Bible Study Familiar Spirits

[for_his_glory]

1 Samuel 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

We can read by the underlined that God would not answer Saul by any means. Saul had already hardened his heart against the Lord after all that Samuel spoke to him as God's commands in 1 Samuel 15. For Saul's disobedience he not only caused God to turn away from him, but also lost his kingship over Israel as it repented God that He made him king and turned Israel over to David to be their king.

Since God would no longer speak to Saul as He turned from Him Saul went out searching for that which he already cast out being mediums/witches and wizards out of the land which are an abomination to God. Now we see Saul in his desperation seeking out a medium/witch with a familar spirit. A familar spirit is a demon that attends to and obeys a medium/witch and assumes the form of an animal or a human. In this case Saul asked the medium/witch to bring up Samuel and it took on the form of Samuel who had already died. Using the voice of Samuel that Saul recognized as scripture never says never says Saul looked at this familar spirit, but only asked what it looked like. After hearing only the voice Saul stooped and bowed to the ground. This familar spirit spoke to Saul those things which Samuel already spoke to Saul in 1 Samuel 15 as Samuel even prophesied of Saul's death by falling on his own sword.

1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; 14 And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

The he in vs. 14 is God that not only turned away from Saul, but also slew him.

1 Samuel 15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Why did it repent God that He made Saul king over Israel, it was because Saul hardened his heart against the Lord. For Saul's disobedience to Gods commands God turned away from Saul and slew him as Saul caused his own death and separation from God.

 

[for_his_glory]

None of us spend enough time listening to the Lord.

How else can we explain the fact that when the Bible has it "Samuel said," we come back and proclaim that it wasn't Samuel.

So we don't spend time listening to the Lord like we should! We tend to lean on our understanding! Yet I run into people who think that is not them. It is me. I don't spend enough time seeking the Lord, but I know it. And if I have something obviously wrong, like trying to explain to someone that what is written in the Bible is not what is written in the Bible, then I need to look back to my not spending enough time with the Lord. I need to go back and spend some time with Him.

Still, I hear from Him and I often talk to Him about others hearing from Him. What amazes me is that He will tell me that someone does hear from Him, yet it becomes apparent that they are not willing to seek Him on certain things. On this thread, He keeps telling me to post, because He wants His people to understand His heart! We need to understand His heart or we are going to give people the wrong impression when talking about Him.

It is not really about whether Samuel said, or a "familiar spirit" said, but rather it is about God warning Saul and trying to get Him to repent!!

Yet that is not the way it has been presented. Is God love? If yes, then God is going to warn people! Saul got his warning, and the warning was to get Saul to repent. This should not be hard to understand, but we get stubborn with our thinking.

So our thinking, which I get because I am a person and not God, is that God would not have sent Samuel because Saul was seeking out a medium. Our thinking is that He would never do such a thing. But ask the Lord, and obviously we didn't understand the heart of a loving God when we made that conclusion. So I have some work I was hoping to get done and instead I keep hearing the Lord tell me to post. He wants you to understand Him and His heart for people.

Jesus Christ, the One whose name is called the Word of God, stands at the door and knocks and if anyone hears His voice He will come in and eat with them. And my friends Jesus Christ was the Word of God before He took on flesh. He was the One who spoke with Samuel through the Spirit of God. And have you not read that He wishes that none should perish? He loves them, and if you care to believe it He wants you to know this!

So the Bible is correct as it is written. "Samuel said", and we don't need to change the Bible to "a spirit pretending to be Samuel said". Samuel said a word of prophecy and we should know that all true prophecy comes from the Lord. That is you hear Him speak to you and you give that word. That is what Samuel did, according to the Bible.

Now it has been suggested that I don't not believe the Bible is correct, but I do. Many hear the Lord but none except the Lord do enough. And my Lord has over and over told me to come and post on this thread. His reason when talking to me seems primarily to get His people to understand His heart. Think about it and consider it!

If it had been exactly explain in the Bible that Samuel said, would you not still have understood that a loving God was behind those words? It was a clear warning about what would happen if Saul took the army into battle. Is a lying demonic evil spirit going to warn you to not go into a battle if he knows you are going to lose? Absolutely not! That is why before Ahab got cut down in battle a lying spirit told him he was going to succeed. It is the true prophesy that have been warning people that without God they will not succeed. The whole Bible is full of that type of warning!!!

So some want say that is wasn't Samuel?? My friends, it is not about Saul it is about us. People didn't want to listen and believe the prophets of old were prophets back then because they spoke a warning. But never-the-less, there is a warning. We need to listen more. We know that, right?

I really do not think God has told you to come in here putting others down, because you deem they are not hearing from the Lord. Never condemn another without knowing who they are in the Lord as only God can judge the heart. If we do not agree and certain things then so be it. Give that of what you believe by using scripture and not opinions and move on. Whether you realize it or not you are becoming arrogant within your post and what you demand to be truth.

