1 Samuel Chapter 31:1-12

Saul really didn't save himself from being mutilated and from being ashamed he didn't save himself from the very things he was trying to save himself from that he thought was up to him she once again Saul was not willing to trust the Lord. Even in this moment of death, welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

David McGee continues in first Samuel chapter 31 and we also have the program today is assisting pastors welcome.

Thanks, Bob. Good to be here with you today.

Looking forward to digging in the God's word of hope got your Bible out ready to hear from the Lord today really talk about God helping does in our time of need, really helping. Doesn't every area of our life sometimes we choose to close off a little bit from Godself encouraged today getting help from God. Every situation you said in our time of need and really always in need of God's help but think we know it or not that's that's right.

Pastor David wants to encourage you today asking for that help in season, so let's listen now what God has to say he hears verse by verse Samuel chapter 31 first Samuel chapter 31 verse one the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa now to set this up a little bit Saul who has been king has been resistant to the Lord is been rebellious to the Lord. He has not just messed up once, but he keeps messing up. God keeps caught him to repentance.

Saul keeps rejecting that call to repentance and at this point, Saul's rain is coming to an end, not because he necessarily messed up because as we take a look and second Samuel to wife of David.

David messed up a lot, perhaps even more and bigger ways than Samuel.

The differences when David messed David went to the Lord, and he asked forgiveness. But Saul, you never really see that repentance you seen going on. I asked messed up but it never really messed up.

I'm sorry Lord help me not to do this again, and so he goes in this battle without David because he's ran David off. These become paranoid is well with fear and convinced David is conspiring against anyone. David was unquestionably the best military leader he had any Randy mom how often we run off friends who are praying for us when we were headed for Georgia trouble.

So here's the Israel army going into this battle without the prayers of Sam there going into this battle without the leadership of David. Sad to see this battle is destined for failure. Verse two says then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons in the Philistines killed Jonathan Bennett down Melcher's shoe. Saul's sons Philistines flew Jonathan throughout this book.

First Samuel we seen Jonathan is a is a great man is an incredible leader. He's a brave man. We see him in many battles taken on more people than he had to fight with. Been up steadfast friend David, and yet he falls in this battle. And it's interesting because as we look at this chapter eat you look at the life of Saul and as you look at the life of Saul you think you know and as you see the stuff coming down in this chapter you go well it's all messed up. Saul tried to kill David. Saul consulted a witch. Saul rejected Samuel's advice. Saul was rebellious. You see those things and you think well enough, Saul, deserve the judgment of God that was coming against and the sea. Saul's skirt and then somehow it seems somewhat fair. But to see Jonathan being killed brings us to a painful conclusion and it brings us to our first life lesson.

Others suffer from our action and sometimes from our lack of action. Others suffer from our actions and sometimes from our lack of action. What I mean by that that life lesson is Jonathan suffered for the sins of Saul.

Remember Jonathan was even willing to step aside for David to become king. Even though really, Jonathan was the rightful heir, but also put in there from our lack of action, and this is important understand. I wanted to get this again. It's not that Saul did wrong incidents when Saul then wrong. He never turned from his role.

He never asked forgiveness for his wrong. He never went to the Lord with his wrongdoing is not really what Saul did what Saul did do and asking for forgiveness and I think we need to understand something a lot of time to talk about. We look at people messing up and doing this that the other will go there going to hell because they're doing this at the other understand nobody will be in hell for what they did the BN hell eternally separated from God because what they didn't they didn't ask Jesus to forgive the mother said in here we see in Saul's life. This callousness is hardness.

This unwillingness to come to the Lord because these great injuries not only in his family, but also in the nation. Makes you wonder why we are so slow to ask forgiveness from God that maybe it's just me maybe maybe maybe I don't have any struggles or any problems with that.

