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Patriarchs and Prophets
king had by his own act forfeited the benefits of all the methods of
inquiring of God. He had rejected the counsel of Samuel the prophet;
he had exiled David, the chosen of God; he had slain the priests of the
Lord. Could he expect to be answered by God when he had cut off the
channels of communication that Heaven had ordained? He had sinned
away the Spirit of grace, and could he be answered by dreams and
revelations from the Lord? Saul did not turn to God with humility and
repentance. It was not pardon for sin and reconciliation with God, that
he sought, but deliverance from his foes. By his own stubbornness and
rebellion he had cut himself off from God. There could be no return
but by the way of penitence and contrition; but the proud monarch, in
his anguish and despair, determined to seek help from another source.
“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a
familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.” Saul had a
full knowledge of the character of necromancy. It had been expressly
forbidden by the Lord, and the sentence of death was pronounced
against all who practiced its unholy arts. During the life of Samuel,
Saul had commanded that all wizards and those that had familiar spirits
should be put to death; but now, in the rashness of desperation, he had
recourse to that oracle which he had condemned as an abomination.
It was told the king that a woman who had a familiar spirit was
living in concealment at Endor. This woman had entered into covenant
with Satan to yield herself to his control, to fulfill his purposes; and in
return, the prince of evil wrought wonders for her and revealed secret
things to her.
Disguising himself, Saul went forth by night with but two atten-
dants, to seek the retreat of the sorceress. Oh, pitiable sight! the king
of Israel led captive by Satan at his will! What path so dark for human
feet to tread as that chosen by one who has persisted in having his own
way, resisting the holy influences of the Spirit of God! What bondage
so terrible as that of him who is given over to the control of the worst
of tyrants—himself! Trust in God and obedience to His will were the
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only conditions upon which Saul could be king of Israel. Had he com-
plied with these conditions throughout his reign, his kingdom would
have been secure; God would have been his guide, the Omnipotent his
shield. God had borne long with Saul; and although his rebellion and
obstinacy had well-nigh silenced the divine voice in the soul, there
was still opportunity for repentance. But when in his peril he turned