Sermon Central
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The Death Of A King And The Cost Of Disobedience (1 Samuel 31:1-13)
Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Sep 26, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: Saul, the first king of Israel, had been a good and godly man at the beginning of his reign, but his rejection of God's plans for his life and his refusal to walk with the LORD brought about his inevitable downfall and demise.
It is while we are on this side of the grave that we make the decision to follow Jesus or wallow in our own sinful and erratic ways. We can either die badly, as did Saul, or we can die well. Nobody with an ounce of sense wants to come to the end of their life, only to lament that they had wasted it on some foolish venture or worldly pursuit that amounted to nothing. While we have breath and ability, we have the opportunity and ability to repent of our sins and give our lives to Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal peace that will be part of our lives in the new heaven and earth (Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30, 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6:2; Philippians 1:21; Revelation 21:1-7). God desires that no one perish in their sins but come to Him for real life and purpose (Ezekiel 33:11). You do not have to let your life end in sorrow and uncertainty. You do not need to be in the company of Saul or anyone who had been mighty in deed and word, but is now fallen, buried, and for most of us, nothing more than an anonymous figure who once graced the stage of civilization.
With the death of Saul, David became the next king according to God's plan, fulfilling the prophecies made to Judah (Genesis 49:10) and to Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1, 12-13). God used this event to change the royal line of Israel to prepare for the advent of the promised Messiah (Genesis 3:15). When Jesus was born, He was the rightful heir to the throne of Israel (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). Saul's reign had been a time of failure and dissatisfaction among the people of Israel (1 Samuel 22:1-2). When he died, a new era was ushered in. When David came to the throne, he brough a season of prosperity and hope to Israel like they had never known. This is the picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross, ushering in a new era of grace that replaced the old order of guilt and law. Because of Jesus, we can be delivered from our guilt, our past, and our sins by simple faith in a risen Savior (1 Peter 1:8; Colossians 1:12-14). Do not play the fool and throw away the new life that Christ offers. Do not ignore His call to you. Give your life to Jesus today and you will be in the company of the redeemed, and not in the fellowship of misery.
donaldwhitchard@outlook.com
www.realitycityreverend.com
