1 Samuel 28:10
And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
1 Samuel 28:10 (KJV)
Context
King Saul faces a dire crisis as the Philistines gather for war. Terrified, he seeks guidance from the Lord, but God does not answer him—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. In desperation, Saul turns to a medium at Endor, a practice expressly forbidden by God. He disguises himself and visits her by night, asking her to conjure up a spirit. The woman fears for her life, reminding Saul that he himself had expelled mediums and spiritists from the land. In response, Saul swears an oath by the Lord: “As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.“
Meaning
Saul’s oath is striking because he invokes the name of the Lord while engaging in a wicked and forbidden act. The Targum renders “by the Lord” as “by the Word of the Lord,” highlighting the solemnity of the oath. Saul’s use of the divine name in such a context is a profound irony: he acknowledges the Lord’s existence and power, yet he is about to participate in occult practices that God has condemned. His oath also reveals his desperation and spiritual decline—he has been rejected as king, the Spirit of the Lord has departed from him, and he no longer has access to divine guidance. Saul’s actions demonstrate how fear and disobedience can lead a person to compromise even the most sacred commitments.
The verse also shows Saul’s willingness to promise protection to the medium, a woman who was practicing something he had previously outlawed. His oath is a means to reassure her, but it is built on a foundation of sin. This highlights the danger of using God’s name to legitimize actions that contradict His will. Saul’s oath does not change the moral character of the act; it only adds the sin of hypocrisy to his disobedience.
Biblical connections
The episode underscores the consistent biblical prohibition against consulting mediums, necromancers, or practicing divination (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Saul’s disregard for God’s authority stands in sharp contrast to the Third Commandment, which warns against taking the Lord’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Invoking God’s name to justify a forbidden act is not sanctioned by Scripture.
Application
For the Christian reader, this passage serves as a warning against seeking guidance through forbidden means and against making oaths that are not rooted in obedience to God. When we are desperate, we must not abandon God’s ways for worldly or occult alternatives. Instead, we are called to trust in God’s sovereignty and to seek Him through the means He has appointed.
Reflection
Saul’s example is a cautionary tale of the consequences of allowing fear and disobedience to drive one’s actions. It reminds readers of the importance of seeking the Lord wholeheartedly and of respecting the clear biblical commands against occult practices.
