1 Samuel 31:4-6 – Let’s make our life count

Saul was shot by the arrow of an archer and seriously wounded. He did not want to die at the hands of the enemy, so he turned to his armor-bearer and requested saying, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me.” What a tragic scene! David was once his armor-bearer but he was nowhere in sight now, all because of the king’s jealousy and hatred. Saul would not be in such a tragic fate had he been more discerning and less self-serving. But he could not bear the thoughts that David was preferred more than him.

At this point, he accepted that death was calling on him, but he was afraid of being killed by the Philistines whom he despised. He now asked his armor-bearer to take his sword and finish him, but the latter was not willing for he was greatly afraid. So, Saul took his own life and died by his own hand in utter failure. In verse 5 we are told that when his armor-bearer saw what Saul did, he also killed himself with his own sword.

Had Saul taken his anointing more seriously, his death would certainly be more palatable and less traumatic. Regardless of how one dies, death is a tragic word. It reminds us of the failure of mankind. It is a judgment as a result of man’s sin. Saul’s death once again brings the grim reminder that God’s words never fail. He told Adam not to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, saying the day he ate of it, he would surely die. Adam did not take God’s Words seriously, and death became his and every mankind’s portion since. What should we do with such a grim prospect? Today, if we look at the tombstone on every grave, we will not miss this line: The date of birth of the deceased, followed by a dash, and then the day that person died. What’s important on this line is not the date of birth or the date of death but the dash. It signifies the duration of one’s life. It is important because what we do with the duration of our life matters. We either leave a rich legacy behind or we leave behind a string of disappointments and undischarged obligations for those dear to us to pick up. The choice is ours to make. Will we like Joshua of old who said with deep conviction, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Will you?!