Divination, as understood within the biblical context, refers to the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. This practice is consistently condemned throughout Scripture, as it is seen as a fraudulent attempt to gain insight apart from God’s revelation. The Bible presents divination as a deceptive practice that leads individuals away from reliance on God and His Word.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament contains numerous prohibitions against divination, emphasizing its incompatibility with the worship of Yahweh. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , the Israelites are explicitly warned: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you."

The narrative of King Saul consulting the medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7-20) serves as a cautionary tale. Saul, having lost favor with God, seeks guidance through a medium, an act that ultimately leads to his downfall. This account illustrates the futility and danger of turning to divination instead of seeking God’s guidance.

Prophetic Condemnation

The prophets of Israel frequently denounced divination as a false and misleading practice. In Ezekiel 13:6-7 , God condemns the false prophets who engage in divination: "They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their message. Have you not seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?"

Jeremiah also speaks against diviners, warning the people not to be deceived by their false promises (Jeremiah 27:9-10). These passages underscore the deceitful nature of divination and its role in leading people away from the truth of God’s Word.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, divination continues to be portrayed as a practice opposed to the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 16:16-18 , Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. Although she speaks truth about Paul and his companions, Paul rebukes the spirit, demonstrating that even truthful divination is not of God. The spirit’s expulsion highlights the power of Christ over deceptive practices.

The New Testament further warns against the allure of false teachings and practices that resemble divination. In Galatians 5:19-21 , Paul lists sorcery among the works of the flesh, which are contrary to the life led by the Spirit. This inclusion serves as a reminder that divination, in any form, is incompatible with a life devoted to Christ.

Theological Implications

From a theological standpoint, divination is seen as a rejection of God’s sovereignty and a reliance on human or demonic sources for guidance. It represents a lack of faith in God’s provision and wisdom. The Bible consistently calls believers to seek God’s will through prayer, Scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rather than through fraudulent means.

The practice of divination is ultimately a counterfeit of the true prophetic gift, which is given by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the church. As such, divination is not only a system of fraud but also a spiritual danger that can lead individuals away from the truth and into spiritual bondage.Ezekiel 13:6,7
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD said: and the LORD has not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 29:8
For thus said the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the middle of you, deceive you, neither listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Refutation of All Heresies
... Chapter XXXV.--The Divination by a Cauldron; Illusion of Fiery ... Chapter XLII.--The
Fraud of the Foregoing Practices ... of Theologies and Cosmogonies; System of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/

Author's Introduction,
... by the apostle, we must admit a fraud of which ... the past live again, some share of
divination and conjecture ... is, that they shall form a living system of which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/authors introduction.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... Judge for yourselves whether he sanctioned such a system of oppression and crime ...
decree of Persia's King, which wicked Hannan had obtained by calumny and fraud? ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

Summa Theologica
Summa Theologica. <. Summa Theologica Saint Thomas Aquinas. Table
of Contents. Title Page. Whether, besides philosophy, any ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/

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