Did Saul’s unfaithfulness to God cause his downfall? Is keeping the word of the Lord the most important legacy we can leave? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 10.
Though God saved Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth, did he and his sons meet a tragic end?
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. (1 Chr 10:1-4 KJV)
Did two generations of Saul’s family die in one day?
Then his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, so he also fell on his sword and died. Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together. Then all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. (1 Chr 10:5-7 LSB)
Did Merib-Baal change his name to Mephibosheth, to disassociate himself from Baal, one of many gods the Philistines worshipped? Did they call the death of Saul good news?
It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip those killed, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. They put his armor in the house of their gods and impaled his head in the house of Dagon. (1 Chr 10:8-10 NASB)
Did the people bury Saul and his sons and mourn their death?
When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. (1 Chr 10:11-12 NIV)
What is the real reason that Saul died in such a tragic manner?
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1 Chr 10:13-14 NKJV)
Is faithfulness the kind of evidence that the Holy Spirit produces in us?
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
Did Saul’s unfaithfulness to God cause his downfall? Is keeping the word of the Lord the most important legacy we can leave? You decide!