But I know personally I hesitate to ask forgiveness, liens, and especially early on as a Christian I thought that you had to feel bad enough for long enough before you could really come to the Lord and ask him to forgive you but you know what I discovered over time that the longer time goes past your mistake, your send your failure, the less likely you are to come back to the Lord and asking how these events in this chapter. They were foretold by Samuel and I first Samuel 2819 reads like this. Moreover, the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines, and the more you and your sons will be with me will be dead in the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel to the hand of Philistines Saul knew going into this battle he was going to fail. And yet he still went to the battle begs the question why do we fight fights. We know are going to lose friend of year-end here tonight your fight against God. You can lose out you going to lose out. That's a slight you cannot win. And God in his word tells us what will happen if we make certain choices that we cannot blame God when we make those choices and we suffer the consequences. The Bible says will reap what we sow.

I personally believe that not sure any of us ever reads everything that we so, but just a portion is enough and we can be thankful we don't read everything that we so verse three says the battle became fierce against Saul and the archers hidden and he was severely wounded by the archers and Saul said to his armor bearer draw your sword and thrust me through with it less. These uncircumcised men come and thrust me through, and abuse me, but his armor bearer would not three was greatly afraid. Therefore, Saul took a sword fell on Saul here, I think, was probably remembering what the Philistines are done with Sampson. You remember the story they took him and they not only cut his hair off the guy watched his eyes out and then use them as a servant that just the way the enemy does is insist Saul was afraid that these people were going to mistreat him and atmospheres are probably well-founded because of Philistines were known for torturing people, and especially leaders and in horrible horrible ways. So Saul takes it into his own hands to end his life. That's interesting because you know that kind of kind of a consistent thing in the life of Saul, Saul, trying to take care of things his own way in his own timing was read all the verse five and when his armor bearer Saul that Saul was dead. He also thrown his sword and died with them. So Saul, his three sons.

His armor bearer and all his men died together. That same day. What a sad verse. What a tragic chapter, and Saul didn't deed that day never going to get a little bit more information. Next week we start the first chapter of second Samuel, but what a tragic ending to a life that held such promise.

Yet if you've been with us through the study and if you missed any of these studies, you can reread the whole block and you can go online and and have each of the chapters in and go through it but Saul started with such awesome promise with anointing of the Lord powerful man, an intelligent manner with the same yet in this chapter we see the tragic end. Jonathan again going down with his father. I wonder Saul could have thought about the end result of his decisions and somehow changed what he did. They a lot of time to work making decisions were more doing certain things we don't really consider what the end result is we think about the here and the now.

The way the credit system is set up in America's proof enough of that. We don't think about what's going to happen. You same as cash for six months and we think all it's free. Not really free, and we look at the life of Saul and and I don't think he thought these things through. I think it would have changed something.

Had he done that will see what happens with the nation in verse seven is as and when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, Saul, that the men of Israel had fled in that Saul and his sons were dead. They forsook the cities and fled. Philistines came and dwelt in them defeat is often contagious. And as they Saul that part of the Army had been defeated. They started abandoning the cities that had been given them by God and truly when Saul lost the whole nation lost again losing in fear are often there often contagious.

That's why we should be careful sometimes because if you've ever noticed you know the if you hang out with somebody that's extremely negative for you. Hang out with somebody that's extremely fearful where you hang out with somebody who's living in their life, their spiritual life and in just defeat that can sometimes affect you. I know sometimes you go out and hang out with this person so that I can pull them up will be careful brother sister is what frequently happens is they pull you down in these men. They looked at the loss and defeat of Saul, they abandon the cities they ran from these God-given cities once again to be interesting to see in the next few verses.

Saul really didn't save himself from being mutilated and from being ashamed he didn't save himself from any of that. Maybe from some of the torture. But even that is questionable, as we'll see later with he didn't save himself from the very things he was trying to save himself from that he thought was up to him she once again Saul was not willing to trust the Lord. Even in this moment of death is all I got it. I gotta take care of this. I got a new friend. The thing is if you wait until the moment of death to trust God, you live a tragic life. I know people that are count on that account known that deathbed confession sort of thing now does God count though, I'm leaving us should we count on them.

