I SAMUEL 31 Lesson # 31
DEFEAT CANNOT ERASE LOYALTY
I. Introduction:
Note: We come to the end of the first book of Samuel (or the first book of Kings) and the book ends in tragedy. We have seen the fall of the house of Eli, the rise and blessing of Samuel’s ministry, the rise and fall of Saul, the rise of David, and we end on a sad note with the death of Saul and the defeat of Israel in battle. The book will end on a sad note, but typically of the Bible, a little sunlight will shine through in the last three verses. That little light will break forth into bright sunshine with the crowning of David in the next book.
II. The Battle At Mt. Gilboa. I Samuel 31:1-6.
A. The Report of the Battle. I Samuel 31:1
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 31:1.
Q What else happened on Mt. Gilboa in the Book of I Samuel?
An = Davis (p. 184) points out that Mt. Gilboa is where Israel’s folly of Idolatry is pointed out. >> Have someone read I Samuel 8:7-8. She had craved for a king to solve the problem of the Philistine threat instead of relying on God. Instead of trusting in God, she wanted to trust in something tangible, like kingship. All false gods will disappoint us in the end. On Mt. Gilboa Israel sought a king, instead of God, to deal with the Philistines. Now, on Mt. Gilboa she learned that such trust was as misguided, as Samuel had warned.
Q Can you describe a battle any more quickly than this?
An = When the Bible describes something quickly, look to see what it takes more time to describe. That is usually a clue to what it thinks is the more valuable issue for our lives to know about.
B. Saul’s Last Words and Deeds. I Samuel 31:2-6.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 31:2-6.
Q What is Saul worried about in his last dying moment?
An = Saul is wounded and does not want to be made sport of, or tortured.
Q Is this a fair thing to ask of a young man: to kill his anointed king?
An = Notice the man was terrified or in great fear. We do not know why he was fearful, perhaps he feared striking an anointed king. Poor leadership can lead people into the wrong patterns. Saul kills himself and then this leads the armor-bearer to kill himself. Saul’s last speech is not a noble one.
Note: Davis notes that the verbs tell the story of this military disaster: Three times the verb “to flee” (1,7), four times “to fall/fallen” (1,4,5,8), “strike down” (2) “writhe or wounded” (3), twice the verb “to pierce through” (4,4), four times “to die” (5,6,7), twice to “strip (8,9) and then “to cut off” (9), and “to nail” (10).
Q Though the story centers on Saul’s death, who else also dies?
An = The troops, the armor-bearer, and Saul’s three sons, especially Jonathan. When the leadership is bad it had effect on others.
Q Who prophesied that this would happen?
An = Samuel himself, in 28:19.
III. The Aftermath of the Battle. I Samuel 31:7-13.
A. The Fleeing Israelites. I Samuel 31:7.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 31:7.
Note: This text probably means that those anywhere near the battle site fled their homes and cities. This allowed the Philistines to consolidate their hold on a key part of Israelite territory that effectively split the tribes from each other.
Q What is the proof of the anointing of God on a military leader?
An = Victory. The loss and the defeat of Saul are proof of his lost anointing.
B. Philistine Looting of the Battlefield: The Desecration of Saul. I Samuel 31:8-10.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 31:8-10.
Q Whose honor is dragged in the ground with Israelite defeat besides Saul?
An = God’s honor. It appears that the Lord cannot protect His king. Notice they rejoice in the land and put the armor of Saul in the temples of their gods. Ashtoroth (plural for Ashurah or Istar) is both a fertility goddess and the goddess of war.
Note: Your author has not given much space to the actual battle but a great deal of space to recording the desecration of Saul.
Q We are nearing the end of I Samuel. Is this a depressing way to end the book?
An = Yes, it is. Israel lies defeated, some of her cities occupied, Jonathan and his brothers are dead. Israel is leaderless, and God’s Name is dishonored. But, from clear design of the book, none of this is a surprise. It was all predicted: I Samuel 28:19. The prophet had spoken the Word of the Lord and His Word does not return unto Him void. God was in control even in the midst of His seeming defeat.
Note: There is another angle here. Justice has finally been served on Saul. His life of deceit is over. His days of persecuting an innocent David have been terminated. God has implemented judgment on Saul, and he dies in desecration and defeat.
Note: However, the chapter is not over. It has one last vignette to report, one last message to convey.
C. The Response of Jabesh-Gilead: Honor to Saul’s House. I Samuel 31:11-13.
>>>> Have someone read I Samuel 31:11-13.
Q Who are the men of Jabesh-Gilead and why did they make such extraordinary efforts to honor Saul and his house?
An = >> Have everyone turn to I Samuel 11:6,9-11. These are the men that Saul delivered from humiliation and defeat at the very beginning of his reign. Davis estimates that it was a 22 mile round trip to accomplish what the men of Jabesh-Gilead did. They had great boldness and courage, because they had memories, and they were grateful (Davis, pp. 186-187).
Note: Saul received honor from those he helped when the Spirit empowered him. It was when he was obedient to the will of God that he gained a lasting gratitude and response to his kingship. True and lasting honor comes from obedience to God’s commands. Saul spent a great deal of time trying to keep his power and kingship, but this only brought him dishonor and ultimately defeat. It was his obedience that truly brought him respect and honor.
Note: Most of us struggle so hard to maintain our foothold on what little power we think we have and forget that obedience is our true and lasting foothold on respect and honor. So many in family, or in business, academic circles, and yes, in Christian leadership will struggle for power and position. It does not bring lasting honor, only the empowering work of God’s Spirit can do that. Saul spent most of the end of his kingship trying to kill David and maintain his power, and it was all futile. When he was Spirit empowered he gained true greatness.