And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.” So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a seance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.” Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”  And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.” So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down. (1Sa 28:6-14 NKJ)

The Lord wasn’t speaking to Saul because of his continued disobedience, so Saul decides to call upon the services of a medium.  Forbidden by the Mosaic law and removed earlier from the land by Saul, he asks his servants to find him one.  He disguises himself and comes to the medium at En Dor.  She asks him whom he needs to speak to, and he tells her to call up Samuel.

She sees a spirit coming from the ground and Saul perceives it to be Samuel, only it wasn’t. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells the parable of Lazarus. “Then he cried and said, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. `And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ (Luk 16:24-26 NKJ) Nobody crosses over! However, if you are desperate, the devil is always ready and willing to oblige.  The spirit gave Saul a false prophetic word that drained the life, the hope, and faith from Saul, so much so that the next day it was fear that took Saul’s life not the Philistines.

Need a word from the Lord?  Then wait on the Lord till he answers.  Don’t give the devil the opportunity to steal, kill and destroy by sowing seeds of doubt, fear and falsehood into your life.