298. DEFEAT ON GILBOA
"And the battle went sore against Saul"
In this lesson we follow Saul as he sinks to his lowest depths in seeking out the witch of Endor. Finally he receives the reward of his iniquity € death at the hands of the despised Philistines. Saul should have recognized that his jealousy of David was a symptom of hurt pride and not allow ed it to grow. Instead he refused to accept the will of God in exalting David and went from bad to worse, bringing shame on the name of the God of Israel and on himself. So the lesson warns us that the carnal mind must be put to death. If evil thoughts are nurtured over the years, they can take control of us, and then it may be impossible for us to forsake them (compare 2 Cor. 10:4-5; Phil. 4:8; Isa. 55:7; Prov. 23:7).
On the other hand, David continued to endure the trial and hardship of exile: "driven out from abiding in the inheritance of Yahweh". Yet in this he had not forsaken the principles of righteous living and he cast his care upon God. It was during this period that he wrote many of the Psalms which mirror the inmost thoughts of Christ. Suffering and trial have an appointed place in the purpose of God. Those called upon to en dure them for righteousness' sake can assure their hearts that they are sons of God (cp. Matt. 5:10-12; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 3:14; 4:12-14).
Our aim in this lesson is to see how refusal to obey the Word of God eventually brings disaster.
1 Samuel 26-31; 2 Samuel 1
DAVID TAKES REFUGE IN ZIKLAG (1 Sam. 26 and 27).
The Ziphites again sought to betray David into Saul's hands, but in stead, Saul was once more placed in David's mercy. David and his cousin Abishai invaded Saul's lines at night, but David still refused to touch Yahweh's anointed. Saul awoke to see his spear and cruse of water in David's hand and, confessing that David was more righteous than he, he returned to his place (1 Sam. 26). David, despairing of Saul's future ac tions, judged that he would be more secure in the land of the Philistines and he and his men and their households removed to Achish in Gath. Thereupon Saul sought David no more (27:1-4).
Perhaps for reasons of privacy, David asked Achish if he would ap point him a town to dwell in. Achish gave him Ziklag where he dwelt for 16 months. Now David was free to please himself. From this place he and his men invaded the nations south of Judah as far as Egypt and left none alive to divulge what had happened. Achish, naturally curious, enquired where David had made his raids. David replied, "Against the south of Judah...". From that Achish assumed that David had totally forsaken his people and that he could now place full confidence in David.
Apparently he had had lurking suspicions that David could become his enemy one day. No doubt he had heard the rumours about David being destined to become King of Israel.
DAVID MARCHES WITH THE PHILISTINES (1 Sam. 29).
It came to pass that the Philistines mustered their forces to battle against Israel. David had won a place of affection and admiration in the heart of Achish and he was invited to participate. David complied and marched with the Philistine host up the maritime plain of Israel to Shunem, while Saul gathered Israel together upon the mountains of Gilboa (28:1-4; 29:1-2).
There can be no question that David would have proved an adversary to the Philistines had he been permitted to remain with them. His feelings for the name of God and his disdain for the uncircumcised, which he had uttered when he defeated Goliath, were unchanged (cp. 17:26, 45-47). Moreover, his bitter lament upon hearing of Israel's defeat shows plainly where his allegiance lay (2 Sam. 1:19-21). When the other lords of the Philistines learned that David was marching with them, they summoned Achish and told him to send David back. When Achish protested David's loyalty, they were unimpressed: "Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place that thou has appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary (Heb. € Satan) to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? Should it not be with the heads of these men?" (vv. 4-5). Besides fearing his valour, they could not trust him. Their fears were well grounded. Half apologetically Achish informed David of the decision and so the Philistines proceeded to Jezreel to confront Saul while David returned to Ziklag (vv. 6-11).
SAUL AND THE WITCH (1 Sam. 28).
The sight of the gathering Philistines struck fear in the heart of the King of Israel. How different Saul was to David. He hurriedly searched for consolation and strength of Yahweh, but Yahweh "answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets" (vv. 4-6). He was in a desperate plight. To whom could he go? Samuel was dead and he himself had put away those who had familiar spirits (v.3; Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:9-14).
In his extremity Saul sought a woman with a familiar spirit. Nearby at Endor one was to hand and, with tragic hypocrisy, the King of Israel disguised himself and wended his way at night across the Philistine lines to her house with two of his men. She was at first reluctant to comply with his wishes, remembering the edict of Saul and thinking they had come to ensnare her. With the confusion that belongs to those who for sake Yahweh, Saul reassured her with an oath sworn in the name of Yahweh, The woman yielded to his request and, by and by, from the darkness a figure appeared clad in a mantle. Saul perceived it was Samuel (vv. 13-14; cp. 15:27).
Saul made request of Samuel as to what he should do, seeing God had departed from him and he was fearful of the army of the Philistines. Saul had his worst fears confirmed. In a precise and detailed answer, Saul was told that on account of his disobedience God had left him and the Kingdom would be given to his neighbour David. Moreover, Israel would suffer defeat the next day and he and his sons would perish. With that Saul collapsed and fell headlong on the earth (vv. 15-20).
Saul had departed from God's ways and now he was left alone. What a tragic spectacle the King of Israel presents as he frantically seeks consola tion. But it was too late and the time of his judgment had come. It is wise to seek God while He may be found and there is no more sure time than the present. We cannot afford to put off the things of God till tomorrow as we do not know whether that day shall come.
