The Witch Of Endor: Saul’s Descent Into Darkness - 1 Samuel 28:3-10 Series

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In our study through the book of 1 Samuel we come to ch.28. And if you want to know the main point of this chapter just look at vv.6,15,16.

6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

15 …"I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams.”

16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?

God turned away from Saul and became his enemy. That is the worst thing that can possibly happen to a human being.

Jump ahead in time (geography lesson) v.4

Last week’s sermon ended with a cliffhanger with David being recruited by the Philistines. That was ch.27 and the first 2 verses of ch.28. And the writer will get back to that, but not until ch.29. For now he leaves David there in Gath and jumps back over to Israel to Saul. And in doing so he jumps ahead in time to the night before the big war with the Philistines.

To understand what is happening here you have to understand the locations and geography of these chapters. When the writer finally gets back to David and that whole scene where the Philistines are gathering together and telling him he had to join them, we find that all happened at Aphek.

29:1 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

Aphek is in Philistine territory and Jezreel is in Israelite territory. This map shows you the Philistine approach in this war. The battle ultimately ends up taking place in the Jezreel valley. That is about 50 miles north of Saul’s headquarters in Gibeah. So if Saul’s palace was right here where we are at 104th & I-25, and Gath is at Blackhawk, then Jezreel is right at the Fort Collins exit on I-25. What about Aphek? Where’s that? It is just north of Nederland.

If you want to get a handle on what was Philistine territory and what was Israelite territory, just think of it this way: The Israelites’ territory is along the I-25 corridor and the Philistines’ territory is up in the foothills – from Morrison all the way up to Estes Park. So up in the mountains – that’s the Philistines, and the flat land from the foothills to I-25 (and east of I-25) – that is Israelite territory. That gives you an idea about distance. The only problem with that is the location of the mountains in Israel is reversed. It was Israel that lived in the hill country for the most part and the Philistine territory was the coastal plane.

OK, so the Philistines want to attack Israel. They are mustering all their forces together at Aphek – near Nederland. Meanwhile Saul’s army is camped up at the Fort Collins exit on I-25. And the reason he is so far north is because that is such a key location. That area was where the international trade route went through. Control that area and you control international trade. Not only that, but if the Philistines take that area, they effectively cut Israel right in half. They would cut Saul off from all the Israelites in the north. So that Jezreel valley is a very strategic area, and that is where Saul is setting up.

Now take a look at 28:4.

28:4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa.

Shunem and Gilboa are on the north and south sides of the Jezreel valley. They are about six miles apart. Gilboah is mountainous, and Shunem is just at the foot of the hills, and in between is a flat valley – you can see all the farmland in between.

So can you see what the writer is doing in ch.28? He has jumped ahead in time to the night before the battle, and he shows us that the Philistines have pushed deep into Israelite territory. Saul is in the same place he was, but the Philistines have moved all the way from Aphek to the Jezreel area. So at this point they are face to face. Both armies are squaring off up there at the Fort Collins exit of I-25.

Saul’s Crisis: Guidance Denied

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.