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A Brief Look at 1 Samuel 31: Death of a Terrible King

King Saul had displeased God. So God pronounced judgment upon him. God removed his Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 28:1-24).

Years later Saul was desperate to find good advice. He knew the
Philistine army was coming to kill him so he prayed to God. But God did not answer him. Notice Saul did not repent. It’s important for us to have a heart of repentance before the Lord.

Then Saul turned to a witch who had the power to communicate with the dead. She contracted the Priest Samuel, who proclaimed God’s judgment of death for Saul and his sons.

God pronounced death on Saul and his sons as both judgement against them and protection for Israel. God was providing protection against Saul’s evil heart.

God’s judgment is inevitable (Deuteronomy 7:2).

A few hours after he asked the witch for help, he is injured in battle.

Wait… it has been years since God removed his Spirit from Saul. Why is he now going to let Saul die? God brings his judgment in his own choice of timing (Romans 2:1-16… Actually, focus on verse 5).

Let’s not forget Christian’s will be judged too (Romans 14:9-13; 1 Corinthians 3:5-17). Therefore, we should strive to live to please the Lord.

When God fulfilled his promise of taking the kingdom away from Saul and his bloodline, Saul was severely injured in battle. He watched skilled warriors die in this battle. His heart must have been sad because three of his sons were just killed in this battle. With the death of his sons, his dynasty in the kingdom fell.

He was injured and weak he knew he could not withstand another fight. He was unwilling to let the unclean Philistines torture him. He didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of taking credit for his death, so he committed suicide.

Notice Saul doesn’t doubt his death. He knew he was about to die. He still refuses to call on God in repentance. Instead, he is worried about what his enemies will think about his death.

How often do we make this mistake?
How many times have we been more interested in the opinion of other people instead of having a desire to please God?

Interestingly, Saul died in the same place he began, Beth-shan (1 Samuel 31:11-13).

You may recall Beth-shan is where Saul had his first battle as king. His first battle was to save the Jabesh-gileads.

Saul was King for forty years. During that time he could not gain land that God had already promised the people. He didn’t drive away the enemies. In fact, at his death he is afraid of them. Saul’s kingdom gained more Philistines than they expelled. This shows he hurt the nation more than helped. And he died at the same place where he started.

Saul began as a man with the Spirit of God on him. God gave him a new heart. At the end of his life, he asked the one person sworn to protect him to kill him, because he wants to look good.

What will be said of you and me when we die?
Can it be said that you attracted more of God’s enemies than you ran away?

Can it be said that you achieved what God promised?
Or will it be said that you achieved nothing for God?—that you died where you started?

Unfortunately, The Philistines celebrated Saul’s death, believing it to be delightful news for them. They disrespected him by mutilating his body—removing the head. They robbed his dead body—they took his armor and put it on display in their temple of the demon Ashtaroth. Ashtaroth is the Philistine god of war. By there, actions they are giving praise to their demon for God’s judgment.

These demon worshipers continued their celebrations by disgracefully fastening Saul’s body, along with his son’s  bodies, to the wall of Beth-shan.

All the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead came and removed the bodies of Saul and his sons from the place of disgrace. Even though Saul deserves the disrespect. These men wanted to honor their Nation and God. Despite Saul’s evil these men knew him to be God’s anointed therefore, they were respectful of him.

We should take a lesson here. Let’s overlook the offensive actions of others (especially leaders) and give respect in case God anoints them.

It’s important to remember the Bible tells us to give honor to God’s anointed (Roman 13:1; 1 Thesss 5: 12-13; 1 Timothy 5 :7; Hebrews 13:7).

The valiant men burned the bodies in Jabesh (1 Samuel 3).

Do you have a humble heart before God?
Or
Have you refused to let God change you?

Has God begun to change something, but you have been stubborn?

If you are stubborn towards God’s desires to change you, he will let you die in your sin.

But if you submit to repentance to God, he will renew you.

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Timothy R Carter

Hailing from the serene landscapes of North Georgia, Timothy Roy Carter wears multiple hats with equal finesse. Timothy's spiritual journey was chiseled from a young age, the middle child of a pastor, an inheritance he imbibed and eventually embraced as he, too, chose the path of a lead pastor. Academically, Timothy is no slouch. He boasts a BA in Pastoral Ministries from the esteemed Lee University and further sharpened his theological insights with a Master of Divinities from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. His credentials, however, don't just reside in parchments and certificates but are echoed in the community he serves and leads with devotion. Timothy's love for the written word manifests in his column for the local newspaper—a testament to his eloquence and deep insights. Before this, he had the privilege of reaching audiences through columns in two other newspapers, disseminating wisdom and observations that were both profound and accessible. While many know him as a pastor and columnist, fewer know his prowess as an author. With a flair for both fiction and nonfiction, Timothy's bibliography is diverse. He crafts nonfictional guides aimed at nurturing budding writers while also penning works focused on demystifying the intricacies of the Bible for the lay reader. For those with a penchant for the imaginative, Timothy's science fiction works offer a delightful escape, marrying profound spiritual insights with the limitless boundaries of speculative fiction. Beyond the pulpit and the pen, Timothy is an artist at heart. He finds solace in the strokes of paintbrushes and the sketches of pencils, creating visual art that speaks as eloquently as his writings. He is also a staunch advocate for holistic well-being, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between the mind, body, and spirit. This has led him to delve deep into nutrition and exercise, not just as a personal pursuit but as a mission to educate and elevate others. In Timothy Roy Carter, one finds a harmonious blend of a spiritual guide, a wordsmith, an artist, and a wellness advocate. But above all, at his core, he is an educator fervently dedicated to the noble cause of enlightening minds and enriching souls. He is the author of several books, blogs, newspapers, and international journal articles. Carter holds degrees of Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministries, with a concentration in Counseling from Lee University (2005); Master of Divinities with a concentration in Counseling from Pentecostal Theological Seminary (2008). Carter is a Bishop with Church of God, Cleveland, TN.; License Community Service Chaplain; Licensed Level 4 Church Consultant; Christian Counselor. Bishop Carter is available for speaking engagements and or training sessions. You can contact him here.