The witch of Endor

Dabbling with the occult occurred in Bible times, just as today. Israel’s law prohibited such activity, and 1 Samuel 28:3 relates that Saul, Israel’s first king, had expelled the mediums and occultists from the land.

Ironically, before a fateful battle with the Philistines, Saul consulted a medium (called “witch” in older translations) in the village of Endor.

Saul assured her she would not be punished, and at his request she called up the spirit of his dead mentor, Samuel. His spirit, not pleased, asked Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

Poor Saul explained that he wanted Samuel’s advice, since God appeared to have abandoned him.

Samuel stated that Saul’s kingdom would be handed over to David, and “tomorrow you and your sons will be with me”—that is, dead. As Samuel predicted, Saul and his sons died the following day.

Did anyone ever wonder where a “witchy” TV character got her name of “Endora”?

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Praise Resounds Throughout Creation

Timothy Keller

The Praise Of Creation. Praise comes to God from all he has made. It begins in the highest heaven (verses 1–4). It comes from the sun and moon and stars (verse 3), from the clouds and rain (verse 4).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

True Worship that Pleases the Lord

Timothy Keller

A little boy left his toys out and went in to practice the piano, using hymns for his lesson. When his mother called him to pick up his toys, he said, “I ca n’t eat; “I’m singing praise to Jesus.” His mother responded: “There's no use singing God's praises when you're being disobedient.”

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

From Heavenly Greatness to Inexhaustible Love

Timothy Keller

The number of stars is still uncountable by human science, yet God knows them by name (verse 4; cf. Isaiah 40:26). Job speaks of the creation, when “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Gift of Himself

David Jeremiah

Long ago, there ruled a wise and good king in Persia who loved his people and often dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar so he could visit the poor and learn about their hardships.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Healing Time

J. Stephen Lang

1868: On this date a political leader who grew up poor, had no formal education and was illiterate until his wife taught him to read and write, issued Proclamation 179 “granting full pardon and amnesty for the offense of treason against the United States during the late Civil War.”