Lesson 13

Other Bible verses used to support the immortal soul doctrine come by way of a seance. To get a full understanding of the story encapsulated in 1 Samuel 28:3-25, it will help to know what kind of a king Saul was and how he became the king of Israel. Starting in 1 Samuel 8 we find the stories beginning. Saul became king because the two sons of Samuel, Joel and Abijah, were more interested in making money than providing Godly leadership to Israel. The leaders came to Samuel and demanded to have a King. Samuel didn’t want to, but God knew he was being rejected and accepted their choice.

1 Samuel 8:5 New Catholic Bible
5 They said to him, “You are now old, and your sons are not following in your path. Appoint a king over us, just like all the other nations have.”

 1 Samuel 8:6-9 The Message
6 When Samuel heard their demand—“Give us a king to rule us!”—he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God. 7-9 God answered Samuel, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected me as their King. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they’ve been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they’re doing it to you. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they’re in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they’re likely to get from a king.”

God gave the people a King like the nations around them, one they would find pleasing and one they could look up to. When they saw Saul they proclaimed him as King.

1 Samuel 9:2 Easy-to-Read Version
2 Kish had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no one more handsome than Saul. He stood a head taller than any other man in Israel.

1 Samuel 10:24 Christian Standard Bible
24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

At the first sign of trouble God was with Saul to help him lead Israel. Was God willing to work with a King? Will God force people to work with and accept him? Will God give everyone the freedom to choose the salvation of Jesus?

1 Samuel 11:6 Jubilee Bible 2000
6 And the Spirit of God prospered Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.