These questions are designed to help you read and study the Bible passage preached next week. Our prayer is that these questions will assist you in growing deeper in God’s Word as you examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

1 Samuel 28:3-25

Read 1 Samuel 28:3–4.

1. Who was dead?

2. Who was attacking Israel?

3. What had Saul done with the mediums and the necromancers? Was this right or wrong?

4. Read Deuteronomy 18:10–12 (cf. Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:27, and Isaiah 8:19). Is it wrong for Christians to dabble in “spiritualism” today?

Read 1 Samuel 28:5–7.

5. How does Saul respond to the Philistine attack?

6. Saul tries in vain to inquire of the Lord but hears nothing (see v. 6). How do we tend to respond when God doesn’t answer our prayers?

7. How does Saul respond?

8. Have you ever turned to something that is clearly unbiblical out of desperation?

Read 1 Samuel 28:8–19.

9. Why does Saul go at night (v. 8), and what does he ask this medium?

10. Why is the medium initially nervous (v. 9)?

11. How does Saul sin against the Lord in his answer (v. 10)?

12. How does this woman respond when the spirit appears (v. 12)?

13. Commentators have mixed opinions on this passage. Almost universally, pre-modern writers viewed this as a demonic apparition (i.e., not truly Samuel). On the other hand, most modern writers view this as the deceased Samuel speaking. What do you think?

14. What does the spirit say to Saul (vv. 15–19)? Are his words true or false?

Read 1 Samuel 28:20–25.

15. What is the impact of the spirit’s words (v. 20)?

16. How does Saul’s reaction illustrate 2 Corinthians 7:10? How do we avoid worldly grief leading to death?

17. How does this passage point us to Christ and our need for his grace?