Facing a powerful enemy Saul inquired of the Lord, but God failed to answer. So he turned to a spiritual medium, one who channeled the dead, despite multiple warnings from Scripture:

I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people (Leviticus 20:6).

Saul defied the teachings of God in an attempt to hear directly from God.

During his reign, Saul disobeyed God again and again. He ignored the warnings of Samuel the prophet, and he tried to kill David. He allowed the murder of innocent priests. Now he turned to a spiritist.

Saul remained stuck in adolescence his entire life. Self-centered and headstrong, he refused to listen to wise people in his life. Saul threw fits when he didn’t get his way and let his anger run. He wanted what he wanted when he wanted it, and let no one tell him any different.

Samuel’s spirit predicted disaster. The next day Saul, his sons, and large numbers of his army died in battle. A stunted figure led good men to their deaths.

We all move through our adolescent stages. Societies pour tons of resources into helping adolescents grow to maturity, and the same need exists for a life of faith. We cannot ignore the teachings of Scriptures and expect God to respond—that’s adolescent behavior.

Keep growing, it’s the only way forward.

1 Samuel 28 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen