Supernatural Politics—The Session at Endor

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March 20, 2019 SENATORS’ BIBLE STUDY • NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

WEEK 10 The 2019 Nebraska Senate Series: “Rulers After God’s Own Heart—The Life of David”

INSIDE

MT. GILBOA AND ENDOR Saul’s Final Battles ...... 2

RAISED FROM THE DEAD Samuel Before Saul ...... 3

NANCY, NANCY! Spiritual Powers and Federal Figures ...... 4

A SAULIDE SÉANCE Saul’s Darkest Hour ...... 5

VERSE OF THE WEEK Isaiah 8:19 ...... 6 —"The Shade of Samuel Invoked by Saul,” by Dmitry Martynov (1826-1889)

ABOUT éances are creepy. As a wide-eyed teen, I sat in a dark circle on the cold floor Capitol Ministries® ...... 6 in my neighbor’s shed around a Ouija board. I jumped out of my skin when the wooden heart shape started moving by some power to spell out names. S I never went back, knowing it was wrong, but I was intrigued by the paranormal. Problems at home and no real answers from my bland, weekly, ritualistic religion caused me to wonder if there wasn’t something more. Only the moral fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” It is normal to think about higher powers in life. Political leaders also face problems bigger than themselves, seeking answers.

The telephone rang down in the Führerbunker. It was for Hitler. Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda for the Third Reich, was on the line. He was ecstatic. The reason? The news: Franklin D. Roosevelt was dead. It was April 1945. Germany was caving in. The Allies were pressing from the West, the Russians from the East; soon Berlin itself would crumble. But none of that mattered to Goebbels, for, as he told Hitler: “It is written in the stars. The last half of April will be the turning point for us.” He was referring to two previous astrological predictions that had forecast the hardest blows for Germany during the first months of 1945, especially in the first part of April, but an overwhelming victory in the second half of the month. Unfortunately for Goebbels’s horoscopes, Hitler committed suicide on April 30. Goebbels was not so unusual. Facing ruin, men will sometimes turn in their desperation to any resource that, they think, will give some hope, some direction. So it was with Saul.a

Late in his reign, King Saul needed wartime answers from super powers and went to, what I call, “the session at Endor.” The word séance is French for “a sitting” or “a session.” Before Whom or what will you sit when you need big answers?

Rev. Perry M. Gauthier, V.D.M.

Weekly Bible Study During the 106th Legislature’s First Session th SENATORS: 6:45-8:00 a.m., Wednesdays, 13 Floor Sen. McDonnell Hot Breakfast Served STAFF: Noon, Wednesdays, Room 1022 Sen. Halloran Catered Lunch & B.Y.O.BrownBag

Supernatural Politics—The Session at Endor

MT. GILBOA AND ENDOR 1. THE PROBLEMS OF for guidance—a woman “in Endor,”

six miles away (two miles northeast POLITICAL PRESSURE 1 Samuel 28:3-5 of the Philistine camp). He had to Now Samuel had died, and all steal his way past the Philistine Israel had lamented him and camp to get there. From the peak of buried him in Ramah, his own Mount Gilboa where Saul was, the city. Saul had removed from the mountainside descends about 650 land those who were mediums feet down into a valley and then 4 and spiritists. So the Philistines back up the other side to Endor—a gathered together and came and difficult trek of many hours. We camped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together and realize Saul’s desperation in that he they camped in Gilboa. 5When had to make his climb quietly past Saul saw the camp of the the enemy’s camp to get her. Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. SAUL’S FINAL BATTLEFIELD Ü The king willingly defied God’s Law, climbed mountains, crossed We are reminded of Samuel’s death valleys, braving close encounters Saul’s position on Mount Gilboa places him as he was Saul’s connection to the with his enemy just to satisfy his strategically on a type of observation deck so he Lord’s way. Like a good king should, lust for rebellion. Total depravity.b can observe the outcome. The narrator prepares following Moses’ Law, he banned us further for what follows by exposing Saul’s Civically, King Saul was right and magicians and spiritists from Israel. inner life. At the sight of the Philistine army, righteous to ban magic from Israel. “terror filled his heart” (1 Samuel 28:5). There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or MAGIC AND PROPHECY ARE LIKE his daughter pass through the OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SAME The battle lines had been drawn. Shunem was the fire, one who uses divination, one COIN—MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. most northerly Philistine city. The fact that the who practices witchcraft, or one Philistines had penetrated thus far gives an You too can call it. It’s heads or tails! who interprets omens, or a indication of their dominance over Saul’s sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, [The king had to] choose between kingdom, and of their intention to press further or a medium, or a spiritist, or one them. The use of magic will bring east to the Jordan. Hence Saul’s choice of Mount who calls up the dead. (Dt. 18:10f) prophetic condemnation, while Gilboa, a vantage-point from which to observe the reliance on the prophetic word will movements of the enemy on the western slopes As envious Saul had been hunting result in the expulsion of magic of the Hill of Moreh across the valley. “the single flea,” David, for years; he from the land….[In our day, we was neglecting a chief civil duty— must know] wherever Christianity The powerful Philistines were the enemy that Saul protecting the borders from enemy has been slow or unprepared to should have worried about instead of chasing the invasion. Now, perched atop high meet the need, the New Age movement has rushed in to fill the “dead dog” David through the hills and forests of ground—lookout Mount Gilboa—he gap with beliefs in channeling, Judea. The Philistines now threatened to split saw his perennial enemy’s massive crystals, horoscopes, paranormal Israel and isolate Saul from the rest of his strike force only 4 miles away. He c psychology, and reincarnation. countrymen. Saul experienced the kind of fear panicked. Like the foxhole atheist that gnaws physically and incapacitates a person often does, he tried to seek the God SAUL FLIPPED. TAILS. IT for action. he had so badly neglected for years. WAS NIGHT; HE HEADED NORTH TO A NECROMANCER. CREEPY.

