1 – In verses 1-2, what was David's predicament when Philistia went to war against Israel? Who did he have allegiance to? What could he do?

2 – In verse 3, what is the point of telling us again that Samuel died?

3 – In verse 6, when Saul seeks direction from the Lord, He does not answer; why? Could this happen today? To Christians? How? Why?

4 – In verse 7, when God does not answer, Saul resorts to the occult for direction. Who does he hope to get answers from? How does this demonstrate Saul's moral and religious decline? Do Christians today sometimes resort to magic or occult practices to get God to act or answer?

5 – In verses 12-14, how does the medium react at seeing Saul? Why? What does she see? How does Saul know it is really Samuel? How does he react? Is it really Samuel? Can mediums call up dead people?

6 – In verses 15-20, what does Saul want to know? Why has he called up Samuel? What is he hoping for? What does he get? What does Samuel say that he hadn't said while alive?

7 – In verse 25, Saul arose and went away in the night. How does this natural darkness relate to Saul's spiritual condition?

8 – How does Saul's, "Dark night of the soul," compare to Jesus'?

9 – We all experience a, "Dark night of the soul," is it because of sin? What is the reason? The solution? How can we please and glorify God through it?