The Death of Saul and Jonathan (1 Samuel 31 - 2 Samuel 1:17-27)

Just For Starters:

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18

Sometimes things go so well for us that it seems nothing can happen to us at all. We think we've done well. We're proud of our accomplishments ---what we've done, or are able to do. We can get a kind of spirit about us that doesn't watch out for the slippery places in life. We don't see the pitfalls---at least until we've fallen into them.

The father of the man who wrote the above proverb once wrote himself:

"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to falsehood." Psalms 40:4

Payday comes someday for those who do not trust in the Lord. Guaranteed! For those who do trust in the Lord, reward will be their pay. One cannot lead a life of distrust in the Lord and hope to see Him or be with Him on the day they come face to face. Watch out!

The battle between Israel and Philistia culminates on Mt. Gilboa with the death of Saul an his sons and the defeat of Israel. The Philistines strip the bodies of their armor and fasten the bodies to a wall in Beth-shen. Some valiant men from Jabesh-Gilead, in a courageous move, retrieve the bodies of their king and his sons from the Philistines. All Israel then mourns for 7 days.

David hears of the death of Saul and his sons from an Amalekite who happens to have been on Mt. Gilboa, and, as it happens, to have participated in the death of Saul (for Saul chose to kill himself rather than be taken by the Philistines). David mourns the death of Saul and then kills the Amalekite for having lifted a hand against the Lord's anointed -- something David would not allow even himself to do!!

Just the Facts:

* Saul and his sons are slain on Mt. Gilboa by the Philistines.
* The Philistines take the bodies of Saul and his sons, strip them of their armor and then fasten them to a wall.
* The men of Jabesh-Gilead retrieve the bodies and bury them properly.
* All Israel, including David and his men, mourn the death of Saul and his sons for 7 days.

So what?

* God's promises will come true. He will not be mocked or ignored (2 Peter 3:5-9). They can be for our good (Acts 2:38) or for our defeat (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10) but they will always be for His glory (1 Samuel 28:16-19).
* Note the humble and loving heart of David as seen through his song/lament to the death of Saul. For all the evil done to him by Saul, David kept a pure heart. A good lesson for us as well, as we deal, at times, with a hostile world. cf. 1 Samuel 16:7 ; Romans 12:14-21 ; Matthew 5:43-48
* Also note David's respect for authority, even authority gone wrong, that was trying to kill him. He recognized Saul as God's anointed even though David had been anointed king by Samuel years before. There's something to be said for respect and reverence just because God is God and He is in control.
* Note Jesus' example - John 19:11
* Note Paul's teaching - Romans 13
* Note Peter's teaching - 1 Peter 2:13-25