1 Samuel 31 - The Tragic End of Saul

Last time in 1 Samuel, we saw David return to Ziklag to find the city burned with fire, and all their women and children had been carried away captives. David and his men were greatly distressed, and David’s men even spoke of stoning him. However, David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. He could have chosen to be angry and bitter, but instead, he drew near to the Lord to seek His counsel. The Lord told David they should pursue after the Amalekites, and that they would recover all. David did so, and gave a portion of the spoil to his men and to the people in the areas where he and his men were accustomed to stay.

Now, the scene returns to Saul and the nation of Israel preparing for war with the Philistines. If we recall, Saul had visited a medium the night before to ask counsel of Samuel, and Samuel had told him that he and his sons would die in battle. Saul was so distressed at this, that he could not rise off the ground until the medium and his servants compelled him to eat. He was in no shape to fight a battle the next day.

When the Philistines fought against Israel, Israel fled from before them. They were slain on Mount Gilboa, meaning they retreated back to their own camp. The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and killed Saul’s sons. Next, they mortally wounded Saul, and Saul, thinking he would not live, said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.” When his armourbearer refused to do so out of fear, Saul fell upon his own sword.

One might think that Saul, seeing he was about to die, would make his peace with God, but there was none of that from Saul. There is no telling what the Lord might have done for Saul if he had repented, but he chose to hold onto his sin until the bitter end. Apparently, his own attempt at suicide did not even succeed, for we are told in 2 Samuel that an Amalekite finished him off. I think it is interesting that the Amalekites that the Lord had told Saul to destroy that he chose not to, were the ones who killed him. It was as if the Lord was bringing him back to that unrepentant sin that marked his downfall. I don’t know if it was as much for Saul’s benefit as it is for ours, for Saul was on his way out. However, you and I can look and learn from his example. This is what unrepentant sin always does: it comes back to bite us eventually. We have a tendency to think we can get away with certain sins because we don’t experience immediate consequences, but the Scriptures teach that there will be consequences. They state, “…be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23) And, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) True repentance does not alleviate all consequences, but it certainly can lessen them.

I believe this is an appropriate time to write about suicide. There are three examples of suicide in the Bible: There was Saul, Ahithophel, and Judas Iscariot. When you examine their lives, all three were in direct rebellion against God. We have already learned of Saul, Ahithophel counseled Absolom in trying to overthrow David as king, and Judas, motivated by greed, regularly stole money from Jesus’ ministry and betrayed Him to the Jewish leaders. All three chose taking their own life rather than truly repenting. I wonder what would have happened if Saul had repented? If Ahithophel had repented, I wonder if David would have shown him mercy? If Judas had repented, I know the Lord would have forgiven him. Suicide is still murder, folks. As I have heard it said, it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It is the wrong solution. They are thinking of no one but themselves, and they do not care what everyone who is left behind thinks or feels. It is truly a selfish and sinful thing to do. It is murder, because it is still killing someone who was made in the image of God Genesis 9:6). God is the only one who has the right to take a life, except for those instances in which He has given permission for us to do so. So, does someone who commits suicide lose their salvation? My theology has changed somewhat on this subject over time. If you were to tell me you believed you had good reason to question their conversion based off their decision to take their own life, you may have a fair argument. Genuine faith produces a changed life that no longer wants to live after the flesh. It’s especially difficult to imagine someone who walks into a place, murders several people, and then takes their own life is not demon-possessed. I think many who do these types of things probably are possessed, or at the very least, heavily influenced by demonic forces. However, if someone was truly born again, they have been saved by placing their faith in Jesus alone for salvation, and therefore, no sin can take it away from them. If sin could take it away, then not sinning would have had to have helped secure their salvation in some way. Believing that one can lose their salvation by sinning somehow ultimately translates into a works-based salvation, and makes us no different than the cults that teach you must believe in Jesus plus do good works to go to Heaven. The only sin that will condemn us is not believing on Jesus Christ for salvation (see Jn 3:18 and Jn 16:9.

When the Israelites on the other side of the valley and on the other side of Jordan saw the soldiers fleeing and that Saul was dead, they forsook their cities, and the Philistines dwelt in them. The next day, when the Philistines went to strip the slain, they found the dead bodies of Saul and his sons. They beheaded Saul, and published the tidings in the temples of their idols and among the people (probably carrying his head around on display). They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and fastened his body to the wall at Beth Shan. This was a public disgrace to do this to Saul’s dead body, and when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of it, the valiant men went all night and took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. Then they burned their bodies and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh. If we recall, Saul, at the beginning of his reign, had helped the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead against the Ammonites, and won a great victory. Despite Saul’s failings and tragic ending, these men still proved their loyalty to their king out of gratitude for what he had done for them.

Saul’s end was a tragic one that could well have been different if he had only chosen to yield to the Lord’s will instead of his own. His reign, although having some positive notes, largely goes down as a failure, and this is what we should expect when insisting on living a life of sin rather than one of obedience to the Lord. Saul reigned for 40 years, so it may seem as though the Lord was standing idly by while he played the fool and mad man by murderously pursuing David and the priests of the Lord. However, everything the Lord said would happen to Saul did come to pass. The Lord was being gracious to Saul by giving him that time to repent. All this should serve as a good object lesson for you and me. Despite all this, we will see David’s response to Saul’s death, which will be different than we might expect.