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CHAPTER 31 (ESV)

6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 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 Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

REFLECTION:

1. Israel was defeated by the Philistines and Saul and his sons including Jonathan were killed. He was after all God’s chosen anointed king of Israel. The bodies of Saul and his sons were taken by night from the walls of a Philistine city where they had been nailed for display. This was done by the men of Jabesh Gilead. In his first act as king, Saul had saved that city from the Ammonites. Its citizens now repaid his kindness. They traveled through the night at great risk to rescue his body and the bodies of his sons from further indignities. The life of God’s anointed, as flawed as he was, ended reverently. He was respectfully laid to rest, and those at his burial fasted and mourned for seven days.
2. Saul’s failure is not his lack of military or political capabilities, nor the weakness of the people. Rather it was his refusal to obey God’s will. No matter how talented and courageous a person is, history will prove him a failure unless he knows and acknowledge the Lord of history. This applies to everyone including the kings.
3. Looking back at Saul’s life, and his death, what has been a reminder or inspiration to me? How would I alter my attitude and life style because of Saul’s life?

PRAYER:

“Since my youth, O God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.” (Ps 71:17-18)

HYMN:

Reaching For You – youtu.be/f7pV71J9al0