The Death of King Saul

“Some day,” D.L. Moody used to say, “you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don’t believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now!” He preached his last sermon in Kansas City on Nov. 23, 1899, from the … More

Death

With the beginning of this chapter the author goes back to the beginning of Israel’s kingdom period.  It is devoted to the death of Saul and the destruction of his sons at the hands of the Philistines. This narrative of the Philistine conquest of Israel at Mount Gilboa (l Chron. 10:1-12) is practically identical to l Samuel 31. However, for some reason the author adds the fact that the Philistines hung Saul’s head in the Temple of Dagon (v. 10). Dagon was the most important god of the Philistines as it was believed that he brought rain and provided rich harvests. They built temples to him when they settled in the agricultural areas of Canaan. In times of drought the people begged Dagon for pity, even to the point of sacrificing their children in his temple. However, Dagon, like the other heathen gods, was powerless against the one true God (1 Samuel 5:1-7).

In the very last verse of this chapter it says, “the Lord....turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (v. 14). The whole chapter has not been about David but about his predecessor, Saul. He says the reason for Saul’s downfall was that “he was unfaithful to the Lord....did not keep the command of the Lord....did not seek guidance from the Lord” (vv. 13-14).  It was because of this that God replaced Saul by David.

Application

Saul not only did wrong, but he also failed to do right. He attempted to commit murder but at the same time neglected to ask God for guidance as he ran the kingdom. It is not enough for me to just avoid doing what is wrong, but I need to actively pursue what is right. 

I Chronicles 10:1-14 (English Standard Version)


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