Disguising himself, Saul went forth by night with but two attendants, to seek the retreat of the sorceress. Oh, pitiable sight! the king of Israel led captive by Satan at his will! What path so dark for human feet to tread as that chosen by one who has persisted in having his own way, resisting the holy influences of the Spirit of God! What bondage so terrible as that of him who is given over to the control of the worst of tyrants--himself! Trust 679 in God and obedience to His will were the only conditions upon which Saul could be king of Israel. Had he complied with these conditions throughout his reign, his kingdom would have been secure; God would have been his guide, the Omnipotent his shield. God had borne long with Saul; and although his rebellion and obstinacy had well-nigh silenced the divine voice in the soul, there was still opportunity for repentance. But when in his peril he turned from God to obtain light from a confederate of Satan, he had cut the last tie that bound him to his Maker; he had placed himself fully under the control of that demoniac power which for years had been exercised upon him, and which had brought him to the verge of destruction.

Saul forklædte sig og drog af sted ved nattetide sammen med to ledsagere for at opsøge kvinden. Hvilket ynkeligt syn! Israels konge som Satans fange! Kan et menneske, der stædigt holder fast ved sin egen vilje og modstår Guds ånds hellige indflydelse, vælge en mørkere vej? Og findes der en frygteligere skæbne end at være slave hos den værste af alle tyranner? Betingelsen for, at Saul kunne blive konge over Israel, var, at han stolede på Gud og gjorde hans vilje. Hvis han havde opfyldt disse betingelser i sin regeringstid, ville hans kongedømme være blevet stadfæstet, og Gud ville have været hans vejleder og den Almægtige hans skjold. Gud havde båret over med Saul længe, og skønt han næsten havde bragt den guddommelige røst i sin sjæl til tavshed ved sit oprør og sin genstridighed, kunne han endnu nå at angre. Men da han i farens stund forlod Gud og henvendte sig til en af Satans forbundsfæller for at skaffe sig oplysninger, brød han det sidste bånd, der knyttede ham til hans skaber. Han underkastede sig fuldstændig den djævelske magt, der i flere år havde øvet indflydelse over ham og bragt ham til afgrundens rand.