Witch of Endor
Dear Bro. Don,
Finally I am moved to pick up my pen, being touched by December, Tidings, (pp. 466-68), and express agreement with Bro. A. Ramlochen’s response to Bro. Jack Robinson’s article on “The Witch of Endor’ (7/99, p. 246). Having read Bro. Jack’s additional points, I must respond to them.
- [Bro. Jack referenced II Kgs. 1:1-6 as an example of God speaking to a king wrongly seeking advice from a pagan god.] In this incident, God sent His prophet to meet the king’s messengers before they met priests of Baalzebub. So the king received the message from God and it is only His message we must accept.
- [The witch seems to be an incidental player in the situation.] With Saul stooped with his face to the ground, the witch had all the means at her disposal to deceive. And the bottom line to this is the first principle doctrine on the nature of man. If our hope is resurrection at Jesus’ return, then Samuel was dead and the witch, at her best, is lies and deception.
- [The words spoken by Samuel to Saul were not lies.] The skill of sensitive perception and ventriloquism would allow reading thoughts and mixing a little truth with lies to fool those who would blindly turn from the God of heaven and earth to witches and the like.
Like Saul, death is at our door. Do not go to them. Have no other gods before Him. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Ex. 22:18).
Patrick Rodney,
Grand Cayman, West Indies
Following is Bro. Jack’s response:
Thanks for your comments. All feedback on difficult passages is useful, for it encourages us to dig deeper into God’s word.
It is significant that the message Saul received, like that from a true prophet of God, was fulfilled in every detail. Please compare I Sam. 28:17 with I Sam. 15:28; I Sam. 16: 1,12- 13, I Chr 10: 13-14 and I Sam. 28:18 with I Sam. 15:18-19 and I Sam. 28:19 with I Sam. 31:1,6-7. Please note how often the name of the Lord is mentioned, for this is what the Lord had done or was about to do in the nation of Israel and in Saul ‘s life. There is here no mixing of a little truth with lies. These are not the words of a witch.
As well, the very words are said to be Samuel’s, not the woman’s: “Samuel said to Saul” and “then said Samuel” (I Sam. 28:15-16). Surely this is to emphasize that the conversation is between Saul and Samuel.
Samuel’s words imply he had been awakened from sleep (28:15,19), in accord with fact. In reality, death for a believer is merely a falling asleep (Dan. 12:2).
Ahaziah, whose folly was to approach a false god, met with God’s disapproval. God’s righteous judgment was prophesied by Elijah to the king’s messengers and revealed God’s severity toward a king who would turn to idolatry.
God was sorely displeased with both Saul and Ahaziah and both were rejected by Him. We should stay away from witches and false gods not because we fear witches, for they have no power, but rather because we fear God.
Saul’s position was similar to king Ahaziah. Saul had been chosen by God and man, made king, and even given a new heart by God (I Sam. 10:1,9-10). In spite of this, Saul had turned to the world for his answers, showing how little he cared for God. In trials, we must turn to God, not to the charmers of the world, finding comfort in their lies and deception.
God’s word has not changed. He still feels the same today toward those who would revive the old man of the flesh: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying’s, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
God’s severity is just as great toward wrongdoing as His goodness is toward doing right. In this instance He raised the dead, the prophet Samuel, to show His disapproval and condemnation of Saul. On another occasion He again raised the dead, the prophets Moses and Elijah, to show his approval and acceptance of His righteous son. Behold the goodness and severity of God.
Jack Robinson
Christadelphians Not a Cult
Dear Bro. Don,
It was interesting to read in Tidings during the year comments about Christadelphians being a cult. At the time of the Jim Jones’ mass suicide some years ago, and as part of an afternoon radio programme, there was an interview broadcast in this county by the BBC. There was a discussion between an interviewer and a member of staff from the College for Religious Studies. During the interview, consideration was given to how the Jim Jones-type of violation could be prevented, and whether steps could be taken to prevent individuals gaining such control over their followers.
Toward the end, the interviewer asked whether there were any really democratic religious groups, to which the interviewee replied, “Yes, the Christadelphians are probably the most democratic group that exists, their affairs are run by local committees.”
Although this may not convince people we are not a cult in the generally accepted sense of the term, it does appear to separate us from those individuals who set themselves up as someone special, linking themselves with the Bible, and yet violating many of its basic teachings…
Having cast doubts on the wisdom of people devoting themselves to an individual and to their convincing overtures, in a sense we willingly do just that ourselves every day. But the teaching of the One we follow is not limited to a human tongue, but has thousands of years of history to convince us that He is genuine. The devotion and loyalty required of us is positive, constructive and reasonable, if a bit difficult at times.
Howard Morse, Devon, UK
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Legalism and Faith
Dear Bro. Don,
Is Bro. David Levin’s series to be put in book form?” WA
We have received many such inquiries. Yes, Lord willing, we hope to publish Bro. David’s series, the one by Bro. John on the parables and that of Bro. Peter Hemingray’s on the history and development of the Truth as books in the near future. There’s a bit more to it than just putting all the articles together Bro. Peter has been working diligently adding illustrations and wrapping up some details. Bro. John’s is awaiting a thorough editing to eliminate duplication of points and the drawing of illustrations to give more life to the book.
Strong’s Concordance