Brother, please do not go there because I know you have a heart for the Lord and instrumental in parts of His word that you do teach in truth. We can not force our beliefs on others, but only present that of what we believe to be truth. Discussions, especially in Bible study, should never become arguments, but only sharing and discussing what and why we believe as we present our beliefs with scripture so others can go and study them.

 

[K2CHRIST]

When I listen to the Lord, there is one thing that becomes plainly obvious to me, and that is that I don't listen to Him as much as I should!!!

If I listen to Him once, I realize that I should seek Him more. If I listen to Him twice, I realize that is not enough. If I listen to Him about a dozen times a day, then I realize that I should, but don't listen to Him like I should. That is what happens with me. I usually hear from Him about a dozen times a day. Jesus did and said only what the Father told Him. So I marvel at that. Paul said he took all thoughts captive to Jesus Christ, and I marvel at that. I have meet Christians that do hear from Him more than me, and they I respect.

Now the Bible has it written that Samuel spoke to Saul. The person who wrote that heard from God, and that is not surprising. So what about the person that says that it wasn't Samuel like it is written in the Bible? Well, either the person who wrote the Bible heard from the Lord or they did not. From my experience listening to the Lord, I believe they did. Thus I believe the person saying that it wasn't Samuel but another evil spirit, I believe obviously did not talk to the Lord on it.

Is that turning to the Lord or is that putting them down? Heck, I just admitted I don't listen to the Lord like I should. I know that about me. Perhaps they don't really understand that about themselves. But I discovered that about me from listening to the Lord. So why do they think they hear from the Lord like they should? Humm??

Never-the-less so that they might understand; From what I heard from my Lord, He gave Samuel a word of prophecy, So it was Samuel that indeed said, like it was written. He did it because He loved Saul and the Israelite army that was about to be defeated in battle. They were going to lose because He (God) was not going to be with them. He was not going to be with them because they were (and specifically their leader Saul) were not listening to Him and doing what He told them. They specifically didn't do what He had told them the last time they went out to battle!

So they were going out to battle again, they were going to loose because He wasn't going to be with them. So He, a loving God, gave them prophecy to warn them. That was they loving and caring thing to do. Yet the way the story was presented made Him out to be an unloving and not caring God, not that people meant to present Him that way, but they didn't understand. That was the way it was explained to me.

So He wanted his people to understand His heart. Yet the way to truly understand His heart is to listen to Him. But how is that going to happen if they think they hear from Him like they should? And especially when hearing from Him result in an awareness that we don't hear from Him like we should.

So God loved the people (meaning Saul too) and tried to get His people to turn back to Him, repent, and listen to Him. But am I talking about then or now? He did love them and still does. He did warn them, and still does. He did speak to them and still does. And we (even me) don't listen to Him like we should. I you do indeed listen to Him, isn't that what you found out?

 

[for_his_glory]

K2CHRIST, you have showed what you believe as well as I have shown what I believe. I do not know you or if you truly hear from the Lord as well with you not knowing me whether I hear from the Lord. Neither one of us can judge that.

We need not reiterate over and over and over again that of what we have both already presented to each other in what we believe. Stubbornness is appearing on your part as you will not let this go and continue to force me to believe as you do. If you are looking for me to agree with you it isn't going to happen no matter how many times you post the same things.

God has told me it's time to walk away from our discussion which I have been trying to do. I am listening to the Lord right now as I am trying to be nice to you so there will be no misgivings between us.

To you sir, I say have a great day and God bless you and your family as I am done with this discussion with you.

 

[JLB]

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 1 Samuel 28:12

1. Why would this witch be so startled and cry out with a loud voice at seeing a familiar spirit, that was a common occurrence for her?

2. Why would the sight of a familiar spirit cause her to, all of a sudden, know that it was Saul who was enlisting her services?​

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JLB​

 

[for_his_glory]

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 1 Samuel 28:12

1. Why would this witch be so startled and cry out with a loud voice at seeing a familiar spirit, that was a common occurrence for her?

2. Why would the sight of a familiar spirit cause her to, all of a sudden, know that it was Saul who was enlisting her services?​

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JLB​

In answer to both those questions is the medium/witch cried out with a loud voice as she then knew it was Saul in a disguise after seeing this familar spirit come up taking on the form of Samuel. She feared Saul would do to her what he had done to all those who had a familar spirit and the wizards.

 

[Northman]

Give that of what you believe by using scripture and not opinions and move on.

Why lay criteria on others that you do not follow yourself?

