The idea of consulting a medium to communicate with the dead or seek guidance from spirits is something that has been around for centuries. But what does the Bible say about mediums and the practice of communicating with the dead? The Bible gives clear warnings about engaging in such practices, and understanding these warnings can help us make informed spiritual decisions.
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What Does The Bible Say About mediums
Leviticus 19:31
“Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.”
This verse from Leviticus emphasizes the importance of not seeking guidance from mediums or spiritists. It warns against the defilement that comes from engaging in practices that involve communicating with the spirits or supernatural entities.
As Christians, our trust and dependence should be on God alone, seeking His guidance through prayer, His Word, and the Holy Spirit. Seeking assistance from mediums or spiritists not only defiles us but undermines our faith and loyalty to God as our ultimate source of wisdom and guidance.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD.”
In this passage, God explicitly prohibits His people from engaging in practices related to mediumship or spiritism. He abhors the use of divination, sorcery, witchcraft, and consulting the dead.
As believers, we should take this warning seriously and avoid any involvement in activities that compromise our faith and relationship with God. Instead, we should seek Him for wisdom, guidance, and spiritual discernment, knowing that He alone is trustworthy and just.
Isaiah 8:19
“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?”
In this verse, Isaiah reminds the people of Israel that their rightful recourse is to seek God and inquire of Him, rather than turning to mediums or spiritists who communicate with the dead through whispered and muttered messages.
As Christians, we should trust in the living God who is accessible and desires to communicate with His people through His Word and the Holy Spirit. He is the one who has the power to guide and provide for our needs, and we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He is always available to listen and respond.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14
“Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.”
This passage recounts the tragic end of King Saul’s life, who sought guidance from a medium instead of seeking the Lord’s counsel. Saul’s disobedience and lack of faith in God’s provision led to dire consequences, including the loss of his kingship and ultimately his life.
As believers, we should avoid falling into the same trap as Saul, for God desires our faithfulness and obedience. We must place our trust solely in Him, seeking His guidance through prayer and studying His Word rather than seeking supernatural advice from mediums or other forbidden sources.
Acts 16:16-18
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’ She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.”
This incident in Acts showcases the apostle Paul encountering a woman possessed by a spirit of divination. Despite her ability to predict the future, Paul recognized the source of her power as demonic and cast the spirit out in the name of Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we should be discerning and vigilant when it comes to supernatural phenomena. While some may claim to possess extraordinary abilities, we must always test the spirits and ensure that their source aligns with God’s truth. Our trust should rest solely in Jesus Christ, who has authority over all spirits and powers of darkness.
Isaiah 29:4
“Brought low, you will speak from the ground; your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the earth; out of the dust your speech will whisper.”
In this verse, Isaiah depicts the humiliation of those who engage in occult practices such as consulting mediums and engaging in divination. Their words and voices are portrayed as feeble, resembling the whispering of ghosts and the murmurings of the underground.
God’s intention is for His people to seek His counsel and rely on His wisdom rather than resorting to occult practices to gain insight into the future. The consequences of engaging in such practices are not only spiritual defilement but also a loss of clarity and coherence in one’s speech and thoughts.
2 Kings 21:6
“He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger.”
This verse refers to Manasseh, a wicked king of Judah who defied God’s commands by sacrificing his own son, engaging in divination, seeking omens, and consulting mediums and spiritists. Manasseh’s involvement in these occult practices resulted in God’s anger and disapproval.
As believers, we must cultivate a strong and unwavering commitment to following God’s commands, trusting in His provision and guidance. By avoiding mediums and seeking spiritual counsel only from God, we can ensure that our actions and choices align with His will and avoid arousing His anger.
1 Samuel 28:3-25
“Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium so I may go and inquire of her.’ ‘There is one in Endor,’ they said.”
This passage tells the account of Saul, who, in desperation, sought a medium’s help to inquire of the deceased prophet Samuel. Saul had previously expelled mediums and spiritists from the land, but when faced with the Philistine threat, he turned to a forbidden source for guidance.
Saul’s actions serve as a warning against desperation-driven choices and seeking answers from sources that contradict God’s commands. As believers, we should trust in God’s timing and guidance, seeking His counsel through prayer and His Word rather than turning to mediums in times of uncertainty or fear.
Isaiah 19:3
“The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.”
This verse in Isaiah speaks of the futile actions of the Egyptians, who, during a time of distress, resort to consulting idols, spirits of the dead, mediums, and spiritists for guidance. The Lord declares that He will render their plans worthless and demonstrate the emptiness of these false sources of wisdom and insight.
As believers, it serves as a reminder to place our trust solely in God’s sovereignty and wisdom rather than seeking guidance from sources that lack His divine authority. He alone is the true source of guidance and discernment in our lives.
Deuteronomy 18:9
“When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.”
In this verse, Moses advises the Israelites not to adopt the detestable practices of the surrounding nations as they enter the promised land. This includes divination, sorcery, witchcraft, and consulting mediums or spiritists.
As Christians, we are also called not to conform to the patterns of this world but to live according to God’s Word and His revealed will. By abstaining from practices that are detestable to the Lord, we demonstrate our loyalty and love for Him, upholding His standards above those of the world.
1 Chronicles 10:13
“So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the LORD’s command, and he even consulted a medium”
This verse recounts the reason for Saul’s death, ultimately as a result of his unfaithfulness to the Lord. Saul not only failed to obey God’s commandments but also sought guidance from a medium, directly contradicting God’s explicit instructions.
It serves as a reminder that disobedience to God’s commands can have severe consequences in our lives. We must remain faithful to God’s Word, holding firmly to His truth and avoiding any involvement in practices that go against His will.
