This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in 1 Samuel 28:7-25, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once there was a king named Saul. He wanted to know what would happen in the future, but God would not talk to him anymore because he had not been obedient. So, Saul decided to visit a woman who could talk to the dead, which was against God’s laws.
Saul and two men disguised themselves and went to the woman at night. He asked her to bring up a man named Samuel from the dead. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out because she was scared. She realized that Saul was the king who had banned people like her from practicing their craft, and she thought that he might harm her.
But Saul swore by the Lord that he would not punish her, so the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” Saul said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
When the woman brought up Samuel’s spirit, he asked Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul explained that he was in distress because the Philistines were warring against him, and God was not answering him. He asked Samuel what he should do.
Samuel told Saul that God had turned away from him because he had not obeyed God’s commands. Samuel told Saul that his kingdom would be taken away from him and given to someone else. Samuel also said that the Philistines would win the upcoming battle, and tomorrow, Saul and his sons would die.
Saul was very afraid and fell to the ground. The woman felt bad for Saul and offered him food to give him strength. At first, Saul refused, but then he and his servants ate the food that the woman made for them before leaving that night.
Biblical Lessons
- It’s important to seek God’s guidance and direction in our lives, rather than relying on our own understanding or turning to other sources for answers.
- God’s ways are not always easy to understand, but we can trust that He has our best interests at heart.
- We should be cautious about making promises or oaths, and be sure to keep them when we do make them.
- We should be kind and compassionate to others, even those who may have been our enemies in the past.
- The consequences of our actions can affect not only ourselves, but also those around us, so we should always strive to make choices that align with God’s will.
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