1 Samuel 28:20 - Meaning and Application

Here we see how Saul received this terrible message from the spirit he had consulted. He had asked to be told what he should do (1 Samuel 28:15), but instead he was only told what he had not done, and what would be done to him. Anyone who looks for guidance or comfort anywhere except from God, and outside the way God has appointed, will be just as badly disappointed as Saul was here.

Notice first how he broke under the weight of it. He was not fit to bear such news, since he had eaten nothing all day and through the night. He had come fasting from the camp, and he stayed that way, not because food was unavailable, but because he had no appetite. Fear of the Philistines (1 Samuel 28:5) had taken away his hunger, or perhaps the inner struggle of his conscience, after he had even considered consulting the witch, made him unable to stomach food, however good it was. So this fresh terror came on him like a man fully armed, and he fell flat on the ground, as if the Philistine archers had already struck him. He had no strength left to face these heavy words. Now he had had enough of witches, and found them to be miserable comforters. When God speaks words of terror to sinners in his Word, he also opens a door of hope if they repent. But those who go to the gates of hell for help must expect darkness, with no light at all.

Next, we see how hard it was to persuade him to take even the small amount of food he needed to get back to the camp. The witch seems to have left Saul alone with the spirit so he could speak with it privately. But when she heard him fall and groan, and saw how much pain he was in, she came to him (1 Samuel 28:21). She urged him strongly to eat something, so that he could get safely out of her house. She was afraid that if he became ill, or especially if he died there, she would be punished as though she had betrayed him, even though she had escaped punishment as a witch. That probably mattered to her more than kindness did. What a miserable place he had brought himself to, when he needed help from such a person.

She was very earnest in pressing him to eat. She reminded him (1 Samuel 28:21) that she had obeyed his voice at the risk of her own life, and asked why he should not listen to her voice for the sake of saving his life (1 Samuel 28:22). She had a fat calf ready, likely one used for threshing grain and therefore harder to spare. She prepared it for him (1 Samuel 28:24). Josephus praised this woman’s unusual kindness and generosity, and held her up as an example of compassion toward the distressed and of willingness to share even without hope of reward.

Saul, however, was very unwilling to eat. He refused and said, “I will not eat” (1 Samuel 28:23), choosing, as it were, to die in private by hunger rather than openly by the sword. If he had only lacked strength, food might have helped him. But his trouble went deeper than that. What good are rich foods to a troubled conscience? As vinegar on soda, so is the person who sings songs to a heavy heart, completely out of place and unwelcome.

At last, the woman, with the help of Saul’s servants, persuaded him against his own wishes and resolve to take some food. They did not force him, but gave him friendly advice, and in that sense they “compelled” him (1 Samuel 28:23). That is the kind of reasonable and kind urging meant in the words, “Compel them to come in” (Luke 14:23). Right words have great force when they press a person toward what is truly for his own good (Job 6:25).

Saul was somewhat strengthened by the meal, and then he and his servants rose up and left before daylight (1 Samuel 28:25). They did this both to hurry back to their duty and so they would not be seen leaving such a shameful house. Josephus greatly admired Saul’s courage and strong spirit here, since, though he was told that he would lose both life and honor, he still would not abandon his army, but returned firmly to camp and prepared for battle. I am more struck by the hardness of his heart, because he did not turn back to God in repentance and prayer, hoping at least for a delay in judgment. Instead, he rushed headlong toward his own ruin.

Perhaps now, when anger and envy had taken full control, he had grown somewhat resigned to his fate, because he was told that his sons, including Jonathan, would die with him. Jonathan was the son Saul had grown to dislike because of Jonathan’s love for David. If Saul himself had to fall, he did not care what destruction came on his family and kingdom along with him, as long as it turned out worse for the man who would succeed him. “I do not care if, when I am dead, the world is set on fire.” He did not pray as David did, “Let your hand be against me, but not against your people.”