Bible reading for September 4. I Samuel 28. "Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me." (1 Samuel 28:19) THE WITCH OF ENDOR. Earlier Saul had prohibited necromancers (mediums) from being in the land (as the Law stipulated), but now he is at the point of desperation and turns to occult means. The Bible condemns all practices of the occult, including necromancy (Deut 18:10-12). It seems most likely that seances do not actually communicate with departed spirits but rather with deceiving, demonic spirits. But here in God's remarkable providence he allows this medium to make actual contact with Samuel, who reiterates what God had already plainly said to Saul. He does learn something new: his sons and he will be dead within 24 hours. Later God would say through the prophet Isaiah, "And when they say to you, 'Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and m...