Saul's sin came to a head when he sought out the witch. When men depart irretrievably from the ways of God, God chooses their delusions and places stumbling blocks before them so that they might fall: "... because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (2 Thess. 2:10-12; Isa. 66:3-4; John 12:39-40). Thus when wicked Saul sought Samuel, a vision of Samuel was sent along with a prophecy that sealed his doom.
When the witch saw Saul prostrate upon the floor and troubled of mind it seems that she felt somewhat to blame. She told him that she had only obeyed his request. Perhaps she thought she would suffer on ac count of the bad news. She suggested that Saul receive a morsel of bread to strengthen himself, but at first he refused. At length he agreed and they did eat. Soberly Saul and his servants rose up and went their way in the night with the fears of the following day pressing heavily upon them (vv. 21-25).
SAUL'S DEATH (1 Sam. 31).
On the next day the battle was joined and Israel fled before the Philistines. The Philistines were determined to clinch victory by slaying the royal family of Israel: they "followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons" (vv. 1-2). At length his three sons fell and he became the chief mark of the archers and was sore wounded. Death stared Saul in the face. Rather than giving the "uncircumcised" the satisfaction of slaying and mocking him, he called upon his armour bearer to "thrust him through". When he refused, Saul took a sword himself and fell on it. The sight of his lord slain upon the field of battle, induced Saul's armour bearer to do likewise (vv. 3-6).
The fateful news soon spread abroad bringing panic and despair to Israel, but jubilation to the Philistines. The Philistines cut off Saul's head and the gory trophy was paraded among their peoples, with the victory being attributed to their idols. His armour was put on display in the house of Ashtaroth, while his headless body was fastened to the wall of Bethshan. How the glory of Israel was departed. Saul's defiance of God had brought shame upon the whole nation and the name of God. How different was this day to the one in which faithful David had slain Goliath.
But all spirit was not lost. The valiant men of Jabesh-Gilead, whom Saul in better days had saved from the Ammonites (1 Sam. 11), arose and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Bethshan and gave them an honourable burial in Jabesh.
TIDINGS OF SAUL'S DEATH REACH DAVID (2 Sam. 1).
Meanwhile David and his men had returned from the Philistines to find Ziklag burned to the ground and all its inhabitants taken away. Despair overcame his men, but David strengthened himself in his God and all was recovered (1 Sam. 30).
Two days later a man wandered into David's camp with clothes rent and earth on his head. On learning that he came from the camp of Israel, David immediately asked how the battle went. The young man, an Amalekite, which nation Saul was commanded to eradicate (1 Sam. 15:3), recounted the story of Saul's death, claiming that he was responsi ble for finally killing Saul. He handed David Saul's crown and bracelet as evidence, obviously hoping to find favour of David. But David was smitten with sorrow, not joy. He and his men "mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel" (v. 12). The young man was duly slain for daring to "stretch forth his hand to destroy Yahweh'S anointed."
David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan reveals the greatness and graciousness of his character. He felt the shame upon Israel personally. The Truth had been crushed before the enemy. There is a lesson in this. We should avoid bringing shame upon the great Name we bear. The alien should never be placed in the position of gloating over the faults of those who bear Christ's name (cp. 1 Cor. 6:1-8). Further, David extolled Saul's prowess in war and remembered only his virtues: "Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions" (v. 23). Even the daughters of Israel, who had at the first incited Saul's jealousy of David (1 Sam. 18:6-7), were commanded to remember Saul's blessings (v. 24).
David's final words in his lamentation relate to his beloved friend Jonathan and are filled with anguish and tenderness. He speaks as though Jonathan was yet alive: "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, pass ing the love of women". And then accepting the tragic reality: "How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished" (vv. 26-27).
LESSONS FOR US:
€ Refusal to obey the Word of God caused Saul to be forsaken in the hour of his greatest need.
€ When men depart irretrievably from the ways of God, God gives them up to their own delusions, "that they should believe a lie" (2Thess. 2:10-12).
€ If instead we, like David, draw near to God, He will draw near to us (Jas. 4:8). There is no better time to learn to trust and obey God than youth when the mind is unclouded with evil thoughts and habits and readily receives the impressions of the Word.
€ David was very gracious towards even the man who jealousy raged against him.
€ It is a good thing to develop friendships in the Truth which will remain strong and inspiring to our faith in times of adversity. Such was David's tender relationship to faithful Jonathan.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 23
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 3, No. 11
"The Man David" (H. Tennant) € Pages 67-87
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1. What lessons can we learn from Saul's defeat on Mount Gilboa?
2. Why was Saul's visit to the witch of Endor hypocritical? What does this teach us about those who deliberately despise God's Word?
3. Briefly recount what happened when Saul was defeated on Mount Gilboa. What was the basic cause of Israel's defeat?
4. What did the men of Jabesh-Gilead do for Saul folio wing his death? Why did they do it?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Give an account of Saul's visit to the witch ofEndor and the events which took place on the following day.
2. Why did God depart from Saul? What does this teach us?
3. What lessons do we learn from Saul's life and character? Why did God refuse to answer his prayer before his final battle with the Philistines?
4. Give an account of David's thoughts when he heard that Saul and Israel had been defeated by the Philistines.