1 Samuel 31:1-3 – Our actions can affect people dear to us

First Samuel 30 described David’s struggle and triumph. We saw how he was sent back from following the Philistines to the valley of Jezreel for the war with Saul and Israel. Then when he returned to Ziklag, he found the place raided, his wives, his people's families and all their goods taken by the raiders, leaving the city to burn. Despair fell upon him and his men and together they wept till they had no more strength. Being the man that he was, nothing could take him down forever. So he arose, asked Abiathar for the ephod and ascertained that they should pursue the marauders. He and his men then went after the raiders and caught up with them and recovered everything. They were even able to bring back spoils of the Amalekites, which the latter had taken from the other places. Then he had to deal with the issue of the distribution of the spoils to those 200 men who did not go all the way in pursuing the Amalekites. Turning to 1 Samuel 31, the author of the book narrates the final tragic hour of Saul.

While all those things were happening to David, Saul was going through his own set of struggles. He wished he could hear from God, but the silence of God was deafening. So he was driven to seek a necromancer at Endor so as to speak to Samuel. The last words of the Prophet remained the same as those he had said while he was alive. He told Saul that his kingdom would be torn from him and be given to David. And that he and his sons would die in the battle that night. Israel would be given into the hands of the Philistines. This closing chapter of the book then narrates for us the closing scene of his life.

The chapter opens by describing the defeat of Israel. The fight was taking place in the valley of Jezreel and many Israelites fled before the Philistines. They were pursued to Mount Gilboa where many were slain and their bodies were lying all over the mount. Verse 2 then tells us that “the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua the sons of Saul.” Jonathan, as we know, was very close to David. Though he was the heir apparent, he recognized early that God had earmarked David for the throne. He was not envious but instead tried to pave the way for David. So three of Saul’s sons died on Mount Gilboa. The focus then shifted to Saul in verse 3 where we are told that he was hit by an arrow from an archer. He was pathetically all alone, badly wounded and was in distress. 

Obviously, it was God who had brought about two contrasting outcomes. David experienced triumph while Saul had to experience utter defeat. As sure as Samuel’s last words were, Saul’s three sons died in the battle that night. This is perhaps the best way to ensure that there is absolutely no dispute to the throne. The deceitful heart of Saul came to an end. Tragically what he did not only affected himself but his sons as well. This is a grave warning to us. The effect of one’s sin does not limit to oneself alone. Its effect would often find its way into the lives of others, especially those who are near and dear to him/her. We must carefully consider our steps, for what we do can affect the lives of our loved ones drastically.