2. SEEKING SOME SORT OF Ü SETTING OUT: A SÉANCE

HIGHER POWER 1 Samuel 28:8-11 1 Samuel 28:6-7 Then Saul disguised himself by

When Saul inquired of the LORD, putting on other clothes, and the LORD did not answer him, went, he and two men with him, either by dreams or by Urim or and they came to the woman by by prophets. 7Then Saul said to night; and he said, “Conjure up his servants, “Seek for me a for me, please, and bring up for woman who is a medium, that I me whom I shall name to you.” may go to her and inquire of 9But the woman said to him, her.” And his servants said to “Behold, you know what Saul him, “Behold, there is a woman has done, how he has cut off who is a medium at Endor.” those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are When he found Yahweh to be silent, you then laying a snare for my Saul spun to an ungodly alternative life to bring about my death?”

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SENATORS’ BIBLE STUDY • NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

10Saul vowed to her by the LORD, Ü First, the plain statement of the RAISED FROM THE DEAD saying, “As the LORD lives, no Hebrew text is that she saw Samuel.

punishment shall come upon you Second, the medium reacted to 11 for this thing.” Then the woman Samuel’s appearance as though it said, “Whom shall I bring up for was genuinely terrifying and “cried you?” And he said, “Samuel! Bring him up for me.” out at the top of her voice.” That reaction also suggests that Samuel’s To make his night journey safer, appearance was really unexpected. Saul utilized a privilege of the rich: Third, the upcoming speeches “putting on other clothes.” Without credited to Samuel have allusions to crown, royal cloths, or jewelry, he prior exchanges between him and was insulated from the scrutiny of Saul, allusions only appropriate for Philistine soldiers on road patrol. It the real Samuel (not known to her). shielded his true identity from the Fourth, Samuel’s prophetically notorious outlaw—the Endor witch. tough message and role had not d changed in his “session” with Saul. As a spiritist, she was familiar with SAMUEL BEFORE SAUL government sting operations to Demonic “messages” so very often quell that Israelite capital crime. promise desperate seekers positive The female necromancer at Endor She sensed a setup. How ironic that answers—what they want to hear. perceived her client was none other than Saul. After all, there were not too many the lawbreaker was fearful that her THE NAME OUIJA MEANS “YES six-foot-eight Hebrews around, period, let alone any for whom an angry Samuel unknown nighttime client might get YES” IN FRENCH AND GERMAN! her killed. Doubly ironic is the fact would supernaturally appear. Please note: the Torah prohibited that Saul is both the lawmaker Samuel shocked the living daylights out (sworn to uphold it) and, here, the necromancy, not as if it was a hoax, of the medium as well. “Hey, this stuff is lawbreaker. He then proceeded to but because it promoted reliance on not actually supposed to work.” Samuel supernatural guidance from some was quite grumpy with Saul. Samuel’s request her arousal of the newly answer was just as blunt as he had dead Samuel from the netherworld. source other than the Lord. One always been…you and your sons need only look in the Gospels at the shall be with me. ministry of Jesus—the greater Son This is another reason I believe this was 3. ASKING QUESTIONS & of David—to see the real power and actually Samuel: he gives new revelation IGNORING ANSWERS metaphysical muscle of demons. from God that had not previously been given and which would come true….We SAUL ASKING FOR HIS OLD do not need to be disturbed by the fact ADVISOR/MENTOR Ü IGNORING HIS that Samuel said that Saul “shall be with 1 Samuel 28:12-14 me” as if this meant “in heaven.” Samuel 12When the woman saw Samuel, MENTOR’S ANSWERS was merely referring to Sheol—death, 1 Samuel 28:15 the grave—in general. Sheol housed she cried out with a loud voice; both the righteous and wicked dead and the woman spoke to Saul, Samuel said to Saul, “Why have albeit in separate and exclusive areas, saying, “Why have you deceived you disturbed me by bringing until Christ came. me? For you are Saul.” 13The king me up?” Saul answered, “I am said to her, “Do not be afraid; greatly distressed; for the Dr. Joel McDurmon, In the Midst of Your but what do you see?” And the Philistines are waging war Enemies: Exposition and Application of 1 woman said to Saul, “I see a against me, and God has Samuel (American Vision), © 2013, p. 370-373. divine being coming up out of departed from me and no longer the earth.” 14He said to her, answers me, either through “What is his form?” She said, prophets or by dreams; so I have “An old man is coming up, and called you, that you may make he is wrapped with a robe.” And known to me what I should do.” Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the Saul sought answers in the gloom from a professional dealer in the ground and did homage. dark things of death. Just as Heaven God beat the female spiritist to the is “up,” Sheol (the grave, the abode punch. He did not allow her to play of the dead) is “down,” somewhere the spooky ventriloquist but briefly and somehow below us. Saul’s life raised Samuel from the dead. This was one of disobeying (or partially truly frightened her! There are obeying) what he already knew. He several reasons I believe this is the continued to ignore the answers he real, actual, resurrected Samuel. had and to seek answers he had not.