 

[JLB]

In answer to both those questions is the medium/witch cried out with a loud voice as she then knew it was Saul in a disguise

• When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 1 Samuel 28:12



JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

Why lay criteria on others that you do not follow yourself?

Sorry, but anyone who knows me in here knows I always give scripture. If something is only IMO I will say it is. Other than that I stand behind the scriptures I give. I'm not saying I am always right as the Holy Spirit has sent others to correct me at times, but it is a rarity.

 

[for_his_glory]

1 Samuel 28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city.

By this we know Samuel was dead before Saul sought after this medium/witch with a familar spirit.

vs. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

vs. 8 Saul disguises himself and sought out this woman who was a medium/witch with a familiar spirit.

vs. 9-12 this woman did not recognize Saul at first and knew what Saul did to mediums who had a familar spirit and to wizards. Saul swore to her there would be no punishment. The woman asked who he wanted brought up and he said Samuel. So, she called up her familar spirit that took on the form of Samuel and spoke like Samuel, as this is why they are called familar spirits, and it was then after seeing Samuel, or the form there of, she cried with a loud voice in anger against Saul as she then recognized him and thought he had deceived her.

vs. 13, 14 Saul asked her what she saw and she said gods coming out of the earth. Saul asked her what form is the familar spirit of and she said an old man covered in a mantle. Saul only perceived it was actually Samuel by the description, but never looked at it, but only stooped with his face to the ground and bowed himself.

vs. 15, 16 says Samuel said as this familar spirit was the replica of Samuel and also spoke with his voice. This is why scripture says Samuel spoke.

1 Samuel chapter 15 we read God and Samuel both renounced Saul and had nothing more to do with him as Saul did much evil in the eyes of the Lord.

From 1 Samuel 28:16-18 this familar spirit told Saul that of what he already knew by what Samuel spoke to him in chapter 15. In vs. 19 the familar spirit tells Saul that he will fall in battle and be with him, meaning Saul will stand in the great white throne judgement and judged by God and cast into the lake of fire.

 

[ezrider]

Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Jesus was put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, which means, angels are spirit with no form. Jesus was made a quickening Spirit and it is that Spirit that went and preached to those spirits in prison.

I have seen a lot of debating in this thread that seems to focus on the prophet Samuel, but what is your actual definition of a "Familiar Spirit" as is the title of this thread?


Would you consider Jesus to be a "familiar Spirit"?

 

[ezrider]

Just a couple of things. If we believe in God, do we have to worry about the gathering forces so as to go out to battle instead of spending our time seeking the Lord?

Those who prepare for battle hold fast to their gospel armor; but the bride is adorned in fine linens. Many are called, but few are chosen

And, how much faith does it take to move that mountain that keeps us from seeking the Lord?

It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed if you know which mountain requires faith to move: The mountain that can't be touched. Exo 19:10-13

 

[Northman]

Sorry, but anyone who knows me in here knows I always give scripture. If something is only IMO I will say it is. Other than that I stand behind the scriptures I give. I'm not saying I am always right as the Holy Spirit has sent others to correct me at times, but it is a rarity.

You post scripture, then give your opinion about it. The opinions you give aren't facts.

A familar spirit is a demon that attends to and obeys a medium/witch and assumes the form of an animal or a human.

This is an opinion, not fact. This is fantasy lore and not reality. There is no scripture on what you have just described.

Using the voice of Samuel that Saul recognized as scripture never says never says Saul looked at this familar spirit, but only asked what it looked like.

The Bible doesn't say that a familiar spirit used the voice of Samuel. You are saying that one did, but the Bible says something else entirely. It says Samuel spoke. An opinion contrary to the text.

This familar spirit spoke to Saul those things which Samuel already spoke to Saul in 1 Samuel 15 as Samuel even prophesied of Saul's death by falling on his own sword.

Same opinion combined with absolute wrong. There is absolutely no place in 1 Samuel 15 that says anything about Saul dying by his own sword or dying period. The only time we see a prophecy concerning Saul's death is when Samuel's spirit was brought up from the grave to communicate with Saul. You opinion is that there was a repeat in prophecy so the repeat is void. It's an opinion based on something that never was. The only thing Saul was told was in 1 Samuel 15 was in verse 28 where Samuel conveyed that the kingdom of Israel was torn from him and would be given to another. There is no talk of his kids getting killed, him getting killed, Israel losing to the Philistines, none of that.

After hearing only the voice Saul stooped and bowed to the ground.

The Bible can be clearly read in 1 Samuel 28:14-15 that the order of events was that Saul bowed after he knew it was Samuel but before they actually spoke. Your opinion is switching the position of verses 14 with 15 to make the theory fit.

This is only from the post directly before the call to use scripture and not opinions.

 

[for_his_glory]

You post scripture, then give your opinion about it. The opinions you give aren't facts.


