The End of Saul

1 Samuel 31:1-13

1

Far different than David?s battle against the Amalekites, Israel suffers defeat against the Philistines. Their leader, Saul has abandoned God so God has abandoned them, at least temporarily.

3 ? 6

One of the first rules of warfare in the ancient world was to kill the enemy king. That happens, but first the princes are killed. I?m saddened by the death of Jonathan?a faithful, and brave warrior and a good friend to David. Sometimes even the righteous suffer consequences because of the actions of the unfaithful.

At the end, Saul wants things his way. He doesn?t rely on God for direction in his life nor in his death, so he takes it into his own hands and commits suicide. This is, by the way, where we get the phrase ?I?m not going to fall on my sword over this.?

7

Once the people see their leader is dead they abandon the towns of the Jezreel Valley and the Transjordan area of central Israel west of the Jordan. I can?t help but remember how this book began, with men thinking they could deal with God on their own terms, treating the Lord with such disdain that they could flaunt their debauchery and even think that the Ark of the Covenant was a talisman to win victory over the Philistines. Of course I?m talking about Eli?s sons Hophni and Phenehas. They are described in chapter 2 as ?worthless men. They did not know the Lord? (vs12).

We are all worthless, but the difference is whether or not we know the Lord. When Hophni and Phinehas took the Ark into battle they lost their lives and the battle.

Here Israel?s king has abandoned his relationship with God and so he loses his life and the war against the Philistines.

8 ? 10

As was a common practice in that era, the enemy king?s body in a public place as a war trophy. Saul?s head they put on display in the temple of Dagon (1 Chronicles 10:10). It is kind of odd that Saul was so concerned about his body being ?mistreated? (vs 4) but that didn?t stop the Philistines from doing just that anyway.

11 ? 13

The people of Jabesh-gilead are both close physically (across the Jordan from Beth-shan) but also close allies of Saul. In Chapter 11 it was Saul who rescued the people from attack by the Ammonites. They remain pretty loyal to him in death, returning the favor and ?rescuing? Saul and his sons bodies from the Philistines and burying them under the tamarisk tree there at Jabesh.

The account in chapter 31 of 1 Samuel is repeated almost word for word in 1 Chronicles 10. Other than his genealogy, it is the only part of Saul?s life that is in 1 Chronicles. There are all the parts of Saul?s last battle and his death and then there is an interesting addition?something found only in 1 Chronicles.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 So 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. 14 He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

I think is the key to understanding why Saul ended up where he did. In the end it is all about faith?trust and reliance on a relationship with God. Either you want it, seek it, and have it, or you don?t. ?Breach? which is translated ?transgression? in other versions?means ?falsehood? or ?treachery.?

I think that Saul chose a false ?relationship? with Yahweh. Like those who say ?Lord Lord? but do not know Jesus, it is not enough to use God?s name when you are really out to serve yourself.

Let?s look back at the crucial periods in Saul?s life when fateful decisions moved him away from God and eventually to his own suicide.

1. Trying to fit a king into the world?s mold instead of molding the king into God?s world

8:5 ?Now appoint for us a king like all the nations.?

1. Relying on outward appearance

9:2 ?A handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.?

1. Seeds of false humility

9:21 ?Saul answered, ?Am I not a Benjamite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? Is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of Benjamin??

1. Reluctance to answer God?s call

10:21 ?But when they sought him he could not be found ? he has hidden himself among the baggage.?

1. Self focus

Jonathan defeated the Philistines in chapter 13, but Saul took the credit in verse 4

1. Focus on outward appearance not inward obedience

Chapter 13. Saul disobeyed God by not waiting 7 days for the sacrifice as Samuel had commanded because he grew impatient and ?the people were scattering? (vs 8) ? his audience was leaving so it was time to take on the roles of priest and prince.

1. Self control of everyone else

Chapter 14. We see in the tremendous courage, faith, and victory of Jonathan, the tremendous controlling nature of Saul, and his focus on being seen as godly in the eyes of others, rather than in God?s eyes.

1. Bring glory to self rather than God

Chapter 15. Saul doesn?t obey God in destroying the Amalekites, blames others, forces Samuel to make a show of support for Saul, then erects a monument to himself, the ?real? Saul leaking out.

1. Jealousy takes over ? you want what others have and want them to have nothing.

Chapter 18. Saul becomes jealous of others victories in the Lord and begins to wish harm on others.

1. Jealousy leads to blaming, causing harm, and an opening for the enemy

Chapter 19: Saul begins to be influenced by an evil spirit. He tries to kill David numerous times.

1. Evil begets evil ? walking away from God leads to attacking him

Chapter 22 Saul conspires with Doeg the Edomite to destroy the priests at Nob.

1. When fear strikes you have no where to turn but your new king

Chapter 28 Saul needs help and actually goes to a medium. God intervenes and speaks judgment on Saul.

1. The final act of control?take your own life

Chapter 31. Saul has abandoned God and God has abandoned him. Even at the last he could have fallen on his face and put his fate into the hands of God. Instead he wants to control things to the very end and ends up taking his own life.

So what is the antidote to a life like Saul? We have a great contrast in David who exhibited these character traits:

1. A constant relationship with God
2. A steadfast reliance on God for vindication, sustenance, purpose and identity
3. Viewing your world through God?s eyes, not your own