Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 31
1 Samuel chapter 31, finishing the story of Saul and David. Remember that chapters 27 to 31 sort of form a unit. Specifically, David is in Philistia, and here in chapter 31, we pick up the narrative where chapters 28 and 29 left off, and specifically, the Philistines are fighting against Israel. David Samora says concerning this section, the present episode describes the final battle between the Philistines and Saul.
Having dealt with David's story in chapter 30, the storyline now joins together the account of Saul, which was broken off at the end of chapter 28, and that of the Philistines, which was broken off at the end of chapter 29 at Mount Gilboa. Now, as we have seen several times in our study, beginning in chapter 16 all the way to the end here, there's a contrast between David and Saul. David is on the rise. and Saul is on the decline. And that's evident here in chapters 30 and 31.
David is engaged in battle against the Amalekites and he is victorious. Saul is engaged in battle against the Philistines and he is defeated. So I'll just pick up reading in chapter 31 at verse 1. It says, now the Philistines fought against Israel.
Or it's better translated, meanwhile, or now, the Philistines were fighting against Israel. It's almost as if the author is picking up the action where he left off. We have seen David go on this incursion to get back his wives and his property from the Amalekites. And meanwhile, the Philistines fought against Israel.
And the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua, Saul's sons. The battle became fierce against Saul.
The archers hit him and he was severely wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that same day. And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those who were on the other side of the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
So it happened the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and traveled 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. Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh and fasted seven days. Amen.
Introduction
So essentially, what we have is the end of Saul. The ultimate point of his decline is in his demise in this battle against the Philistines. And certainly, his suicide, his ending his own life, is something that is frowned upon throughout scripture. As we look at this particular section, we'll look at it under three considerations.
In the first place, the death of Saul and his sons. Secondly, the response by the Philistines. And thirdly, the kindness of Jabesh Gilead.
Death of Saul and His Sons
So in the first place, the death of Saul and his sons.
Jonathan's Faithful Life and Death
As I've already mentioned, it's probably going on at the same time that David is facing the Amalekites in chapter 30. Meanwhile, the Philistines were fighting against Israel. And we see specifically the death of Saul's sons. Now again, this is important information, not only because it's historical in nature, But remember that the stage is being set for David to ascend the throne of Israel.
For that to take place, obviously the reigning king must not have any succeeding seed. Though Ish-bosheth is not mentioned as having died here, he does emerge later in the narrative. We'll look at Ish-bosheth. later on, but it does mention specifically three sons of Saul, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua, Saul's sons. Now, as we look at this particular chapter, we ought to spend just a few moments to consider Jonathan.
I mean, Jonathan is dead at this particular instance, having served God and having lived a faithful life. Even to the very end, he is faithful at his father's side. Remember that Jonathan was a one-time heir to the throne of Israel. We know that he was not going to receive the throne, but he didn't know that.
All the way back in chapter 13, it was announced that Solomon, or that rather Saul's dynasty would end. Again, it's repeated in chapter 14 concerning this particular situation. As well, Jonathan served faithfully in terms of military service. In chapters 13 and 14 he led assaults against the Philistines and brought victory to Israel.
When it is obvious that David is on his way to the throne, Jonathan is not a pouting, brooding, murmuring, whining, complainer, but rather Jonathan recognizes the hand of God is upon David. Remember that scene in chapter 18, after David comes back from the Valley of Elah, having successfully battled and defeated Goliath, we see that Jonathan takes off his robes to hand them over to David. Essentially what he is doing is he's abdicating the throne to David. He is showing respect, he is showing esteem, he is showing honor.
So Jonathan is faithful every step of the way. When we get to chapter 19 and Saul is engaged in murderous rage against David, it is Jonathan who stands up for David and says to Saul that it would be wrong for him to pursue David's life. And that appeases Saul at least for a time, so Jonathan is successful there. When we get to chapter 20, Jonathan engages in a covenantal ceremony, or a covenantal ratification with David, or a renewal with David.
