STS Adult Lesson 227 – The Tragic Death of Saul

Text: 1 Samuel 31:1-13

The text gives a vivid account of the tragic death of Saul, the first king of Israel, in a battle with the Philistines. This sad end was a culmination of repeated acts of disobedience, attempts to thwart God’s will with impunity, and unwillingness to repent of sin wholeheartedly. The Scripture affirms as well as warns present-day counterparts of Saul that, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).

Death, a fact of life, brings a transition to another world of timeless bliss or blight. Those who are redeemed by Christ will be ushered through death into an endless joy with God while sinners and backsliders will pass on to an irrecoverable and endless misery in hell. With the absence of divine guidance and his straying to consult a witch without any recorded moment of genuine repentance before going into this battle, Saul’s death was a miserable and ignoble one.

1. Saul’s Delusion and Backsliding

References: 1 Samuel 31:1; Joshua 7:8-12; 1 Chronicles 10:1-3; 28:9,10; 15:1,2; Psalm 33:16-22

Saul’s downward course, which had started some years back, was coming to a fatal end. “Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa” (1 Samuel 31:1). The size and armory of the Philistines’ army, the absence of David who had become a champion by killing Goliath, and most importantly the departure of divine presence from Saul all predisposed Israel’s army to a colossal defeat. Just as Achan caused Israel’s defeat at Ai, Saul was responsible for this national disgrace on Mount Gilboa. His incessant disobedience, even in the face of rebuke, had ruptured his relationship with God and created a gulf that eventually led to permanent severance.

Though still actively occupying the prime political position in the land, Saul had become estranged from God. He could no longer receive the support and direction necessary for the theocratic monarchy he was supposed to run. Though he started well by displaying commendable humility and evidence of the Holy Spirit’s influence, he soon veered off course. David’s counsel to Solomon remains relevant to present-day believers: “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever” (1 Chronicles 28:9). At the time of Jeremiah, Israel had lost their relationship with God. Christ also revealed the state of the church in Sardis that “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Revelation 3:1) and calls it to watchfulness and repentance to avoid eventual damnation.

Believers must quickly deal with any of the following marks of backsliding before they lead to destruction:

1. Being filled with one’s own ways (1 Samuel 15:14-23; Proverbs 14:14; Jeremiah 44:16,17)
2. Holding unto deceit, error, or false doctrine (Job 31:1-5; Jeremiah 8:5)
3. Trusting in material possessions rather than in God (Jeremiah 49:4; Revelation 3:17-20)
4. Justifying one’s misdeeds instead of admitting guilt (Jeremiah 3:11,12)
5. Wandering to spiritually condemned worship houses (Jeremiah 31:22; Galatians 2:18)

2. Saul’s Death in Battle

References: 1 Samuel 31:2-10; 13:13,14; 1 Chronicles 10:3-10,13,14; 1 Kings 13:20-26

The Scripture is silent on the cause of the war that led to Saul’s death, but explicit on its cost for Israel. “And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers” (1 Samuel 31:2,3). Realising that the end had come and hating to be humiliated by the uncircumcised Philistines, Saul requested to be slain by his armour-bearer, who declined for fear of desecrating the Lord’s anointed. At last, Saul sealed his doom by committing suicide. This is undoubtedly the most tragic part of Saul’s entire life. He died without settling with God, though he had several opportunities to do so. Even at the point of death, all that mattered to his proud heart was the insult of the uncircumcised rather than the eternal damnation awaiting his soul. He acted like all carnal men who mind earthly glory more than eternity in heaven.

The armour-bearer’s refusal of his master’s ungodly request teaches us that regardless of the personality involved, any sinful request or ungodly order must be refused. The believer must choose to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). The murder of oneself is the highest expression of mortal folly. It implies cooperating with one’s chief enemy, the devil, to destroy one’s soul (2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:5). Believers must never consider it an option under any circumstance to harm themselves or take their own lives.

Questions often arise as to the fate of Jonathan: why do good men like Uriah, Naboth, Stephen, and many other martyrs die prematurely? Such deaths do not imply God reneging on His promise, nor do they suggest His inability to preserve His saints. God still keeps the distinction between His beloved children and others. “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness” (Isaiah 57:1,2). Regardless of how, why, or when a righteous person dies, he “hath hope in his death” (Proverbs 14:32).

The Philistines beheaded the king, hung his body on the wall of Bethshan, and “put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon” (1 Chronicles 10:10). They ignorantly attributed their victory to their gods, totally unaware that it was God’s design to pave the way for His anointed king. By the time David came to the throne, he defeated the Philistines and recovered all the territories they had taken from Israel.

3. Steadfast Decision by the Brave

References: 1 Samuel 31:11-13; 1 Chronicles 10:11,12; 1 Samuel 24:1-6; Romans 15:3,4

The first book of Samuel ends with the heroic exploit of the men of Jabeshgilead. “All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons… and burnt them there… and buried them under a tree at Jabesh…” (1 Samuel 31:12,13). This was a manifest respect for the slain leader who at the commencement of his reign had rescued them from deep degradation and tyranny (1 Samuel 11:1-3,11). Today, bravery is shown in the Kingdom by labouring for the Lord and His people.

The burning of the corpses was probably due to their deteriorating state, having been in the open for about three days. Yet the men were careful to preserve the bones for proper burial. It is noteworthy that no one from Saul’s family, the priesthood, or even David raised an objection against the way these valiant men handled the corpses. Everyone understood and appreciated the effort and risk they took and their common concern for the honour of Israel. Believers should take necessary risks and steps to preserve the honour of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, at all times.

As this study concludes, we are reminded of the tragic end of a man favoured by God with promising potential who had a pitiable ending. It started with complacency and loss of relationship with the Lord, continued with self-righteousness and preoccupation with mundane things, until death. We do well to remember that “all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11,12). Watchfulness is the antidote to spiritual declension and the malicious intent of the devil against pilgrims of heaven. Heaven is the home of those who watch, pray, and maintain holiness of life until the end.

Questions for Review

1. Why is it urgent for sinners to repent?
2. Point out the risk of perpetual backsliding.
3. Describe Saul’s spiritual state at the time of his death as it relates to believers today.
4. Outline some of the marks of backsliding that believers must avoid.
5. What striking lessons does Saul’s tragic death teach the church?
6. Comment on the action of the men of Jabeshgilead.
7. What is the place of watchfulness in the success of the believer’s pilgrimage to heaven?