I Samuel 31:1-13
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. ” (I Samuel 31:1-3)
There had been few times when Israel had been defeated in six hundred years, but they were beaten badly this time. Many were killed, including three of Saul’s sons. Saul himself was severely wounded.
“Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me.
But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.” (I Samuel 31:4)
Fearing the indignity of being captured, Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him. Fearing the consequences of killing Saul, his armor bearer refused, so Saul attempted suicide by standing his sword against the ground and falling on it.
“And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.” (I Samuel 31:5-7)
Believing Saul was dead, his armor bearer committed suicide, leaving the army almost leaderless. The people fled the cities on both sides of the Jordan to escape the Philistines who took possession of them. It was the lowest point Israel had ever had up to that time.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.” (I Samuel 31:8-10)
The Philistines didn’t even find Saul’s body until the next day, when they began to rob the dead bodies. After finding the bodies of him and his three sons, they cut the head off and sent his armor be displayed in the temple of Ashtaroth as proof of their God’s power. They fastened the bodies to the city wall at Bethshan as a warning to anyone else who might fight them.
“And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.” (I Samuel 31:11-13)
Saul’s first action as king had been to deliver the City of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites under Nahash. They had not forgotten what he had done, and they resented his being treated in such a fashion. They went down under cover of darkness and took the bodies down, cremating them in Jabesh before burying the bones under a tree there. They held a seven day fast in Saul’s honor.
Samuel had prophesied, “Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” That was exactly what happened. Saul and his sons were dead, and Israel was under Philistine control.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. ” (I Samuel 31:1-3)
There had been few times when Israel had been defeated in six hundred years, but they were beaten badly this time. Many were killed, including three of Saul’s sons. Saul himself was severely wounded.
“Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me.
But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.” (I Samuel 31:4)
Fearing the indignity of being captured, Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him. Fearing the consequences of killing Saul, his armor bearer refused, so Saul attempted suicide by standing his sword against the ground and falling on it.
“And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.” (I Samuel 31:5-7)
Believing Saul was dead, his armor bearer committed suicide, leaving the army almost leaderless. The people fled the cities on both sides of the Jordan to escape the Philistines who took possession of them. It was the lowest point Israel had ever had up to that time.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.” (I Samuel 31:8-10)
The Philistines didn’t even find Saul’s body until the next day, when they began to rob the dead bodies. After finding the bodies of him and his three sons, they cut the head off and sent his armor be displayed in the temple of Ashtaroth as proof of their God’s power. They fastened the bodies to the city wall at Bethshan as a warning to anyone else who might fight them.
“And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.” (I Samuel 31:11-13)
Saul’s first action as king had been to deliver the City of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites under Nahash. They had not forgotten what he had done, and they resented his being treated in such a fashion. They went down under cover of darkness and took the bodies down, cremating them in Jabesh before burying the bones under a tree there. They held a seven day fast in Saul’s honor.
Samuel had prophesied, “Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” That was exactly what happened. Saul and his sons were dead, and Israel was under Philistine control.
The consequences of disobedience are tragic, as these passages so clearly illustrate. Many are fooled into thinking they are "getting away with" sin because the consequences are not immediate, but they are inevitable. Thanks for the great post, and may you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday.
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Amen. Seems like a lot of people think they can fool God. As Romans 2:3-4 asks, "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
DeleteGreat post Don. There are always consequences when we disobey God. Saul learned the hard way. It reminds me when I was young and foolish in the Navy. I wasn't a Believer back then and did a lot of things that I am now paying the consequences for. Thank you Jesus for my salvation.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lloyd.
DeleteUnfortunately a lot of people seem to think being forgiven eliminates all the consequences while others just ignore them. Thankfully, God will forgive and mitigate some of them.
It's sorrowful to follow Saul's career from its beginning to the conclusion. Sin's consequence finally found him, though God spent years in forbearance administering correction. It's more sad that Saul's sin brought his sons (and Israel) to its tragic end. Sin, when it full grown, brings forth death.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Ian. Saul had such a wonderful opportunity and blew it by focusing on what he wanted instead of what God wants. He, his family, and the entire nation suffered as a result. It's a serious warning to us.
Delete