He's a friend by covenant to David. He stands by David. He gives David information that David needs so that David can make an effective escape from Saul. As well, in chapter 23, when David is on the run, he meets again a final time with Jonathan, and Jonathan reassures David that God has indeed determined that David would succeed the throne in Israel.
And then we see, as I've said, faithfulness to his father until the bitter end. And I think there's a good lesson here concerning Jonathan. Sometimes faithful obedience and steadfastness in the Christian life may not always yield a whole lot of attendant benefits. In other words, our faithful obedience to the Lord God may end tragically.
It may not be the case that we get fame, that we get fortune, that we get accolades, that we have people writing songs about us, or writing biographies about us, but faithful obedience to the Lord God Most High is what is required by God. A life lived faithfully before God may not yield fame, fortune, or even earthly blessing, but a life lived faithfully before God is required by all who name the name of Christ, whether The hope for benefits attend that life or not. So the point is this, you may serve God and persons may never see it. Persons may never understand the extent that you went to in order to serve the Lord.
Again, we have the written record, we get a snapshot into the lives of Jonathan and David, and we see what a sterling fellow and what a faithful man he really was. But he dies in battle not having sort of made his impact upon this earth. He was a man that was destined for the kingship over Israel, but that was cut short. He dies a faithful man.
He dies without all of the pomp and the show and all of the accolades that people oftentimes want. So I think there's an encouragement to each and every one of us. We need to faithfully serve God. We need to plod on.
We need to engage in steadfastness whether we get all the hope for benefits in this life. We see people at times that do things for the Lord God and everybody seems to recognize them and they get accolades. Well, we want to guard our hearts against desiring those same sorts of things. But we can as well rest assured in the reality that when Jonathan died on the field of battle, specifically at Gilboa, he entered into the presence of the living and the true God.
So everything that we attain in the life that is to come far outweighs anything we might ever attain in this life in the here and now. So Jonathan is a wonderful example of steadfast faithfulness until the very bitter end. In fact, the tragedy in chapter 31 is not the death of Saul. The tragedy on the human level is the death of Jonathan.
The real tragedy in terms of the divine level is the fact that the God of Israel is ultimately mocked by these Philistines because that is precisely what they are doing when they take Saul's armor into the temple of Ashtoreth, when they take Saul's head into the temple of Dagon. That is a victory dance, that is a victory lap to basically extol the God's of Philistia over the God of Israel. So don't miss the tragedy in chapter 31. It's not that Saul met his end, it's that Jonathan met his end, and it was that the glory of God was sullied at least for a time.
It will be regained as a result of David, the true king of Israel, but nevertheless God is, as it were, mocked by these Philistines in chapter 31.
Saul's Suicide and Its Context
Now notice specifically the death of Saul in verses 3 to 6. The archers. The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him and he was severely wounded by the archers.
Now some translations might indicate that he was not hit by the archers. There is a what's called a textual variant there. Some suspect that he wasn't hit by the archers, but they were certainly in attack mode, coming in or closing in upon him. Either way, Saul is in a bad place.
Robert Alter surmises that the battle initially took place on the valley floor. And as a result, the Philistines, with their superior chariots, were able to mop up. And so Saul and his sons flee up into the mountains. Well, it would be natural at that point to send the archers, because that would be the way to take out your opponent in that particular kind of terrain.
Be that as it may, we see that Saul is either A. threatened by the archers or B. he's been hit by the archers. I suspect it is that he was severely wounded by the archers. Now notice in verse 4, Saul said to his armor-bearer, draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me. Again, make no mistake about it, Saul is asking for someone else to terminate his life.
It would be a form of euthanasia. It would be a form of mercy killing. Now, ultimately Saul engages in full-on suicide, but in this particular instance he makes this request. And notice, lest these uncircumcised men come.
It's interesting. To the bitter end, Saul still seems to retain some semblance of religion. He identifies them as uncircumcised men. What's the implication?
