29 Series

The Tragic End of Saul and the Faithful Hand of God

October 22, 2025

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

1 Samuel 31

We’ve walked with Saul and David through valleys and mountaintops, through victories and failures, through caves, betrayals, and repentance. Now, as we come to the last chapter of 1 Samuel and before we move onto the first chapter 2 Samuel, the curtain falls on Saul’s life — not with the sound of triumph, or with a transition of power surrounded with blessings, but with the hollow echo of tragedy. Yet, even in tragedy, God’s faithfulness shines. The story of 1 Samuel doesn’t end in chaos — it ends in completion. God’s Word has come true. The rejected king falls, and the anointed king waits to rise.

I think of Lance Armstrong. For years, he was the symbol of perseverance — the cancer survivor who conquered the impossible, the man who stood on the podium of the Tour de France seven times in a row. As a former cyclist myself, I remember watching him with admiration. His strength, his focus, his sheer willpower — it was legendary. But behind all the triumph was a secret life of deception. When the truth came out, the fall was devastating. Titles stripped, reputation destroyed, legacy shattered. What began in glory ended in shame — not because he wasn’t gifted, but because he believed he was untouchable.

That’s the pattern we see in so many lives — not just in the world, but even among believers. The Apostle Paul once wrote about a man named Demas, who started strong in ministry but didn’t finish well. Paul said, “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me.” (2 Tim. 4:10) He began with calling and conviction but ended in compromise and collapse.

And now, as we close the book of 1 Samuel, we meet another man who started with incredible promise and ended in tragic failure — King Saul. Chosen by God, empowered by the Spirit, blessed with opportunity — yet undone by pride, disobedience, and despair. Saul’s story began with the anointing of God and ends with the judgment of God. This is more than a sad ending; it’s a spiritual autopsy. Saul’s death shows us what happens when a man stops believing that God’s mercy is greater than his mistakes. But even in this tragedy, there’s a deeper truth shining through: sin may destroy, but God’s faithfulness never fails.

What we see in this chapter is both sobering and hopeful: sin has consequences, but God’s covenant never collapses.

I. The Fall of Saul — When Disobedience Bears Its Fruit (vv. 1–6)

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

The scene opens on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. The Philistines have advanced deep into Israelite territory, and the army of Israel is in full retreat. Verse 1 sets the tone: “Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.” This is not just another battle; it’s the final chapter of Saul’s rebellion against God. The man who once stood head and shoulders above the people now lies among the dead. His sons — Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua — fall beside him. The light of Saul’s lineage flickers out on the battlefield.

Then we come to one of the most tragic moments in all of Scripture: “Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and mistreat me.’ But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.” (v.4)

This was not an act of courage; it was an act of fatalism. Saul’s reasoning wasn’t “I will die for Israel.” It was, “There’s no hope left — not even God can redeem this.” His entire life has been building to this moment. Disobedience hardened into pride, pride curdled into despair, and despair gave birth to fatalism. Saul wasn’t just ending his life — he was making one last statement: “I will have the final word, not God.” That’s the essence of fatalism — the belief that it’s too late for God to forgive, too late for redemption, too late for grace. It’s the sin of hopelessness, and it’s just as deadly as rebellion.