King Saul is about to die.

1 Samuel 28 is an unusual story about King Saul. In this story, Saul is fearful because the Philistines are preparing to go to war with Israel. They have assembled their troops and chariots and are ready to attack Saul and his men.

Saul is terrfied. Saul is overcome with fear.

So what does he do?

One night he silently goes to a necromancer to see if she can speak to a dead person. But not just any dead person. Saul wants this woman to contact the prophet Samuel from the land of the dead. Like I said, this is an unusual story.

To the shock of everyone, including the necromancer, the unnamed woman contacts the deceased prophet. From the grave, Samuel informs Saul that God has rejected him. As a result, Saul will go to battle the next day and he will lose. Moreover, Saul and his sons will be killed the next day.

Saul hears these words and collapses in fatigue and fear. Death is on his doorstep.

Witnessing the collapse of the king is the anonymous necromancer. She diligently prepares a large meal and commands the king to eat to regain his strength. Reluctantly, Saul eats the food prepared for him and then leaves her home, walking into the darkness of night. He is doomed to death. His last supper prepares him to die.

This story of Saul foreshadows a similar event that occurred almost 1,000 years later. In Jerusalem, in a small room with his disciples, the Lord Jesus Christ shared his last supper with his closest friends. He shared bread and wine with his disciples and then exited the room into the darkness of night. When Christ left the room he knew his death was approaching; he knew the cross was imminent.

Unlike King Saul, King Jesus did not walk with fear as he approached his death. He knew his death would secure life for those who put their faith in him. Put simply, while Saul's death in battle would lead to a loss for God's people, the death of Jesus Christ resulted in a spiritual victory for you that you can not merit for yourself.

In his death, Jesus Christ secured your redemption from sin, death, and the devil. His death gives you life. His sacrifice atones for your sins. His pain provides God's promise of mercy and grace to you.

You don't have to face life (or death) like Saul did in 1 Samuel 28. Because of the work of Jesus Christ at Calvary, you can have hope in life and in death.