He himself is a circumcised man. Now, his religious status at this particular time, as we have seen, is certainly not stellar. I mean, he's consulted a medium. He has sought help from a witch in chapter 28.
And yet, to the very end, he still has at least this guise or at least this appearance of a religiosity. And notice, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me. That is not an unfounded concern. I mean, after Saul is dead, the Philistines abuse him.
That is precisely what takes place when they lop off his head and they carry it to the Temple of Dagon, and they put his armor in the Temple of Ashtoreth. That is abuse. But think as well the way the Philistines dealt with Samson. It was the Philistines who plucked his eyes out, or gouged his eyes out.
It was the Philistines who brought him into the Temple to make a mockery out of him. Again, this was a victory lap designed to indicate that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had failed And Dagon, the god of the Philistines, had reigned supreme. So Saul's concern here was certainly not without warrant or not without ground. And notice in verse 4b, but his armor-bearer would not.
Dill says that the armor-bearer, at least he cites some Jewish interpreters that say that the armor-bearer was Doeg the Edomite. It would be difficult for me to believe that Doeg wouldn't put that sword right through Saul. Now, some may say, well, he was devoted to King Saul in a way that he wasn't to the priests at Nob, but be that as it may, that is certainly a an idea or a view that is out there, but it doesn't indicate that in the text. But notice, his armor-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid.
We don't know why he was afraid. He didn't want to commit regicide. Maybe he did have devotion to King Saul. We're not told.
But notice that Saul takes matters into his own hand. At the end of verse 4, Saul took a sword and fell on it. Again, Saul commits suicide, enters the ranks of others that committed suicide, namely Abimelech. And Abimelech, in Judges chapter 9, went the same way.
Remember, a woman threw a millstone off of the tower wall, or down from the tower, and hit him. And then he asked his armor-bearer to thrust him through with a sword, lest it be reported that a woman had killed him. Now, his armor-bearer obliged him and killed him. But in this instance, this armor-bearer would not, so Saul took a sword and fell on it.
Other suicides in the Bible. Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 17, 23. Zimri in 1st Kings 1618 and Judas of course in the New Testament. Samson is not included there.
When we went through judges we argued that it was not a suicide because the text is specific that he killed more Philistines in his death than he did in his life. It was an act of war. It was a means by which he furthered the kingdom of God by bringing destruction upon the heads of the Philistines. That's not what's going on in this particular instance.
Saul kills himself. Notice in verse 5, when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. Verse 6 is then a summary statement. So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men, that does not mean every single one, every single soldier, probably his entourage, his bodyguards, those closest to him, and all his men died together that same day.
Response of the Philistines
That brings us to this response by the Philistines in verses 7 to 10. Notice the Israelites flee. As far as the Israelites are concerned, the king is dead, his sons are dead, the Philistines are mopping up the land with them. Verse 7 says, And when the men of Israel, who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them." Now that's a powerful statement.
Israelites have fled from their cities and the Philistines have occupied those cities. This was a strategic win. if you will, for the Philistines. Robert Vannoy says it this way, the Philistine route of Saul's troops caused such a panic in Israel that the inhabitants of villages in the eastern region of the Valley of Jezreel and even as far away as the eastern side of the Jordan River fled from their homes. The Philistines quickly moved into these villages including the important cities of Jezreel and Beth-Shem.
And by so doing, they not only drove a wedge between the tribes of the far north and the rest of Israel, remember it's about right here, they've got a wedge now between the northern tribes and the southern tribes, but they also gained control of the most important trade route that ran through Israel. Philistines may not have been the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, but they weren't complete idiots either. This was a strategic battle and a good location, and as Vannoy says, in the aftermath of this important Philistine victory, Israel was severely weakened, not only militarily, but also economically. So they dealt a blow to Israel on that particular day.
Now, as a result, the Philistines celebrate, the Philistines worship, the Philistines praise and adore their gods, and that is the meaning in verses 8 to 10. Notice in verse 8, so it happened the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. I mean, what a find for the Philistines at this particular time. They cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people.