This is an opinion, not fact. This is fantasy lore and not reality. There is no scripture on what you have just described.


The Bible doesn't say that a familiar spirit used the voice of Samuel. You are saying that one did, but the Bible says something else entirely. It says Samuel spoke. An opinion contrary to the text.


Same opinion combined with absolute wrong. There is absolutely no place in 1 Samuel 15 that says anything about Saul dying by his own sword or dying period. The only time we see a prophecy concerning Saul's death is when Samuel's spirit was brought up from the grave to communicate with Saul. You opinion is that there was a repeat in prophecy so the repeat is void. It's an opinion based on something that never was. The only thing Saul was told was in 1 Samuel 15 was in verse 28 where Samuel conveyed that the kingdom of Israel was torn from him and would be given to another. There is no talk of his kids getting killed, him getting killed, Israel losing to the Philistines, none of that.


The Bible can be clearly read in 1 Samuel 28:14-15 that the order of events was that Saul bowed after he knew it was Samuel but before they actually spoke. Your opinion is switching the position of verses 14 with 15 to make the theory fit.

This is only from the post directly before the call to use scripture and not opinions.

No, it's not my opinion, but what I believe. You don't have to agree, in fact I do not want anyone to agree with me, but study the full context for themselves and believe as they will.

Scripture is not going to teach you what a familar spirit is. That you have to look up on your own as I have. You did point out where I did error saying in chapter 15 that Saul would fall by his own sword. It was never prophesied, but that of Saul's own choice to kill himself. I thank you for that correction.

 

[for_his_glory]

I have seen a lot of debating in this thread that seems to focus on the prophet Samuel, but what is your actual definition of a "Familiar Spirit" as is the title of this thread?


Would you consider Jesus to be a "familiar Spirit"?

A familar spirit is a demon attending to and obeying a witch like this woman who was a medium/witch from Endor that had a familar spirit. They can take on the form of animals and humans.

Why would I classify Jesus as a demon spirit and what would a quickening spirit have to do with a familar spirit. When Jesus was made a quickening spirit it means He became alive again. Demons/spirit can not die as they are spirit and need to take on the forms of animal or humans.

 

[ezrider]

A familar spirit is a demon attending to and obeying a witch like this woman who was a medium/witch from Endor that had a familar spirit. They can take on the form of animals and humans.

Where in the scripture is a "familiar spirit" defined as demonic? That's certainly not what the Hebrew word used as "familiar spirit" implies.

Taking the form of animals? Where is there any scriptural evidence of this? Well I guess it is written somewhere that God made a dumb ass to speak!

Why would I classify Jesus as a demon spirit

That's a good question. Why would you? Was the Spirit of Samuel a demon spirit? How about the Spirit of Elijah? Did John the Baptist come in the spirit of a demon?

If the Spirit of Christ is not a "familiar spirit" to you, then how should your new wineskin be filled?

Demons/spirit can not die as they are spirit and need to take on the forms of animal or humans.

Where does this theology come from? Because Jesus caused the pigs to fly?

 

[ezra]

Where in the scripture is a "familiar spirit" defined as demonic? That's certainly not what the Hebrew word used as "familiar spirit" implies.

Taking the form of animals? Where is there any scriptural evidence of this? Well I guess it is written somewhere that God made a dumb ass to speak!





That's a good question. Why would you? Was the Spirit of Samuel a demon spirit? How about the Spirit of Elijah? Did John the Baptist come in the spirit of a demon?

If the Spirit of Christ is not a "familiar spirit" to you, then how should your new wineskin be filled?






Where does this theology come from? Because Jesus caused the pigs to fly?

Familiar spirit
Sorcerers or necormancers, who professed to call up the dead to answer questions, were said to have a "familiar spirit" ( Deuteronomy 18:11 ; 2 Kings 21:6 ; 2 Chr 33:6 ; Leviticus 19:31 ; 20:6 ; Isaiah 8:19 ; 29:4 ). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an 'ob , which properly means a leathern bottle; for sorcerers were regarded as vessels containing the inspiring demon. This Hebrew word was equivalent to the pytho of the Greeks, and was used to denote both the person and the spirit which possessed him ( Leviticus 20:27 ; 1 Samuel 28:8 ; Compare Acts 16:16 ). The word "familiar" is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a "household servant," and was intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands.

 

[ezra]

https://www.gotquestions.org/familiar-spirits.html

 

[ezra]

Where does this theology come from? Because Jesus caused the pigs to fly?

where you get yours from?

 

[JLB]

If the Spirit of Christ is not a "familiar spirit" to you, then how should your new wineskin be filled?

The Spirit of Christ is not a familiar spirit.

That’s very close to blasphemy.


Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:31



And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
Leviticus 20:6


A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them.”
Leviticus 20:27




JLB