1 Chronicles 10:1-14
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.”
But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died. 6 So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.
7 When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.
8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.
11 When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Related Text:
1 Samuel 28 & 31
2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel 16:15 – 17:23
Matthew 27:1-5
Acts 16:22-28
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Just A Thought
In Saul’s life, his disobedience to God resulted in him losing the kingdom of Israel and losing his life. From this story, however, we certainly cannot conclude that every person’s disobedience will be punished by death. But there will always be consequences for our actions, and for our disobedience.
Don’t, though, fall into the trap of following God’s commands and seeking His will because you are afraid of punishment. Too often we turn our lives into a repetitive action of marking off a checklist, going through the motions without our heart being involved. Instead, through your close, and ever growing and strengthening relationship with God, serve Him through love and delight in the Lord.
Spend some time with God today and praise Him for all that He has blessed you with. Ask Him for ways to serve and tell Him you are willing to be used in whatever way He needs.