There's a variant here as well that may indicate that they sent the head and the armor throughout the cities. The probable reading is that they sent messengers to proclaim the good news. It was gospel preaching in Philistia on the heels of this victory over Israel. So they cut off his head, they stripped off his armor, they sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people." Again, the significance is obvious.
It is to say that God, the Lord of Israel, has been defeated by the gods of the Philistines. We see something similar back in 1 Samuel chapter 5. Remember, after the Philistines defeat Israel in chapter 4, they capture the Ark of the Covenant. They take the Ark of the Covenant and they put it in the Temple of Dagon.
The significance, obviously, is that Dagon is victorious over Yahweh. But as we know, Yahweh reverses that sentiment by causing Dagon to fall before the Ark of the Covenant. They go in the next day to visit the particulars and they have to pick Dagon up. Again, when you have to pick up your God, it is a good indicator that you are serving a false God.
The next time they go in, they find him with his hand broken off, and again, fallen down. So the hand of Dagon is broken off. When they send away the Ark of the Covenant, I mean, their response is obvious, get it out of here. It then says that the hand of the Lord was mighty against them.
So Dagon is this half man, half fish, no hand having idle, and the arm of Yahweh is strong against the Philistine enemy. Later on, as I said, David will deal a decisive blow to the Philistines and subjugate them. But for now, this is the emphasis of the text that they are celebrating the win of Dagon and Ashtoreth. We know that his head was placed in Dagon's temple, from a parallel passage in First Chronicles chapter 10 at verse 10.
That's why we know, or how we know, that the head of Saul is in the temple of Dagon. You can turn there. We're going to quote from it later on as well. First Chronicles chapter 10, verse 10.
Then they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. So a victory lap, a victory march. And then notice what they do in verse 10. It says, then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
Now this wasn't simply a Philistine convention. Remember when David cut the giant head off of Goliath, he took it to Jerusalem. Remember that when David goes to the city of Nob, when he goes to visit the priest there, the priest says, we have a sword and it's Goliath's. It happens to be in that central sanctuary or in that place where the priest minister to Yahweh.
So this wasn't something confined to the Philistines, but they certainly did it as well. A sign that the contrary God had been subjected to or subjugated by the God of the peoples. So verse 10, Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. But you see, it wasn't just his body.
It was also the bodies of his sons, as is clear, when the men of Jabesh-Gilead go there to fetch Saul, they fetch Saul and the bodies of his sons. So this was a pretty nasty massacre on the part of these particular wretches. This was a pretty nasty situation or commentary rather on what they thought of or how they viewed the God of Israel in this particular instance.
Kindness of Jabesh-Gilead
And that brings us finally to the kindness of Jabesh Gilead. It says, now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead, remember this is on the east side of the Jordan River. There's a Gilead on the west side, but this is Jabesh Gilead. It's about 10 miles from the river. about 20 to 22 miles round trip for the Jabesh Gileadites to go to Bethshan to get the bodies and to bring them back.
It was about a 20 to a 22 mile journey for these men to go and fetch Saul and his sons. So verse 11. Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and traveled 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.
Now Davis tells us that burning the bodies was not normal Hebrew practice. The Hebrews typically buried their dead. the pagans typically burned their dead. But he goes on to say, but it may have been judged necessary due to decomposition and the ravages of carrion birds. And remember, these are headless corpses, or at least Saul's was a headless corpse at this particular time.
The body is fastened on a wall at Beth-shan. The head is in the temple of Dagon. So these Jabesh Gileadites go, fetch the bodies, they burn the bodies, and then they bury the bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh. And it seems a bit of an interesting way to end 1 Samuel chapter 31.
I mentioned it's an act of kindness. And if we ask the question, why did the Jabesh Gileadites do this? In fact, if this wasn't on, I would take a moment to see if anybody wanted to venture a guess as to why the Jabesh Gileadites did this act of kindness. It is an act of kindness.
