2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and hissons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab andMalki-Shua.
3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when thearchers overtook him, they wounded him critically. - P154
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer,
"Draw your sword andrun me through, or these uncircumcised fellows willcome and run me through and abuse me." But his ar-mor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saultook his own sword and fell on it. - P154
5 When the armor-bearer
saw that Saul was dead, he toofell on his sword and died with him.
6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer andall his men died together that
same day. - P154
9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, andthey sent messengers throughout the land of the Philis-tines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idolsand among their people. 10 They put his armor in thetemple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to thewall of Beth Shan. - P155
11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what thePhilistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant menmarched through the night to Beth Shan. They tookdown the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall ofBeth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them.
13 Then they took their bones and buried them undera tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
th tho tamarisk tree at Jabesh, - P155
The Philistines attack Israel and kill Saul‘s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and MalkiShua.
Saul asks his armor-bearer
to kill him, but when he refuses, Saul fallson his own sword. - P155
The Israelites abandon their towns and flee, and the Philistines come and occupy the towns.
They cut off Saul‘s head and proclaim thenews among their people. The bones of Saul and his sons are buried at Jabesh. - P155
Saul, who had at one point in his reign won decisive victories over thePhilistines, is now soundly defeated by Israel‘s mortal enemies. - P156
Havingtaken his own life, he lies dead, together with his sons, on the battle-field. The Philistines once again occupy Israelite towns, and all that Saulhad accomplished as king is undone. - P156
Saul‘s failure is not due to any lackof military or political ability; it is the direct result of his disobedience toGod. - P156
Regardless of a person‘s gifts and abilities, true success is found ina life that walks humbly and obediently before God. - P156
Whatever worldly accomplishments
we achieve, our life‘s legacy will be measured bywhether or not we were devoted to the one we call Lord. - P156
The town of Jabesh Gilead, a town rescued by Saul at the beginning ofhis reign, sends some of its bravest men to recover the bodies of Sauland his sons. - P156
Throughout his life, David honored Saul as king because,
for all his faults, Saul was the Lord‘s appointed leader. - P156
The fact that thebook of 1 Samuel concludes with this story of the Israelites honoringtheir king is significant. - P156
We may not always agree with the decisions ofour political leaders, but we must still respect the office they hold. - P156
TheNew Testament clearly teaches this through the writings of the apostlesPaul and Peter. Let us honor our worldly leaders keeping in mind thatour faith does not ultimately rest on them but in the sovereign Godwho holds the world in His hands. - P156
"It is not your business to succeed, but to do right: when you have done so, therest lies with God." - C.S. Lewis - P156
Lord, I cry out to You in my pain and disappointment over the promises of thisworld. Teach me to walk in Your ways and to look to You and You alone fordeliverance. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P157
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