heavenly Father does not speak to us through the devil. If you want to hear from God, go to God in prayer. Spend time with Him and be ready to wait until He speaks. If you run to the witch in Endor, you will return with your death sentence. The devil doesn’t give free gifts!
top of page
bottom of page
Comentarios