Necromancy and Ancestor Worship
The word “necromancy” derives from the Greek terms nekros (dead)
and manteia (divination). Practiced since ancient times, necromancy is
a form of summoning the alleged active spirits of the dead in order to
obtain knowledge, often about future events. Ancestor worship, mean-
while, is the custom of venerating deceased ancestors because they are
still considered family, and these spirits can, it is believed, influence
the affairs of the living. These pagan practices can be very attractive to
those who believe in an immortal soul and who also miss their deceased
loved ones.
Read 1 Samuel 28:3–25. What spiritual lessons against any supposed
communication with the dead can be drawn from Saul’s experience
with the woman medium at Endor?
The Bible stated very clearly that all spiritists, mediums, sorcerers,
and necromancers, in the ancient Israelite theocracy, were abomina-
tions to the Lord and should be put to death by stoning (Lev. 19:31;
Lev. 20:6, 27; Deut. 18:9–14). In accordance with this law, Saul had
destroyed all mediums and spiritists from Israel (1 Sam. 28:3, 9).
But, then, after being rejected by the Lord, Saul himself went to the
Canaanite city of Endor to inquire of a woman medium (1 Sam. 28:6,
7, 15; compare with Josh. 17:11, Ps. 83:10). He asked her to bring up
the deceased prophet Samuel, who supposedly came up in a necroman-
cer apparition and spoke with Saul (1 Sam. 28:13–19). The deceiving
spirit, who pretended to be Samuel, told Saul, “ ‘Tomorrow you and
your sons will be with me’ ” (1 Sam. 28:19, NKJV). While predicting
Saul’s death, that deceiving spirit, merely by assuming the form of
Samuel, reaffirmed the unbiblical theory of the natural immortality of
the soul. It was a powerful deception, and Saul should have known bet-
ter than to become involved with what he had previously condemned.
More than two centuries later, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “And when
they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whis-
per and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek
the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If
they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light
in them” (Isa. 8:19, 20, NKJV; also Isa. 19:3).
How often, under stress, do we do things that we know are
wrong? Why are faith, prayer, and obedience to the Word of God
our only sure defense against ourselves?