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Supernatural Politics—The Session at Endor

NANCY, NANCY! Saul hoped to turn back the clock to into the hands of the Philistines better days. Might Samuel forget? ...so tomorrow you and your

sons will be with me!” [It is] as if he is saying: “Please ignore this medium standing Saul interrupted Samuel’s restful, here...the illicit way I’ve contacted enjoyable afterlife which he was you, your various condemnations reluctant to leave. The short answer of my character in the past, or the to Samuel’s question (“Why...?”) way I have recklessly sought to kill David while neglecting the was that Saul was utterly desperate. Philistines all these years. Please His course of action is obvious: he e tell me what to do now.” has to fight the Philistines. What he really wants is reassurance that all Wow Saul, Mister Presumption. will be well—he’d win that battle. SPIRITUAL POWERS Hey Einstein, did you ever calculate He wants to hear: “Oui!” “Ja!” AND FEDERAL FIGURES that it might be too little too late? You could have taken God seriously Ü Yet, Samuel is forever Yahweh’s NANCY REAGAN hired astrologist Nancy Quigley when you had the chance to obey. prophet and speaks in His name. He after the first assassination attempt on Ronald reiterated that name seven times in Ü Too many ministers know those Reagan. Quigley later said that over the next these four verses. Saul said, “God who ignore prayer, Bible reading, seven years, she issued guidance, for pay, that turned away from me,” but Samuel Bible study, church service, giving, used the covenant name, “the Lord went far beyond mundane scheduling to matters missions, and fellowship. Then has turned from you.” The prophesy of diplomacy, Cold War politics, and even the when (not if) a crisis comes, like this of 1 Samuel 15:18-19 has not been timing of the President's cancer surgery. final (potentially crushing) war had repealed. Was it abrogated? No! come to Saul, they cry out for God No! It was still in force on that day. to snap to it, do all their bidding, and give them quick advice and Abigail’s prediction was beautiful. exact guidance for what to do in the David’s pursuer would indeed be next ten minutes or ten days. slung out of life’s pouch in God’s time. That time had come. Dear Senator: I encourage you to walk by faith this day and block out Rejection has come to a head time in your busy schedule. Put the (tomorrow you and your sons Lord first. He died for you. Will you shall be with me in v. 19). Thus, NANCY PELOSI commented that at her first the story “depicts the futility of live for Him? Remember too: Christ dead White House meeting with President Bush, “My conjuring the , since this wants F.A.T. Nebraska Senators. results in an announcement of chair was getting crowded in," said Pelosi. "I death; to speak with the dead is to F.A.T. SENATORS ARE f swear this happened, never happened before, it FAITHFUL, AVAILABLE, AND join the dead.” (emphasis mine) never happened since." TEACHABLE! Ü Verse 18 holds special import for "And then I realized Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth civil rulers related to our Week 2 Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Alice Paul, SAUL TERMED OUT OF study—How to Lose a Kingdom. Sojourner Truth, you name it, they were all in LIFE; SLUNG LIKE A STONE Samuel reminded Saul, here, from that chair, they were," said Pelosi. "More than I 1 Samuel 28:16-19 the grave, and reminds all now, of named and I could hear them say: 'At last we Samuel said, “Why then do you how the civil ruler Saul sinned. He “did not obey” or “execute [the have a seat at the table.' And then they were ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has Lord’s] fierce wrath on Amalek.” gone." become your adversary? 17The Civil rulers have a primary duty to LORD has done accordingly as He Then House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi punish (not prevent) criminal evil. spoke through me; for the LORD speaking at a Public Policy Institute of California Civil leaders are vain and not has torn the kingdom out of your pleasing to the Lord when refusing event on Aug. 22, 2018. hand and given it to your to protect their people. Government neighbor, to David. 18As you did not obey the LORD and did not “does not bear the sword in vain” execute His fierce wrath on (Rom.13:4;ESV), and that was Amalek, so the LORD has done specifically Saul’s sin—cowardice. this thing to you this day. Don’t let it be yours. Prophetically, 19 Moreover the LORD will also I am no less sure than Samuel was give over Israel along with you of this difficult but vital message.