Because the bodies, the corpses, are basically being mocked by the Philistines. So they go under the cover of night, make this 20 to 22 mile journey, which demands a lot of courage. If they're found taking this booty, basically, away from the Philistines, the Philistines are going to punish them and ultimately kill them, most likely. So they're certainly courageous men.
But we need to remember that they are men who remember well what Saul had done for them in their past. At the very beginning of Saul's reign, remember it wasn't always misery in terms of the reign of Saul. Saul started off well specifically by delivering the Jabesh Gileadites from Nahash the Ammonite. Remember, he's the one who basically came to the Gileadites and said, I want you to be subjugated to me.
No, he said, I want you to give me your eyes. And they said, we don't want to give you our eyes. And he said, well, I'll give you a day to think about it. Well, it was Saul that brought deliverance to the Jabesh Gileadites in 1 Samuel chapter 11.
Davis says it this way. Jabesh Gilead had never forgotten. Nahash, the Ammonite, was as skilled a mutilator as any Philistine. But when he threatened Jabesh Gilead, Saul, in the power of the Spirit, that's 11.6, had marched to their rescue.
And a night march at that, 11.11. Saul's reign began with his deliverance of Jabesh, chapter 11, and ends with Jabesh's deliverance of Saul in chapter 31. The Spirit may have departed from Saul, and Yahweh may not answer him, but time was when Saul was their Savior, and they remain grateful. Proper burial and fasting are in order.
That's a good way to see this particular section. What Saul had done in terms of Jabesh Gilead was a good and noble thing. So brethren, when someone does a good and noble thing for us, it is good. to remember that it is good to exercise gratitude even if subsequently they go the way that a Saul went. Notice they don't say, well Saul ended up like a big wretch, Saul was a big apostate, Saul defected, Saul did...
No, they remembered the act of kindness that Saul brought in terms of deliverance from these murderous Ammonites and they respond in kind. They respond with a genuine kindness They care for Saul and his sons in their departed state. They burn their bodies, they bury their bones, and then they fasted for seven days as a result of this particular activity.
Application
So that's the exposition. It's a short chapter, so we'll probably end early tonight, but we should make just a few observations before we end our study.
Remember Jonathan's Steadfast Faithfulness
So I've already said we ought to remember the faithfulness of Jonathan. Brethren, it is easy to, at times, fall into a sort of a mercenary mindset. Roger just alluded to it, or our brother just alluded to it. You know, there are persons who, they want to go to heaven because of the things they think they'll get, or they want to go to heaven because of the, you know, it's a big basketball court in the sky.
And then there are those who want to go to heaven because that's where Jesus is. Well, there are those who serve in the Christian life for what they get. There are those who serve in the Christian life for the sort of accolades they might receive. Or they'll serve in the Christian life because they want to have a particular posture or to be recognized within the context of the local church.
Perhaps this has never risen up in your hearts, and praise God that's the case, but there are some that ought to watch themselves that they are not serving to be seen by men. We are serving to be seen by the living and true God, and I think that Jonathan typifies that depicts that, evidences that, and manifests that all too clearly. Here was a man who, as far as this earth is concerned, had everything going for him. He didn't complain about Saul.
He didn't grumble about his father. He didn't say, if you wouldn't have been such a meathead, I would have taken the throne like I was destined to do. You ruined everything. No, after all of the difficulties, Incurred by Jonathan, we find him at Mount Gilboa next to his father, serving in battle and dying at the hands of these godless men.
We ought to dare to be Jonathan. Steadfast faithfulness, faithful plotting over the long haul to serve the living and true God, not to gain the praise or the accolades or the adoration of men in this world.
The Decline of Saul and God's Providence
As well, we ought to remind ourselves ultimately of the decline of Saul, the contrast with David until the end. I think if you look all the way back to chapter 16, you will see that time and time and time again. The narrator, the author, the writer is telling us that Saul has declined and David is on the rise. We see that not because of political savvy.
We see that not because of military strategy. We see that because of theological commitment. David is a man after God's own heart. David responds to the living and true God the way that a man of God ought to.
