Today you should read: 1 Samuel 31
It’s the final day of 1 Samuel here at Jumpstart… and it really is a bitter end. Saul would accept defeat at the hands of the Philistines, the people who were constant “thorns in the flesh” to the people of Israel. Most of us, when reading this chapter, would look at the situation and inevitably say that Saul invited this as his end. I don’t disagree, but then you see that Jonathan died too. He was better than his dad in many ways, and was David’s closest friend. His death struck me harder than Saul’s did.
What to we glean from a sorrowful reading like this?
First, never stop walking closely with the Lord. Saul’s disobedience and pride led him to this humiliating blow. Some, if not all of this hardship could have been avoided had he submitted his heart to the Lord daily.
Second, remember that there are harsh consequences to your sin. Jonathan died because of his dad’s errors. David mourned bitterly (fast forward to 2 Samuel 1) because of both their deaths, and the people of Israel we disheartened.
Finally, even in the midst of our mistakes and the challenges of life, we can be confident that God will carry out His plans. The king that took take over for Saul — instead of Jonathan — was the one whose lineage Jesus Christ would come from. Temporary defeat for Israel? Yes. Eternal victory in Christ through the One True King of Israel? “Yes, and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
By: Todd Thomas
JumpstartCPC.com 