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SENATORS’ BIBLE STUDY • NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL

4. SAUL’S LAST SUPPER gift to David and his men. The A SAULIDE SÉANCE

E 1 Samuel 28:20-25 comparison of the women’s gifts Saul immediately fell full length invites a comparison of the women: upon the ground and was very Saul was nurtured by a woman afraid because of the words of under the Lord’s curse, David by a Samuel; there was no strength in woman under the Lord’s blessing. him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night. 21The woman That the woman had a calf “at/in the house” is not surprising in light of ...said, “Behold, your maid- archaeological evidence that servant has obeyed you. I have domestic stables were probably taken my life in my hand and located inside residences and not have listened to your words separate from them....Read at its which you spoke to me. 22So now, best, this meal is a kind of last listen to the voice of your maid- supper, one final meal for a king servant, and let me set a piece of who will not be a king much longer.h bread before you that you may eat and have strength when David’s men argued with him to kill you go on your way.” 23But he Saul at Engedi. He did the “Dave refused and said, “I will not eat.” wave” to their bad counsel even under massive pressure and refused He [refused to eat because he] to do so. Here we see the opposite; knew his death could not be Saul’s men counseling him to do

evaded by food or because he something questionable at best— knew that accepting her invitation would mean accepting vitality dine with a witch—and he gives in. from someone who professionally What we are seeing is a covenantal Considered perhaps the darkest moment in cultivated death. To eat with her meal prepared by an agent of Saul’s life, this was his deliberate violation of would signal a rejection of God.... Satan....This is Saul’s Last Supper, one of the most serious prohibitions in the Eating also was senseless now that and it is served by the Devil. i Torah. Note the full and sobering picture of g doom was certain. Saul’s judgment in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, cited next. 1 Samuel 28:23b: His servants together with the woman urged POWER POLITICS “So Saul died for his trespass which he him, and he listened. He arose Dear Nebraska State Senator: committed against the LORD, because of the from the ground and sat on the word of the LORD which he did not keep; and bed. 24The woman had a fattened Leaders need power for problems also because he asked counsel of a medium, calf in the house, quickly making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of the slaughtered it, took flour, beyond them—supernatural power. LORD. Therefore He killed him and turned the kneaded it and baked We pray that you will learn from kingdom to David the son of Jesse.” unleavened bread from it. 25She Saul the deadly dangers of demonic brought it before Saul and his dealings. In this session, sit under By turning to a medium to receive guidance for servants, and they ate and arose the Savior. Seek His power and the his life, Saul committed a capital offense. Less and went away that night. grace to obey. Be F.A.T. and be a than twenty-four hours after he did so, he was leader, like the anointed king David, dead—a sobering reminder of the swiftness and a leader “after God’s own heart.” surety of the Lord’s punishment. This was one of Ü What of this? A meal fit for a king. the strangest and most sordid events Any meal that included meat was Serving and praying to that end, in Saul’s life. special in ancient Israel, but one that included meat from a stall-fed animal was a delicacy. The woman’s Robert Bergen, 1,2 Samuel generous gift of food is reminiscent Rev. Perry (and Faith) Gauthier (B&H Publishing), © 1996, p. 274. of Abigail’s even more bounteous Cell/text: 402.770.6270 b Dr. Joel McDurmon, In the Midst of Your Enemies: Exposition f Dr. David Toshio Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel and Application of 1 Samuel (American Vision), © 2013, p. 370. (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), © 2007, p. 617. c g Bill T. Arnold, The NIV Application Commentary: 1 and 2 Ralph W. Klein, Word Biblical Commentary, 1 Samuel, nd Samuel (Zondervan House Publishers), © 2003, p. 378. Volume 10, 2 Edition (Thomas Nelson, Inc.), © 2000, p. 273. d h Robert Bergen, 1,2 Samuel (B&H Publishing), © 1996, p. 267. Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, e Volume 3 (Zondervan Corporation Group), © 1992, p. 784. Arnold, p. 375. i McDurmon, p. 373.

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Supernatural Politics—The Session at Endor

VERSE OF THE WEEK Senator’s Personal Study Notes

Isaiah 8:19

“And when they say to you, ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,’ should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?”

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