But Saul, every step of the way, rejects God's prophet, kills God's priests, and hunts God's anointed. Certainly, it is not going to go well for a man who engages in that sort of a manner. And then we see here the bitter end of Saul, as I mentioned, the parallel in 1 Chronicles 10, specifically verses 13 and 14, make a summary statement that just truly captures chapters 16 to 31 in the book of 1 Samuel. The Chronicler writes, So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. but he did not inquire of the Lord, therefore he killed him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse." We see there as well God's providence that has been conspicuous throughout this book.
This wasn't a lucky venture on the part of the Philistines This was the wrath and judgment of God against a wicked king in Israel. God is sovereign in His providence. From the donkeys that were lost, to the identification of Saul, and to every step of the way, everything has transpired under the absolute control of the living and true God. We need to understand that.
The Philistines don't get glory in 1 Samuel 31. God gets the glory for bringing an end to this wicked apostate who had made a mockery out of the throne in Israel.
The Glory of God as Chief Concern
As well, as we've already mentioned, we ought to see the glory of God is a concern, if not the foremost concern in this particular chapter. We need to ask ourselves, is that our concern? Are we about the glory of God? When we read this chapter, do we say, oh, it's pretty sad what we see concerning Saul, the end of a man who started off well and, you know, took some wrong turns.
We should ponder and we should consider the tragedy that is involved with Jonathan. But it really ought to get our goat when we see the living and true God mocked. When we see the living and true God mocked in terms of Dagon and Ashtoreth being given the glory for bringing victory to the Philistines on that particular day. Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 10 says, so then whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
That ought to be the uppermost concern for the people of God. It ought not to be our comfort, our security, our blessedness, but it ought to be the glory of God. These are tough lessons, brethren, to be a faithful Jonathan and to be a man or a woman consumed first and foremost with the glory of God. But there are lessons that are set before us in 1 Samuel and lessons that we would do well to internalize and seek by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to put into practice.
Is it the case in your life and mine that everything we do, we do for the glory of God? Now, there may be a cursory glance and say, yeah, well, yeah, of course. But do we drive to the glory of God? I have to confess I'm guilty here.
I drive with not the glory of God in mind. I am increasingly more disturbed in my lack of patience when I drive. I have to confess my sins to the Lord God Almighty. Whether you eat, whether you drink, or whether you drive, do all to the glory of God.
Be careful when you're pointing fingers, brethren. If it ain't driving, it's probably something else. Do you parent? To the glory of God.
Are you a son or a daughter? To the glory of God. Are you an employee? To the glory of God.
Isn't that what Paul tells us in Ephesians? We are to render service, not I service, but service unto the Lord God. So all that we do, we do to the glory of God. I think as Christians we just sort of adopt these slogans, but we don't contemplate them, we don't consider them.
I guarantee you that these Philistines were doing what they did to the glory of their false gods. And Israel, defeated in that particular battle, had to face reality that the Philistines were mocking their God. We need to consider that reality and we need to live in light of it.
Gratitude and Kindness
As well, we ought to learn from the Jabesh Gileadites that we ought to be a thankful people. We ought to express kindness. We ought to express gratitude to those or for those who do kind things for us. In this instance, a man had committed utter apostasy and defection from the living and true God.
But the Gileadites didn't write him off. They didn't say, well, you know, that's the way it goes. No, they remembered 1 Samuel chapter 11. They remember that they almost lost their eyes to an Ammonite madman.
And as far as they were concerned, that they were able to see the trees and see the sun and see each other, that meant, you know, we ought to do a solid back for Saul and for his sons.
God's Word Always Comes to Pass
As well, we ought to observe in this particular chapter the relentless fulfillment of God's Word. the relentless fulfillment of God's Word. 1 Samuel 13, verses 13 and 14, the first announcement that Saul would not be king, or rather Saul's family. would not be king. 1 Samuel chapter 15, another one, when Samuel tears the piece of Saul's robe and says, the Lord God is tearing the kingdom from you and He's going to give it to a neighbor who is better than you. 1 Samuel chapter 16, the anointing of David. 1 Samuel chapter 23, when Jonathan reassures David that he would, in fact, be king. And, of course, 1 Samuel 28, verse 19. When Saul goes to consult the medium, she calls up Samuel. What does Samuel say to Saul?
