Fridays with David

Read 1 Samuel 31:7-10 – And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. (NKJV)

The shame of Saul’s downfall increases as his body and the bodies of his sons are used in worship of idols and celebration by his enemies. While in the story’s next paragraph, valiant men will come and collect the bodies and stop the shameful display, the damage had been done. The king and his nation had been fully dishonored by their enemies. Virtually every leader that is removed from office for his evil becomes sport for his enemies after his death or at the end of his leadership. Conversely, those who lead well from beginning to end are honored, often their bodies are made available to their people for demonstrations of reverent respect or they are celebrated as they move into new stages of life. Saul is clearly referred to in the former group. Even though the people rally to rescue his body and those of his sons, their act is one of national pride and not love for their fallen king. Failure leaves its own legacy.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.