The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 31:6,
"So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day."
Here is the end of Israel's first king. Israel, in her rejection of God demanded a king of Samuel's appointment. When Samuel approached God over it, God told him to go ahead and give them what they wanted - he gave the nation over to its own desires, and it turned tragic.
Saul was not a man of faith. He had all the opportunities anyone could possibly need or want to recognize who God was and what God would do for the faithful. Yet, Saul, throughout his reign allowed his circumstances to dictate his choices, his actions, his movements, his life. Now, after a life of faithlessness, Saul dies an ignominious death with Israel in disarray and running from the Philistines.
I note that Saul ruled Israel as king for forty-two years, 1 Samuel 13:1, which means that Saul's shortcomings before God did not result in his dishonorable demise immediately. It was years in the coming. Israel suffered under Saul's kingship for forty-two years, existing as fragment of what it could have been had the nation sought God's leadership. But... they wanted a king. They did not want what God wanted for the nation and so they trudged under the mediocre leader for forty-two years.
Saul's delayed reaping of his faithlessness toward God reminds me that when we reap what we sow, it may not be immediate. It could be, but not necessarily so, and so the consequences for the foolishness in my life may be something I face later. Thinking we might have "gotten away" with something because we escaped an immediate judgment from God is a temerarious perspective. I am reminded of Hebrews 4:13, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Also, Romans 14:12, "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."
"So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day."
Here is the end of Israel's first king. Israel, in her rejection of God demanded a king of Samuel's appointment. When Samuel approached God over it, God told him to go ahead and give them what they wanted - he gave the nation over to its own desires, and it turned tragic.
Saul was not a man of faith. He had all the opportunities anyone could possibly need or want to recognize who God was and what God would do for the faithful. Yet, Saul, throughout his reign allowed his circumstances to dictate his choices, his actions, his movements, his life. Now, after a life of faithlessness, Saul dies an ignominious death with Israel in disarray and running from the Philistines.
I note that Saul ruled Israel as king for forty-two years, 1 Samuel 13:1, which means that Saul's shortcomings before God did not result in his dishonorable demise immediately. It was years in the coming. Israel suffered under Saul's kingship for forty-two years, existing as fragment of what it could have been had the nation sought God's leadership. But... they wanted a king. They did not want what God wanted for the nation and so they trudged under the mediocre leader for forty-two years.
Saul's delayed reaping of his faithlessness toward God reminds me that when we reap what we sow, it may not be immediate. It could be, but not necessarily so, and so the consequences for the foolishness in my life may be something I face later. Thinking we might have "gotten away" with something because we escaped an immediate judgment from God is a temerarious perspective. I am reminded of Hebrews 4:13, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Also, Romans 14:12, "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."
Sobering, isn't it?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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