1 SAMUEL 31 - THE FINAL JUDGMENT

1 Samuel 31

We are not told how long it has been between the time of God’s rejection of Saul and Saul’s final end. However, we can surmise with all that has occurred in between—from David’s anointing to David’s crowning— that it has been more than a decade. And yet, we find Saul obstinate and unrepentant to the end. Saul’s final act is not to turn to the Lord, but to seek to control even the time and the means of his own death.

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. 

Even Saul’s armor bearer knew better than to shed innocent blood and particularly to take the life of the Lord’s anointed. And yet, Saul showed no similar fear.

Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 

The fall of Saul is a vivid testimony to deadly consequence of sin and yet, the grace and righteousness of God. Saul’s sin will consume not only his own life, but lead to the death of his three son’s (who died on the same day) and cause multiple Israeli cities to abandon their homes and leave the area to the mercy of the Philistines. Truly the wages of sin is death.

And yet, more astounding than the destruction we observe from Saul’s sinfulness, is the grace and patience of God. God has given Saul more than a decade to turn away from his wickedness; repent and turn back to the Lord. As Peter tells us

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

And yet, Saul, like so many, have refused. And while God is patient, as Saul faces in chapter 31, tomorrow is not promised and God will not wait forever. The day of judgment will come for all of us.

So, the bible warns:

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The bible warns us not to harden our hearts, like Saul, but instead to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. And God promises:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There is no sin greater than God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. As we see in Saul, the issue is not the magnitude of our sin, but the magnitude of our pride. Will we respond to God’s patience and accept God’s gracious gift of salvation and repent, or will we remain hardened to the end?