IS THERE AN END TO THIS BATTLE?

Now, with David missing, back at his Philistine home hiding from Saul, a  great battle is being fought between Saul and his army and the Philistines. Philistia was winning and Saul was fleeing away, for many had fallen, killed, on a mountain called Gilboa. Pressing hard against Saul, the Israelites had killed Saul's sons, including his son, Jonathan, who was a friend to David.


Saul's death came by his own hand, as he had become critically wounded, so much so that he fell on his own sword because no one else dared to do it for him.  Therefore, with Saul gone, the Israelite army fled and abandoned their towns, and the Philistines occupied them. The next day when the Philistine army went back to salvage what they could from the battle scene, they found the remains of Saul, Jonathan and his other sons, and fastened Saul's body to the wall of their city. When the people of Israel heard what they did, they came and took down Saul's body, burned his body along with his son's bodies, took their bones and buried them, and fasted for seven days to honor them.


Study/ "Saul, the king, was characterized by inconsistency, disobedience, and self-will.  He did not have a heart for God.  Samuel, the judge, was characterized by consistency, obedience and a deep desire for God's will.  He had a genuine heart for God. Saul's death was also the death of an ideal--Israel could no longer believe that having a king like the other nations would solve all their troubles.  The real problem was not the form of government, but the sinful king.  Saul tried to please God by spurts of religiosity, but real spirituality takes a lifetime of consistent obedience.  Heroic spiritual lives are built by stacking days of obedience one on top of the other, like a brick wall.  Each obedient act is small in itself, but in time the acts will pile up, and a huge wall of strong character will be built....a great defense against temptation.  We should strive for consistent obedience each day.."


After Easter, I would like to go on with David's life.  Of all the biblical characters, David's strength was good for Israel ...and his faults and weaknesses?  Not so good.  Even so, David's rule was considered...well done!


We have gone through many a battle with this era of Israel life, and a bit is still before us.  But these lives are not that different than yours and mine.....imperfect, even in our attempts at being perfect.


Keep your chin up and your heart blessing the Lord!
Jo INMN