Have you ever wished you could talk to a loved one who has died, just one more time? With whom would you talk? What would you say? My journeys last week took me close to the cemeteries where my mom and Melanie’s parents are buried. I remembered them with gratitude. Their gracious Christian heritage continues to bless me, my children, and my grandchildren. I know I can’t have a face-to-face conversation with them. But sometimes I wish I could.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. King Saul knew he was in trouble. Before he died, Samuel the great prophet, had told Saul God would remove him as King. Saul held the title of King of Israel for many years afterward. But he could feel the kingdom slipping away. So he went to the witch at Endor and asked her to conjure Samuel’s spirit. Saul was looking for help. He did not find help in this experience. Whatever voice he heard told him what he already knew. He was in desperate trouble.
This passage is descriptive, not prescriptive for us. When we need to know what to do, we call upon the Lord, not upon our deceased loved ones. We are not dependent on their prayers or intercession. Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, sits at the right hand of the Father and makes intercession for us. The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us with wordless groans. God is for us. Until we see our loved ones again and spend eternity with the Lord and them, we inquire of God when we need to know what to do. Like Saul, we may be educated beyond our level of obedience. Often, we know what we ought to do. Let us seek the Lord while he may be found. God wants to lead us even more than we want to be led.
