Spirit of Divination
Sometimes we forget that the Bible is a living book that still holds the same cautions for our live as it did for the children of Israel. It is a reminder to us that someone who puts themselves in worldly positions it is a possibility to be exposed with one of the spirits of divination. These spirits of divination are an abomination to the LORD God and we are instructed to not follow after them and to avoid them.
Deuteronomy 18:9-22
There are numerous references in the Bible cautioning about the spirit of divination. The focus of this certain damsel in Acts 16:16 who was possessed with the spirit of divination and made her living as a soothsayer. This is not the first mention of danger of the spirit of divination. Deuteronomy 18:9-22 gives us a warning and shows the danger of divination. It has broken down exactly the dangers and how much the LORD God detests these practices.
The LORD God warned the children of Israel when they came into the land which the LORD God had given them they shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. Abomination is any disgusting thing especially in a ritual sense such as unclean food, idols, and mixed marriages and in an ethical sense of wickedness. (Strong. 2001.# 08441).
Makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire
There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, meaning a supernatural fire accompanying supernatural fire or altar fire accompanying theophany which is an appearance of a god to a human by a divine manifestation. (Strong. 2001.# 0784). Burning children as sacrifices making the sons or daughter pass through the fire was more than common in the Old Testament. Jeremiah 32:35 refers to making the children pass through the fire to Molech as an offering to idols.
Divination
The LORD God is against the use of divination which is the use of witchcraft, of the nations, Balaam, of false prophets. (Strong. 2001.# 07081). The king of Babylon had come to the parting of the road and used divination to decide which direct he should take; the road to Rabbath or to Jerusalem. He shot an arrow marked with each name of the two cities, shook the quiver, whichever arrow was taken by the right hand decided which road was to be taken. Then the king consulted with images, known for divination. (Ezekiel 21-23). The LORD God said; “My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.” (Hosea 4:12-12).
Observer of times
Deuteronomy also mentions there shall not be found among you an observer of times which is to cloud over, act covertly, practice magic, to auger from the appearance of clouds; using the clouds for supernatural information and wisdom. (Strong. 2001.# 06049). This would include horoscopes, astrology, zodiac; using the stars and the moon for wisdom. The Book of Esther is an example of observer of times. Haman wanted to find a lucky day on which his despicable plans to destroy all the Jews should be carried out. He resorted to the lot, to invoke their god to give him success. (Esther 3: 6-7).
Enchanter
The next one mentioned that there should not be found among us is an enchanter to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen.(Strong. 2001.# 05172). The LORD God says that we should not hearken that is hear, obey, or give attention to enchanters or those who use enchantments. Enchantments are the whisperers, mutterer of magic spells. Pharaoh called the wise men and the sorcerers and the magicians of Egypt who also did enchantments to do what Moses and Aaron had done by the LORD God. (Exodus 7:11-12; 8:7-8).
Witch/ witchcraft
Avoidance of a witch, the LORD God says that witches deserve punishment by death. (Exodus 22:18) He also calls witchcraft an abomination. Witch are those who whisper spells and practice witchcraft or sorcery. (Strong. 2001.# 03784). The conversation between Samuel and Saul with the destruction of the Amalekites finds Samuel saying “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou have rejected the word of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 15:20-23). Witchcraft is a sin that provokes the LORD to anger. (2Chronicles 33:6). Witchcraft requires some kind of a god, demon, or spirits to do their work for them. (Strong. 2001.# 03784). Witchcraft is the works of the flesh and is associated with sexual sin. (Galatians 5:20).
Charmer
Another abomination is charmer, to be united or be joined with magic charms. (Strong. 2001.# 02266). The LORD GOD says that the charmer is equivalent to idolatry and the spirit of Egypt. The LORD will destroy the counsel that comes from charmers. They use occult objects or incantations to bring harm or misfortune. The charmer gives users the power to cast spells, induce magical healings, as well as summon demons and evil spirits. (Isaiah 19:3).
Familiar spirits
Next mentioned is a consulter with familiar spirits, the consulter with familiar spirits is similar to the practice of necromancy. (Strong. 2001.# 0178). The LORD God tells us that those who seek information from familiar spirits are defiled and deserve death. The woman at Endor whom Saul consulted: she is said to have had a familiar spirit. Saul at once said to the woman, “Bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee.” The woman, as soon as her life was secured by an oath, replied, “Whom shall I bring up unto thee?” It was her profession to call up the dead spirits, but on this occasion she recognized the work of a superior power, for when she saw Samuel she cried with a loud voice. Samuel told Saul that he and his sons on the morrow would be with him. (Isaiah 29:4). A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27).
A wizard
A wizard is a knower, one who has a familiar spirit. (Strong. 2001.# 03049). A man also or woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27). The wizards and those who seek after them are defiled, and we are warned not to seek after them. The LORD God will set His face against wizards and cut them off from among their people they are wickedness. (Leviticus 20:6).
Necromancer
A necromancer is of heathen gods, or heathen deities who are sought to enquire those who call upon the dead. (Strong. 2001.# 01875). This is a deception to communicate with a person already dead. The necromancer those who call upon the dead is an abomination to the LORD. The witch of Endor was asked to bring up Samuel who was dead and buried. Saul only perceived that it was Samuel. (1Samuel 28:11-14).
All these practices are an abomination unto the LORD. We are instructed to drive them out from before us. (Deuteronomy 18:12). If the LORD rises up a Prophet then you should listen to him according to all the desires of the LORD God. This Prophet will listen to the word of the LORD God and will put His words in their mouth and speak unto those that the LORD shall command him to speak. If the Prophet does not speak the word in the name of the LORD and does his own thing then that prophet shall die. When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, whatever is spoken of if the thing does not follow, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD s not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it arrogantly then you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:14-22).
It should be noted that all these abomination mentioned are still with us today in the forms of horoscopes, zodiac, astrology, and tarot cards, séances, psychics, even Ouija boards. These forms of abomination are not seen as that by the worldly. You might hear there are scientific reasons that go behind all these practices or they have been around for a long time, even the suggestion that these are traditions.
It is a reminder to us that someone who puts themselves in worldly positions it is a possibility to be exposed with one of the spirits of divination. We are promised that if we overcome all these abominations shall inherit all things and we shall be with our LORD. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8).
Reference:
Strong’s, James. (2001). The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Spirit of Divination:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2153,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “Spirit of Divination:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2153,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Spirit of Divination:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2153, (accessed).
