Saul Died For His Transgression

2015-12-18

In 1 Chronicles 10:8-14, we see the death of King Saul and all of the shame brought upon him. The Philistines beheaded him and placed his head in their false god’s temple (1 Chronicles 10:9-10). Why did this happen?

First, the Bible says that the king transgressed “against the word of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 10:13). Because King Saul did not utterly destroy all of the Amalekites and their possessions, but spared the king and certain animals for sacrifices, it shows that he rejected the commandment of the LORD (1 Samuel 15:1-35). Saul even cited a “spiritual” reason: the animals would be a sacrifice for the LORD (1 Samuel 15:21)! Nonetheless, this was not what God had commanded him.

Second, because God would no longer answer his prayers, Saul consulted a witch (1 Samuel 28:7-25, 1 Chronicles 10:13). One who consults a woman who speaks to evil spirits is not going to receive wise counsel! Nonetheless, God used the situation by having the deceased Samuel speak with him, and pronounced judgment on him.

Trying to circumvent God’s commandments has its consequences. In Jeremiah’s day, the people said they would seek the LORD, and do everything he says (Jeremiah 42:1-4). Jeremiah in turn brought the LORD’s message... their response? “Thou speakest falsely” (Jeremiah 43:2). It is easy to see that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23). Both Saul and the men of Jeremiah’s day were seeking God only that He may bless their sin, and also to manipulate God into doing what they wanted Him to do. This is what is meant when the Bible says that people have “changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man” (Romans 1:23)... a god cast in their sinful image. This is not the real God at all!

Nonetheless, we see that valiant men, who respected the LORD’s anointed, took the bodies of the king and of his sons to bury them properly. They mourn for them. We see that this is a good thing. Whatever King Saul’s flaws were, he was still the King, and these men were blessed because of their actions (1 Samuel 10:12).