The answer is: Prophets of Baal

1 Samuel 28:6-7

At the twilight of King Saul’s reign, we catch a glimpse of his inner turmoil. He was plagued with anxiety, not necessarily about faith but about power and the threat from his rival, David. In his desperation, he turned away from the prophets of God and looked to rather shadowy sources for guidance—specifically, a medium or necromancer. This drastic action reveals a man who, having lost touch with divine counsel, sought answers through means that were dismissed in Jewish law.

Saul's call to the witless spirits of the “witch of Endor” in 1 Samuel 28 becomes a pivotal biblical moment. It's ironic, isn't it? Here was a king once chosen for his divine favor, whose fate unravels because he disregards the very prophets that anointed him. Fun fact: Saul had previously outlawed the practice of witchcraft as he intensified his hunt for David!

His alliance with the spirits of Baal suggests a significant thematic departure. Baal worship often tied into local fertility rites and other cultural practices; ironically, it emphasizes how leaders, when overwhelmed, might resort to popular superstitions or rituals of the masses, losing sight of their roots. The prophets of Baal represented not just a false hope but reflected Saul’s tragic choice to venture away from the intentional direction of spiritual counsel. David, by contrast, often looked to God in times of distress, showing a stark contrast in their leadership styles and trust in the spiritual path laid before them.