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Chronicles 10 reminds me that whether we are prepared or not; we are
all in the midst of a spiritual battle. The chapter begins with the
end of King Saul and his sons, “Now
the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before
them, and many fell slain… The Philistines pressed hard after Saul
and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and
Malki-Shua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the
archers overtook him, they wounded him“.
Remember though, according to 1 Samuel 31, in preparing for this
battle, Saul neglected to read God’s Word. Instead he ordered,
“Find
me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her“.
“So
Saul disguised himself…and at night he and two men went to the
woman“.
The fact that Saul is sneaking around shows he clearly knew it was
wrong. I suspect Saul had lots of excuses, like “I am too busy”
or “it is hard to understand”, but more often we just don’t
want to do things God’s way. As our society becomes more hostile
to God’s standards, the truth of His Word will become more radical.
Where do you seek guidance?
The
chapter continues with Saul mortally wounded. He knew the enemy will
have no mercy on him. He called for his armor bearer, “Draw
your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will
come and abuse me“.
Fearing the enemy more than death, “Saul
took his own sword and fell on it… So Saul and his three sons died,
and all his house died together“.
When the enemy discovered him, “They
stripped him and took his head and his armor… They put his armor in
the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of
Dagon“.
This is true today as well. Is there anyone more despised than a
disgraced preacher? Is there anyone that feels more useless than a
man of integrity caught in a public scandal? Is there anyone more
humiliated than the woman of virtue having compromising pictures made
public? Take a stand against this “anything goes” society and
you become a target of ridicule. Please know that God is in the
business of restoring the disgraced and useless and humiliated. Note
the group of “valiant
men“,
“heard
of everything the Philistines had done to Saul“.
And they took action to end the humiliation. “They
went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons… Then they buried
their bones under the great tree… and they fasted seven days“.
As believers, we need to remember Colossians 3:13, “Bear
with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against
one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you“.
The
chapter ends with a reminder that even in tragedy, because God is in
control, there is always a new hope. “Saul
died because he was unfaithful to the Lord… So the Lord… turned
the kingdom over to David son of Jesse“.
Life has seasons of pain and loss and grief, but when we open our
hearts to God’s loving kindness, we are renewed. “Once
you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of
your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s
physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without
blemish and free from accusation...
This is the gospel”
(Colossians 1:20-22). Ask God for renewal today.