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REFLECTION

“Death of Saul” is the theme for our reflection. Death is the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person. We shall reflect on the fact that death is certain if we contend with God. 1 Samuel 31 describes the catastrophic defeat of Israel by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, resulting in the deaths of King Saul and his three sons, including Jonathan. Fearing capture after being mortally wounded, Saul committed suicide, followed by his armour-bearer. The Philistines then disgraced Saul’s body by beheading him and hanging him on the wall of Beth-shan. However, men from Jabesh-Gilead bravely recovered the bodies, cremated them, and buried the bones in a respectful ceremony, ending the first book of Samuel with a tragic conclusion to Saul’s reign. 

Beloved in the Lord, it is suicidal to contend with God. No mortal can fight or undo what God has done. In the face of overwhelming and abundant caution given to Saul that God had rejected him and would die in battle with his sons, Saul still ignored the Word of God and died together with his sons and soldiers as a result of his disobedience. “Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically. 4 Saul said to his armour-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.” (1 Samuel 31:1-6). May we never die a shameful and tragic death because of disobedience. May our actions never lead to the destruction of our family and all who matter in our lives. May we be guided by the Word of God in all our endeavours.

King Saul’s death teaches us that power is not possession. Power is ephemeral; therefore, we must never become power-drunk, vindictive and self-conceited. Let us always remember that anointing and power come from God, and God can take His anointing and power from us. Let us endeavour to maintain a consistent relationship with God to avoid incurring his wrath and regrettable situations like that which befell Saul and his kingship.

Again, may we be remembered and given a dignified burial when we die. Although Saul and his children’s body was desecrated and humiliated by the Philistines, the men from Jabesh-Gilead bravely recovered the bodies, cremated them, and buried the bones in a respectful ceremony. We are told, “The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.  11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days” (1 Samuel 31:8-13). We need to know that Saul once saved the people of Jabesh Gilead according to 1 Samuel 11. It was for this reason, Saul and his children were given befitting burial by the people of Jebesh Gilead. Let’s learn to be grateful to our benefactors. Samuel may have offended God but his good works was remembered by the people of Jabesh Gilead. Let’s leave judgement to God and respect the dignity of all people. May we be remembered by those we have helped in the past when we are in times of trouble or distress.

PRAYER
May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to live a life of obedience so that we do not incur the wrath of God and experiencea tragic end. Amen.