The alleged
practice of communicating with the dead is termed Necromancy.
If someone you
loved truly and immensely, were to die, it is not absolutely unreasonable for you
to want to talk to them. It really does not matter as to what you would want to
speak to your dead relative. You may not want to speak to the dead necessarily
to learn about your future. You may merely want to speak to your dead relative
because you loved them dearly. This desire is legitimate. But then the
reality needs to be ascertained. Could the living speak to the dead?
Of course
the living could speak to the dead via a linear model (one way) communication!
Very minimally, the living could communicate with the dead as how anyone may
try to communicate with a person who is blind and deaf. A person who is both
blind and deaf would not recognize any communication from anyone unless the
person who tries to communicate deploys methods to attract the attention of the
blind and deaf person. The linear model of communication serves no purpose to
the sender of the message.
Can The Dead Speak To
The Living?
If the
linear model of communication does not serve the purpose of communicating with
the dead, then it is futile to think whether the living can speak to the dead.
Instead, let us consider if the dead can communicate to the living. Unless we
are persuaded about the ability of the dead to communicate with the living, it
would be vain to even think of speaking to the dead.
There is an
important detail to remember while speaking of the dead. The dead are presently
in a disembodied state (a state where their souls are alive but without their
body). (The souls of the dead will receive their resurrection body during the
Lord’s second coming.) However their existence in a disembodied state would
not, I reckon, disable them from speaking to the living.
So can the
dead speak to the living?
The only
account of the dead speaking to the living is found in 1 Samuel 28 wherein Saul
seeks to consult the dead prophet Samuel through a medium, “Then Saul said to
his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her
and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium
at Endor.” So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he
and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine
for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.”…Then the
woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the
woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” The king said to
her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And
the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” He said
to her, “What is his appearance?” And she
said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and
he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me
up?” …And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned
from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me…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; the Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the
Philistines.” Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of
Samuel…” (1 Samuel 28:7-20, RSV, Emphasis Mine).
Saul not
only consulted with the dead Prophet Samuel, but the dead prophet Samuel
prophesied the death of Saul (verse 19; compare the prophecy with 1 Samuel 31
& 2 Samuel 1). So it is indeed possible that the dead could speak to the
living.
As a side note,
if the souls of the dead are in a disembodied state, how did the medium see
Samuel with a body (verse 13-14)? God alone has the power to bring back the
dead to life (1 Samuel 2: 6). So it would be plausible to state that God
brought back the dead Samuel to speak to Saul. God would have given the medium
a vision of Samuel in a robe, although Samuel was and is still in a disembodied
state.
Could The Living
Speak To The Dead?
Although
the conversation between the living Saul and dead Samuel is the only instance
of the living communicating with the dead, could we reasonably conclude that
the living could speak to the dead?
If the
Bible does not prohibit the communication between the living and dead, we could
confidently assert that the living could indeed speak to the dead. So, what
does the Bible say about the living communicating with the dead?
The Bible
does speak about the presence of mediums or spiritists who communicate with the
dead. Do the mediums really communicate with the dead?
God alone
has the power to allow the living disembodied soul of the dead people to
communicate with the living. But the Bible unequivocally condemns mediums and
spiritists. When God condemns mediums and spiritists, it is quite reasonable to
posit that God would not allow the mediums and spiritists to communicate with
the dead. Who then would the mediums and spiritists communicate with? It’s
quite plausible that they communicate with the evil angels.
The Bible prohibits
the living to communicate with the dead (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:6, 27;
Deuteronomy 18: 9-12; Isaiah 8: 19). God hates those who practice occultism.
God killed Saul for disobeying him, for Saul had also disobeyed God by
consulting with the dead Samuel, “So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the
Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up
underworld spirits. He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord killed him
and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles 10: 13-14,
NET). Hence, we should not communicate with the dead for any reason whatsoever.
Why Does The Bible
Prevent The Living To Speak With The Dead?
Could the
living speak with the dead so that those who live may repent and come to Christ
when they hear their dead friend / relative speaking from their place of bliss
or torment? It is not possible, says the Lord Jesus Christ, “He said to him,
‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced
even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16: 31, NIV).
Other than
the instance of the living Saul speaking to the dead Samuel, the Bible does not
provide us with any reason whatsoever to think that God would allow the dead
people to communicate with the living. So God will prevent the dead from
communicating with the living and HE also mandates (through HIS edicts in the Bible)
that the living should not strive to communicate with the dead.
Furthermore,
it is impossible for the living to speak to the dead without a medium. But the
mediums could only communicate with evil angels and not the dead people. Since evil
angels would lead us away from God, the Bible forbids us to communicate with
the dead. So we should not strive to communicate with the dead.
The emptiness
in the lives of the living because of the death of a loved one would only be satisfied
by the Triune God. Hence we who are living, who may be depressed by the death
of a loved one, should strive to get nearer to God, and then the shepherd of
our souls will satisfy our souls.
Shepherd of my soul I give you full control,
Wherever You may lead I will follow.
I have made the choice to listen for Your voice,
Wherever You may lead I will go.
Be it in a quiet pasture or by a gentle stream,
The Shepherd of my soul is by my side.
Should I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep,
The Shepherd of my soul will be my guide.
Shepherd of my soul Oh You have made me whole,
Where’er I hear You call how my tears flow.
How I feel your love how I want to serve
I gladly give my heart to You O – Lord.
Be it in the flowing river or in the quiet night,
The Shepherd of my soul is by my side.
Should I face the stormy weather or the dangers of this world.
The Shepherd of my soul will be my guide.
"Shepherd of My Soul" is a song by Marty Nystrom.
