“When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them. 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. 11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burnedthem. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.” 1 Samuel 31.1-6
I visited Beth Shean on each of my trips to Israel. I hiked up the hill many times, the highest tel in Israel. It’s amazing. Take a look at these pictures of the ancient ruined city. (The picture at the end of the page with an overview of the city is stunning.)
https://armstronginstitute.org/860-uncovering-the-bibles-buried-cities-beth-shean
What happened at Beth Shean was dishonorable—an outright insult. After Saul and his sons were killed, Saul’s body was fastened to the city wall. The Philistines disgraced the king of Israel and spread the news throughout the land. When the people of Jabesh-Gilead heard of it, the “valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shean.” They retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons and buried their bones “under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh.” Then, Scripture tells us, they fasted for seven days.
Consider how the Philistines shamed the Israelite king. For them, it was a great victory; for Israel, it was a devastating loss. Even though Saul was not a righteous king, he represented the hopes and dreams of a lost people yearning for hope in God. The public desecration of Saul and his sons underscores their need for a God-fearing leader—one who would represent, not replace, the Lord. This was Saul’s undoing: he tried to become a god, relying on his own strength instead of the Lord’s.
If we choose to live according to our own desires, we too can expect to be insulted and shamed by the world. We will end up like Saul—minus the execution and public humiliation—if we reject God. We will be lost, unable to find our way. Saul and his sons fell before the Philistines because of his choice to follow his own path.
I suggest we turn away from potential insults by obeying the voice of the Lord. Turning away from sin will ensure spiritual health and wholeness. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, will lead us along the path to everlasting life.
God sent Jesus so we might know Him and His character. Through Him, we might inhabit His Spirit and dwell with Him while on earth and in heaven.
Will you decide to embrace God’s power and presence today rather than taking the path of sin and destruction? Let the consequences of following Christ fill us with love, compassion, and life everlasting.
“O Lord God, the dishonoring of Saul is a powerful lesson that should spur us to seek after You. Help us know Your power and love. Help us run to Your arms and away from the sin that so easily entangles. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with Your grace. Have mercy upon me, a sinner. Help me be the person You called me to be, by Your grace and for Your glory. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen