In the KJV Bible, divination refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown, often through supernatural means, which is viewed negatively. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 condemns such practices, stating they are abominations to the Lord.
Scripture
9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.”
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer.
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.
14 For these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.
Divination Defined in the KJV Bible
In the King James Version (KJV) Bible, the concept of divination encompasses various practices, including sorcery, witchcraft, and consulting mediums or spirits, by which individuals attempt to tap into hidden knowledge or predict future events. This is vividly illustrated in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which cautions against engaging in these practices, labeling them as abominations to the Lord. The passage emphasizes that such methods are not only forbidden but also represent a breach of the covenant between God and His people, as they reflect a reliance on powers other than God to seek guidance or understanding. The worship of God is meant to be a relationship built on faith and trust, not on the manipulation of mystical forces.
Furthermore, scripture highlights the incompatibility of divination with true worship and faith in God. For example, 1 Samuel 15:23 indicates that rebellion against God’s commandments is akin to witchcraft, illustrating that seeking knowledge or direction outside of God leads to spiritual disobedience. Proverbs 3:5-6 urges believers to trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all their ways, reinforcing that divine guidance comes through faith and submission rather than through occult practices. In this light, the scriptural condemnation of divination serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God, rather than succumbing to the allure of immediate answers or supernatural intervention that could ultimately lead believers away from His truth and grace.
The theme of divination extends beyond the prohibitions in the earlier texts, emphasizing the folly and futility of seeking knowledge through means other than God. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord rebukes those who turn to astrologers and stargazers for answers. This declaration serves to underscore the limitations of human wisdom and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all creation. By relying on celestial bodies for guidance, individuals risk placing their faith in something that cannot provide the truth or assurance that comes from divine revelation. Isaiah’s admonition thus conveys the message that reliance on such practices is not only misguided but inherently disrespectful to the authority of God.
Additionally, the story of King Saul in the account of 1 Chronicles sheds light on the consequences of engaging in divination. Saul’s consultation with the witch of Endor, after having previously expelled such practitioners from the land, illustrates a desperation that leads him away from the path set by God. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale, indicating that turning to divination in moments of crisis can result in further estrangement from God. It highlights how seeking answers through illicit means can culminate in spiritual death and confusion, as it detracts from the believer’s reliance on prayer and faithful communion with the Lord. Thus, the recurring scriptural denunciation of divination not only sets a clear boundary against such practices but also calls for a reaffirmation of faith in God’s providential plan and guidance.
The Pursuit of Knowledge Beyond Human Understanding
Divination in the KJV Bible often reflects humanity’s desire to seek knowledge and understanding that transcends natural human capabilities. This pursuit can lead individuals to seek guidance from supernatural sources, which can be seen as a quest for wisdom or insight into the future. However, the Bible warns against relying on such practices, emphasizing that true wisdom comes from God alone.
The Consequences of Turning Away from God
The act of divination signifies a turning away from faith in God and His guidance. In biblical contexts, engaging in divination is often associated with a lack of trust in God’s plan and His ability to provide direction. This shift can lead to spiritual consequences, as individuals may find themselves relying on false prophets or misleading practices that divert them from a true relationship with God.
The Distinction Between Divine Revelation and Human Manipulation
Divination highlights the contrast between divine revelation and human attempts to manipulate spiritual forces. While God communicates His will through prophets and scripture, divination represents an attempt to control or predict the future through unauthorized means. This distinction underscores the importance of seeking God’s guidance through prayer and scripture rather than resorting to practices that are deemed forbidden or deceptive.
How to Seek Divine Guidance as a Better Christian
Seeking divine guidance is a deeply personal journey that can transform your walk with Christ. Start by cultivating a habit of prayer, not just as a ritual but as an intimate conversation with God. Share your thoughts, fears, and desires, and listen for His still, small voice in your heart. Immerse yourself in Scripture, allowing the Word to illuminate your path and provide wisdom for your decisions. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can offer support and insight, as Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “iron sharpens iron.” Finally, be open to the nudges of the Holy Spirit; sometimes, divine guidance comes in unexpected ways. Trust that God is always with you, ready to lead you toward His perfect will, and remember that seeking Him is a lifelong journey filled with grace and growth.
Bible References to Divination in KJV:
Leviticus 19:26-31: 26 “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.
27 You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
28 You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.
29 “Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity.
30 You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31 “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
1 Samuel 28:3-20: 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.
4 And the Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
7 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 En-dor.”
8 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.”
9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 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.”
13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
14 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 paid homage.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.”
16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?
17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.
19 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.
20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
2 Kings 17:16-17: 16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.
17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
2 Kings 21:6: 6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
Isaiah 8:19-20: 19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
Jeremiah 27:9-10: 9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’
10 For they prophesy a lie to you, to remove you far from your land, and that I should drive you out, and you should perish.
Ezekiel 13:6-9: 6 They have seen false visions and lying divinations.
7 Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?”
8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God.
9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.
Ezekiel 21:21-23: 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults the teraphim; he looks at the liver.
22 Into his right hand comes the portent for Jerusalem— to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers.
23 And it shall be to them like a false divination in their eyes. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.
Micah 3:6-7: 6 Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them;
7 The seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.
Acts 16:16-18: 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
Galatians 5:19-21: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.