(1) A sad day for Israel and his family
As Samuel prophesied (28:19), Saul and 3 of his sons died on the same day. The people of Israel abandoned their cities. The Philistines came and occupied them. The news of Saul's death was announced in the temple in Philistines.
The other family with the same sad ending was Eli's family. His 2 sons died on the same day (2:27-31). What was in common between these 2 families? They tragic death was mandated by God and their positions were taken by someone else who was after God's heart. Samuel replaced the 2 sons of Eli; while David replaced Saul and his sons.
Eli's sons did not honor God in taking the offerings for themselves. Therefore God cursed them. Saul did not obeyed God and did not kill all the Amalakites and God sought David to replace him.
2:29-30 You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel. For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed!
28:18 Since you did not obey the LORD and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this thing to you today. 28:19 The LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”
Reflection: The work of God continues, but only those who obeyed God and seek after His heart can enjoy the privilege of serving Him.
(2) The light in the darkness
In their sadness, the warriors of Jabesh Gilead showed their courage. They went to the enemy's land and took the corpses of Saul and his sons back to their land. It was more than their respect to their leaders that they gave them a proper burial. Jabesh Gilead was saved by Saul when the Ammonite attacked them (1 Sam 11).
(NAC) After all, the city had once been rescued from humiliation at the hands of foreigners by Saul’s efforts on their behalf (cf. 11:1–11)
Reflection: Are we thankful to our Rescuer? Are we courageous to witness for Jesus?
Audrey
2024
B:
1. The P targeted at Saul. Were they the tools of God's hand in taking care of Saul?
2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons
3 Saul himself was in the thick of the battle (NET tn Heb “and the battle was heavy against Saul.”)
v.3b the archers spotted him and wounded him severely.
2. The repetitions of the word, "flee and dead," and the word "abandoned"
v.1b The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead
v.7b the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead
7 When the men of Israel who were in the valley and across the Jordan saw that...they abandoned the cities and fled
These are the loaded word from Lev 26, which described the consequences of disobedience
fell-Lev 26:36
fled-Lev 26:17, 36
abandon-Lev 26:43
R:
The king of Israel disobeyed God and he got the consequences from God. However, he also led the whole country into the consequences of his disobedience. Some fell (death), others fled, and their land was abandon.
How much shall I be careful as a leader? Do I live in disobedience and led my people to live in the consequences of my disobedience?
Q:
1. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.
So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that day.
28:19 19 The LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”
2. They sent messengers to announce the news in the temple of their idols and among their people
3. 14:6 Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the LORD from delivering, whether by many or by a few.”10 But if they say, ‘Come up against us,’ we will go up. For in that case the LORD has given them into our hand—it will be a sign to us.”
43...Jonathan told him, “I used the end of the staff that was in my hand to taste a little honey. I must die!”
18:1Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life 3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David...
19:2 But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much. 2 So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find a hiding place and stay in seclusion.
20:13 13 But if my father intends to do you harm, may the LORD do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don’t let you know and send word to you so you can go safely on your way. May the LORD be with you, as he was with my father.
34 Jonathan got up from the table enraged. He did not eat any food on that second day of the new moon, for he was upset that his father had humiliated David.
42... ‘The LORD will be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’ ”
Jonathan was a brave man and he was also careful to search for God's will. He loved David because he saw how God used David in their country. He saw the good of his country better than his own. He helped D to flee and made covenant with him because He saw that D would be the next king, not him. J did not biased justice towards his family, but he was willing to speak up against his father.
4. 10:1 you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the LORD has chosen you as leader over his inheritance
24 Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!” All the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”
13:13 Then Samuel said to Saul, “You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the LORD your God gave you. Had you done that, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom will not continue. The LORD has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him, and the LORD has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the LORD commanded you.”
15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.”
18:12 So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
28:6 So Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him 7 So Saul instructed his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,...
Saul was physically fit and well equipped by the LORD to fight in the wall. However, he was obedient to God twice. The second one even made God regretted from making him as king. The inevitable consequences would be the departure of the LORD from Him. Even with that, Saul did not repent and he sinned further by inquiring a medium. His face and winning were so important to Saul than to obey God and trusting in God alone.
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