The Tragic Ending of King Saul

The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul.  The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers. (1 Samuel 31:2-3 NASB)

The end of Saul is a dramatic sad story.  Years before, Saul was in a similar predicament when Jonathan defeated a Philistine outpost in 1 Samuel 13, and the Philistines responded by mobilizing the entire army, like here.  But here, Saul takes his stand.  Before he continued the 'guerrilla' tactics that worked so well in the hills of Palestine.  Here, Saul tries to fight a 'conventional' battle.

But even if this isn't the manner in which he normally fought (and by now, it may have been), Saul's heart isn't in this one.  He has been told that he will not survive the battle, nor will his sons.  Saul lives long enough to see his sons fall, he wounded by archers and can't escape himself, and so decides to commit suicide instead of letting the Philistines torture him to death.

The story of Saul is not one of 'redemption'; there is no silver lining to his story.  He was so often about himself; and by himself, with his hopes in ruins around him, he died.  But God had plans for him, intentions Saul would never enjoy.  His story started out with great hopes, with Saul prophesying, with victory, with honor and with obedience.  It ends very differently, and the difference was his relationship with God.

It's twelve years before Israel again regains her footing with David as king.  The devastation of Saul's sin, self-centered living, and raging jealousy of David marks his people for over a decade.  They are unable to fully recover from Saul's mistakes.  This is true except for Judah.  For those twelve years, David rules Judah as king, and seems at least as strong as the other eleven tribes.

Again, the failure to relent, to accept the guidance of God, prolongs the pain left by Saul.  Had the people relented even after Saul refused, recovery would have been swifter.  The failure of Saul to accept the restraints of God placed on him because of his disobedience; his refusal of correction carried on into the people themselves.  Once again it becomes clear sin does not just affect the sinner.

So here are the lessons I learn from this tragic ending to a tragic figure:

• My obedience is more important than I am, for it affects more than just me
• Failure can be recovered through accepting the correction of my Master
• Relenting is often the peaceful humility necessary for success before my Master
• It's not about me; and never will be