A Double-Minded Man

By John Madge

“Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.’ ‘There is one in Endor,’ they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. ‘Consult a spirit for me,’ he said, ‘and bring up for me the one I name.’ But the woman said to him, ‘Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?’ Saul swore to her by the Lord, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.’ Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ ‘Bring up Samuel,’ he said. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!’ The king said to her, “’Don’t be afraid. What do you see?’ The woman said, ‘I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.’ ‘What does he look like?’ he asked. ‘An old man wearing a robe is coming up,’ she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.”—1 Samuel 28:3–14 (NIV)

I want you to hold this question in your mind: “When I feel distant from God, how do I respond?” In today’s Scripture, we see how Saul faced this very dilemma. After inquiring of the Lord and receiving no answer, he tells his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” In short, King Saul chose to follow his own desires rather than pursue a true relationship with God.

At first glance, it may seem contradictory to say that Saul didn’t care about his relationship with God—after all, he did inquire of the Lord. But true seeking requires a heart that longs for God's wisdom and will above all else. Saul’s inquiry, however, was self-serving; it wasn’t about surrendering to God’s guidance but about avoiding the consequences of his actions.

I know I can have the same tendency at times—to pray like Saul, not out of a sincere desire for God’s will, but in hopes of escaping the repercussions of my disobedience. Saul had been given clear instructions time and again on how to walk in obedience, yet he consistently rebelled against the Word of the Lord spoken through Samuel. Time after time, he made rash decisions without seeking true counsel—decisions that were far from the heart of God.

In today’s passage, we see Saul contradicting his own decree, having previously “expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.” And yet, when he doesn’t hear from God, he turns to a medium for guidance. Take a moment to consider: Even if Saul hadn’t received a response from God, he still knew that seeking a medium was against God’s will. His actions reveal a heart that was not fully committed to trusting and obeying the Lord.

Saul is a living example of the person described in James 1:6–8 (NIV): “Like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind . . . double-minded and unstable in all they do.” He lacked the faith to fully trust in God and never trusted Him enough to obey completely in order to receive His blessings.

Can you relate to moments of not trusting God—especially when He seems distant or unresponsive to your prayers? This isn’t a diagnosis, but perhaps your struggle with trust stems from a lack of obedience to Him.

I’ve heard it said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go and keep you there longer than you ever intended.” That statement certainly rings true for King Saul. The tragedy of Saul’s story isn’t just his disobedience, but his refusal to humble himself before God. Unlike his successor, King David, Saul never sought forgiveness or repented for his sins.

David was far from perfect—he committed grievous sins against both God and man. Yet, what set him apart was his response to conviction. He humbled himself, repented, and sought restoration with God. Saul, on the other hand, hardened his heart and never turned back.

Pause: What’s your relationship with God like right now?

Practice: Whenever God seems distant, consider whether you’re obeying him in every area of your life. Pray He would reveal any areas of disobedience and how you can bring those areas back into obedience to Him.

Pray: Lord, forgive me for when I seek my will and my way above Yours. I seek to be obedient to You in every area of my life and have childlike faith in Your Word. Help me to trust You with my obedience in every area of my life, even when it doesn’t make sense to me. Amen.