1 Samuel 28:7-12
“Saul then said to his attendants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.’ ‘There is one in Endor,’ they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. ‘Consult a spirit for me,’ he said, ‘and bring up for me the one I name.’ But the woman said to him, ‘Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?’ Saul swore to her by the LORD, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this.’ Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ ‘Bring up Samuel,’ he said.”
This passage describes Saul’s deceitful encounter with a medium in Endor. Disguised, he sought the woman’s help to conjure the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. The medium initially expressed fear for her life, considering Saul’s previous actions against mediums and spiritists.
It reveals the destructive lengths to which one can go when straying from God’s commands. Saul’s disobedience led him to deceive and seek counsel from forbidden sources, displaying the dangers of compromising our faith and integrity in moments of desperation.
Isaiah 8:19-20
“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”
In these verses, Isaiah challenges the people of Israel to seek God’s guidance and instruction rather than consulting mediums or spiritists who communicate with the dead. He emphasizes that God’s Word and His warnings should be their ultimate source of truth and guidance.
As Christians, we should also prioritize seeking God’s wisdom and instruction through His Word. It is in His instruction and the light of His truth that we find direction, rather than succumbing to the allure of occult practices that offer false promises and a distorted understanding of spirituality.
1 Timothy 4:1
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Paul, in his letter to Timothy, warns about the deception that will arise in later times, with people abandoning the faith and following spirits and teachings that are influenced by demons.
These warnings echo the dangers of delving into forbidden spiritual practices, as indulging in occult or demonic influences can lead individuals away from the true faith in Christ. We must remain vigilant, testing everything against God’s Word, and relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern truth from deception.
Exodus 22:18
“Do not allow a sorceress to live.”
In this verse, the seriousness of engaging in sorcery and witchcraft is highlighted. The punishment prescribed by God in the Old Testament is for sorceresses to be put to death.
While we are no longer under the judicial system of the Old Testament, this verse reminds us of the gravity of involvement in occult practices and the spiritual consequences they carry. As Christians, we must renounce and distance ourselves from any form of witchcraft or sorcery, relying instead on God’s power and authority in our lives.
Acts 8:9-11
“Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, ‘This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.’ They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.”
In this passage, Simon, a sorcerer, had impressed the people with his magical abilities for an extended period. Consequently, they attributed his powers to being the Great Power of God and followed him with great admiration.
However, this account serves as a reminder that supernatural abilities or demonstrations of power should not be equated with godliness or godly authority. As Christians, it is crucial to discern and evaluate spiritual claims and not be swayed by mesmerizing acts or displays of supernatural power.
Revelation 21:8
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
In the book of Revelation, God reveals the consequences that await those who practice magic arts among a list of various immoral behaviors. Those who engage in occult practices, including mediums and sorcerers, are included in this warning, facing the judgment of eternal punishment.
As believers, we should recognize the severity of God’s judgment against such practices and strive to live lives that are consistent with His Word, avoiding any involvement in activities that contradict His commands.
Acts 19:19
“A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.”
In this verse, individuals who had previously engaged in sorcery recognized the need to repent and renounce their former practices. They publicly burned their scrolls that contained instructions on magic arts, signaling their deliberate rejection of the occult.
As followers of Christ, we should emulate their example by turning away from any involvement in occult practices, purging our lives of anything that supports or promotes supernatural deception. Such actions demonstrate our commitment to following God’s truth and His authority alone.
Malachi 3:5
“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.”
In this passage, God pronounces His coming judgment against various transgressions, including sorcery. He highlights the seriousness of engaging in sorcery, alongside other injustices, which demonstrate a lack of fear and reverence for Him.
As believers, we are called to fear God and uphold His commands, avoiding any involvement in practices that defile our relationship with Him or are contrary to His character. By living uprightly and justly, we demonstrate our devotion to God and our desire to please Him in all aspects of our lives.
Revelation 22:15
“Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
At the end of the book of Revelation, a description is given of those who will be excluded from the eternal city of God. Among them are those who practice magic arts, associating occult practices with other immoral behaviors and falsehood.
To avoid being counted among those who are condemned, we must reject and distance ourselves from any involvement in magic arts or other practices that contradict God’s truth. It is through genuine repentance and commitment to Christ that we can experience the fullness of God’s grace and mercy.
Numbers 23:23
“There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
In this verse, divination and evil omens are stated as having no power or authority over the people of Israel. The proclamation is made that the work of God in their midst is evident and cannot be hindered or reversed by any attempts of divination.
As believers in Christ, we should take comfort in the knowledge that no form of witchcraft, divination, or evil omen can prevail against the promises and blessings of God. He is the one who holds our future, guides our steps, and protects us from any spiritual attacks.
2 Chronicles 33:6
“He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger.”
This verse describes the actions of the wicked king Manasseh, who engaged in various occult practices, including divination, witchcraft, and consulting mediums and spiritists. These actions provoked God’s anger and displeasure.
It serves as a reminder that engaging in such practices draws us away from God’s truth and invites His righteous anger. As followers of Christ, we should steer clear of any involvement in occult practices and instead devote ourselves wholly to seeking God’s guidance and following His commands.
Galatians 5:19-20
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
In this passage, the apostle Paul lists various sinful behaviors, including witchcraft, among the acts of the flesh. He warns that those who persist in living according to these sinful patterns will not inherit the kingdom of God.
These words serve as a sobering reminder that engaging in witchcraft or any other form of sorcery is contrary to a life of faith in Christ. As believers, we are called to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, avoiding and renouncing any involvement in practices that displease God.