The Downfall of Saul

1 Chron. 10.1-14

ME

What is your greatest fear?

One-fifth of all Americans are “afraid” or “very afraid” of dying

Among the top 5 of most common fears of 2022: People I love/know becoming seriously ill, people I know/love dying, and Russians using nukes

However, fear is a contaminant

When I was afraid that I would fail out of my engineering classes in college, and I was afraid that my engineering program wouldn’t ever get accredited (very nerdy fears by the way)- I was afraid of many things. I almost saw shadows, was jumpy all the time. Everything was ready to be cataclysmic. Anxiousness, stress, etc.

WE

We are gonna deal with a fearful man in Scripture today, who happened to be a king.

We are gonna deal with death.

Fear, death, and sin all relate. They all originate from a single source.

Something real quick- Chronicles time of writing. Why it was written (comfort and hope). Reorienting. Reveals God’s promise for all the world to know Him.

GOD

V1

Philistines were sea-faring people. Had iron and other great weapons. They were hard drinkers

Israel fled before Philistines. That’s not a great battle strategy.

Perhaps Israel was not ready for battle because Saul was not ready (1 Samuel 28:5). God’s Spirit had departed from him for a long time due to his disobedience and refusal to seek the LORD.

V2

Tragically, Saul’s sin affected others. His own sons lost their lives (Jonathan was upright before God and courageous)... even the entire Kingdom was at risk

V3

Sin had already mortally wounded Saul. Being physically wounded by these archers in battle were just illustrative of where Saul found himself spiritually (in relationship with God).

V4

pride

Saul was concerned for his own self-image. What others would think of him. He had already lost sight of wanting to honor the LORD- so he was left with the pitiful efforts to honor and spare himself, even to his last, dying breaths.

Saul took his own life.

V5

The armor bearer did too. Saul was a leader- just not a good one.

V6

The dynasty had been brought to an end.

Yet there was so much potential, once upon a time. The Sprit of the LORD was once upon Saul. He was chosen as king. He was surrounded by godly men and women whose hearts had been touched by God Himself. He had the throne in God’s chosen nation (wait- that is where he messed up.) He didn’t seek God. He didn’t seek the LORD as king.

Towards the end of his life, we can imagine the worship of the Holy One of Israel had been morphed into a religious thing to Saul. Maybe even a hindrance at times.

Saul hadn’t tasted the sweetness of God’s Presence and glory. So obedience could not be sustained in his life.

V7

Here it is: the sin and ultimate tragedy of Saul affecting the whole nation.

V8

What would soon happen to Saul’s lifeless body would be a warrior’s worst nightmare.

V9-10

Saul’s sons, gone. Saul’s armor, gone, Saul’s life, gone.

Anybody got a trophy buck on the wall at home?

Saul became a trophy to the Philistines

V11-12

A remnant of courage and honor

V13-14

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD

Make no mistake- he had plenty of opportunities to repent and seek God. But he made little of those opportunities with his choices. God’s control vs. our choices.

He was ultimately a fraud. He faith was not genuine.

He perished because his faith had perished. Perhaps it never lived.

Saul did not seek God.

Chronicles showcases the reign of King David. To do this well, the writer had to showcase the death of the king prior to David. One king died so another king could live.

The old passed away so the new could come.

YOU

Don’t miss a major theme in the Bible- some things pass away for new things to come

Unfaithful generation in the wilderness, generation that Joshua led

King Saul, King David

Israel carried away into exile, Israel brought back for a new beginning

Jesus crucified and buried, Jesus resurrected

The same is true for us! Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20

To take up your cross and follow Jesus is not a polite pilgrimmage or a stroll through the park. It isn’t an Easter egg hunt. It means dying to your old self and the flesh. It’s gruesome and horrific. (Back to college story. Savior AND Lord.)

WE

What will you do with the choices and paths God has given you? One small decision leads to another. They lead to a destiny. Small decisions are proof of a larger decision made in your heart. Will you repent and seek Him?

Listen- your hardheartedness doesn’t only affect you. It affects others, too. Sin contaminates. Sin spreads. That’s our human condition.

If you have Jesus, you need not to fear. There is something stronger than contaminating fear and sin- contagious holiness.

Not religiousness, but relationship. Not legalism and rule following, but affections for Jesus.