Regi Addictissimus
Completely sold out to the King
By no means is juggling/wrestling with a text a weakness. It is very much warranted in many texts and I appreciate your well thought out response. I just don't agree with it. If it was a "demon" or "unclean spirit," why did the Holy Spirit leave out that detail? This verse is pretty straight forward, "Then Saul knew that it was Samuel." It does not read, "Saul thought or guessed that it was Samuel."No offense taken, and I'll just wait until pastor Sheffield weighs in to answer whether he feels as if I answered his question adequately, overmuch, or at all, thank you very much.
Your criticism isn't specific, either. Do you actually think none of the references have any bearing on the question? I'd say Dt.13:1-3 (first ref. containing boldface) is frankly sufficient to address the question of "accuracy." I offered much more analysis of the text than that.
And just to make it clear to an interested observer, the opinion that I'm "juggling with the text" isn't an exposure of exegetical weakness, or an alternative treatment of the data of the text of 1Sam28.
Those who say that the OT saint, the prophet Samuel, delivers Saul a prophecy in this text say so, because in their view the words "Samuel said" (2X vv15-16) and "the words of Samuel" (v20) are some of the plainest facts in the text; and once you understand and accept those words as they do, the rest is interpretable as following from that true/reliable starting point.
I don't agree that those words are largely self-explanatory, let alone the interpretive key to the text; or that the Holy Spirit is obviously on the side of holy-apparitionists. The latter claim just shuts down discussion--and this is an interesting text, inviting deep discussion and weighing of options.
WCF 1:7, "All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all."
The verse in Deuteronomy you have in bold I do not believe sheds light on this particular text. This medium or as a literal translation would render her title, "mistress of the spirit of the dead" was not luring anyone to worship foreign gods but rather gave a prophecy or a judgment, I believe from God, that came to fruition.
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