Samuel says that tomorrow you and your sons will die. So whether for good or for ill, whatever God's Word says comes to pass. That message may be one of blessing, that message may be one of love, that message may be one of encouragement, that message may be one that brings great hardship to bear on the recipient, but trust in the reality that God's Holy Word will come to pass. And then finally, and I'm going to lean on Davis here, this is a good summary of 1 Samuel.
Not a summary so much as to its essential parts, but just an overall assessment of the tenor of first Samuel. Excuse me. He says first Samuel. is not a biblical book in itself. Remember, we noted that 1 and 2 Samuel go together.
The chapter and verse divisions were added later. If you were contemporaneous to the author, you would have got 1 and 2 Samuel in a Cambridge goatskin leather. in just one volume. It wouldn't have been two separate... Just kidding there.
Just to make sure you're all with me here. He says 1st Samuel is not a biblical book in itself. 1st and 2nd Samuel constitute the whole document. That's why next Wednesday night we're going to jump right into the text. Typically, when we start new books of the Bible, we do introduction.
We don't need to do introduction because 2 Samuel just continues. It would be 1 Samuel 32 if we weren't going to get rid of some of these divisions. So understand that. But Davis goes on to say, nevertheless, there is something appropriate about the imposed division of the books after 1 Samuel 31.
It will not do to smile the tragedy away. Modern fattest notwithstanding, Israel needs far more than a shot of self-esteem. The picture is hardly sunny. Leadership annihilated, territory evacuated.
Some fled, others couldn't. Their bodies litter the slopes of Gilboa. It is a sad sight. Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
In fact, 1 Samuel is simply a sad book of one disappointment after another. The judgment on ungodly leadership, Hophni and Phinehas, chapters 1 to 4, the rejection of prophetic leadership, Samuel in chapters 8 and 12, and the disintegration of royal leadership, Saul, chapters 13 to 31. He says, here is the kingdom of God enduring one failure after another. Yet Yahweh, who looks on the heart, has chosen a shepherd for these scattered sheep.
Psalm 80, 70, and 71. Presently, nothing looks quite so dismal as Gilboa, but then it's not what man sees. Isn't that the point? 1 Samuel 16.7, God is not like man. God looks on the heart, and that sets the stage for what the Lord God will do as He raises up this shepherd for Israel, namely David, and that's what 2 Samuel highlights.
And 2 Samuel indicates that the Philistines get their comeuppance. In 2 Samuel 8.1, we find that they are subjugated by David and no longer a threat. to Israel, at least at that particular time. So again, I think some fitting words as we conclude this study in 1 Samuel 31. Well, let us pray.
Closing Prayer
Our Father, we thank you for this book that has been such a challenge and an encouragement. It has been a blessing to go through it, and we know that you are the God who has given us this for doctrine, for for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. May we see the obvious lessons concerning your sovereignty, concerning providence, concerning your kingdom, concerning righteousness in terms of those who serve you. I pray, Father, that you would help us to internalize these truths, help us to walk accordingly, help us to be men and women that are consumed with your glory and for your glory.
Help us as well to be a people of thankfulness and gratitude and kindness. And as well, our God, may we be steadfast and faithful to the very end. You call us to perseverance, You call us to faithful plotting, and we pray for Your Spirit to be upon us so we may do that very thing, and thus bring glory and honor and praise to our great God. And may it be the case that one day we would hear the Savior say, well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your rest.
We ask that you would go with us now and pray again for the entirety of our local church, that you'd watch over our brothers and our sisters, that you would encourage your people and cause us to shine as lights in this increasingly crooked and perverse generation and give us boldness and opportunity to hold forth the word of truth. And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.