Exodus 22:18

The word kashaph means "to use magical formulas or incantations," "to practise sorcery." The law did not allow a witch to live. Ex. 22:18; Deut. 18:10; 2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chr. 33:6; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4. In 1 Samuel 15:23 the word is qesem, divination. In Galatians 5:20 it is pharmakeia, sorcery.

The essential idea of a witch was dealing with spirits. The same thing has its counterpart in spiritualism today. So in Leviticus she is described as "a woman who has a familiar spirit" (Lev. 20:27). The witch of Endor is the clearest example of her kind. Saul went to her and said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you" (1 Sam. 28:8). This is the very thing that spiritualists claim to do — to bring the inquirer into contact with departed spirits. It is in fact a turning from God to Satan.

From verse 18 to the end of the chapter we get various judgments. They may not seem closely connected, but they cover both the rights of God Himself and the rights of the poor among His people. The witch commits an outrage against God by trafficking with demons.

The solemn sentence, "You shall not permit a sorceress to live" (Ex. 22:18), arrests the mind because of its severity. By it God shows His hatred of what was, in its true character, a trafficking with evil spirits. Many people make mocking remarks about this repelling evil, either to soften its dreadful influence or to disprove that it exists at all. But God's word names it as one of the marks of the great falling away in the last days: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1).

Saul had put down such people in line with this law by carrying out the judgment laid down here (1 Sam. 28:9), but he himself came under it… "Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death" (1 Chron. 10:13-14). No one, not even the king, was exempt from the punishment threatened.

The true test of all spirit messages is Christ. What do they say of Him? Do they own Him as "Lord" and "God"? Do they speak with reverence of His atoning sacrifice? Do they acknowledge Him as Judge of living and dead? … Moses says to Israel: "Those nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners." These were what the nations fell back on as they searched for light about life beyond death. But what about God's people? "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers — it is to him you shall listen."

Are there any who take part in table-turning, spirit-rapping, mesmerism, or clairvoyance? We are certain that when people give themselves to the awful business of bringing up the spirits of the departed in any way, they are putting themselves into the hands of the devil, who deceives and deludes them with his lies. What do those who hold in their hands a perfect revelation from God want with table-turning and spirit-rapping?

It is important to see that this power is of Satan, because today far more people try to contact the spirits of the dead. Even Christians may be drawn in — and indeed have been drawn in — out of mere curiosity.