Absolutely not, because the reality is, some people go without the opportunity to have that moment. As I've said before, they asked the rabbi they said rabbi. When should we repent, the rabbi said one day before you die and he said rabbi we don't know when that is.

And he said then you should repent today.

Same is true for us.

Saul in that moment, continued his life of trying to take it all under his control, and the life lesson. Be careful of thinking you must take care of problems without the help of the Lord.

Be careful of thinking you must take care of problems without the help of the Lord, you know this. I'll do it myself sort of thing is actually Christian author well use Christian loosely but a religious author, let's say, who wrote a book in the title of it I thought was humorous. It was said. If it's going to be. It's up to me the man is that brother in trouble. Why, because God is the one that blesses us. He's the one that leads us. He's the one that strengthens us in the moment you think you're standing on your own strength brother sister you can write a fall. You probably get Ray to fall hard and come back to grips with the fact that you need the Lord to support you in the give you strength and without the Lord even if you embark on a good thing.

It's only going to be a bad thing in the long run, and you'll make it worse. Verse eight says so what happened the next day when the Philistines came to strips Lane that they found Saul and his three sons phone on Mel Gilboa and they cut off his head stripped off his armor and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim it in the temple of their idols, and among the people took his armor think about his armor. In this verse I remember the time you probably remember the story David was getting ready to fight Goliath and Saul offered David his armor read that story for a long time thinking what's nice it's offered in his armor and then as I continued to study well read a story.

I thought you know what why wasn't Saul out there willing to fight Goliath were told that Saul was a tall man and yet he was on a sunny young boy to do his job and that little glimpse that you think will mean that was noble that it was offering him his armor. In hindsight, I don't think it was noble at all. There's another time were Jonathan wins a battle Saul takes her credit for his own son. When in the battle lines offer they were this armor. I think maybe so he could have taken credit after the fact. They know you will.

David he had that sling vetoes my armor that really helped David out how often we do that we take God's glory in God's credit now share this one before. This is a real subtle way that we do this sometimes will say also and so did you hear so-and-so got say so-and-so came to the Lord all yeah that's that's great you know I've been praying for them. You understand the exchange. It just happened to me. It's almost like the person saying what unit you know the reason they really got say it oneness or the Holy Spirit, oneness, or the Lord was my prayers.

I've been praying for the so glad to hear the finally heated my prayers.

Be careful, careful. I think that Saul was going to take partial credit for that victory and it sat here that Saul is being slain really by those he was supposed to rule over the Philistines. God had given him the strength for the battles God had led him. And yet Saul and his rejection of God, rejection of the leadership.

Saul died by the ones he was first rule overnight. That's part of the choice you see in this book it talks about us dying to sin. Dying to our own selfish desires dying to us controlling our lives and living after the Lord that God would control her life. I think we all can share that that's a difficult struggle, but that is the struggle that God has called us to. Part of that again is dying, the said dying to sin. See because if you don't died to sin. Sin will kill you. That's the reality. If you don't died to sin.

Sin will kill you. Like lesson here rule over sin or sin will rule over you rule over sin or sin will rule over you again give you the power to be victorious, but you can choose not to walk in that file and sin will take you down a fracture scenario by Sano Killian 2020 timeout sin will kill you. Sin has taken out more people in heart disease, cancer or anything else. People die every year from his sexual diseases and alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses and all these things.

Why is that because Dennis then killing people's taken amount. It knows no limits, no boundaries, no racial or age boundaries brings not only physical death, spiritual death. That's what sin brings. That is the ultimate reward of sin as it's been said, sin will pay you more than you ever want to be paid and will keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay the final fruit of sin is death, sin, ravages lives, physical beings, yet that's not the picture that's painted in the magazines and on television on the Internet. Sin is a glamorous thing, not the end result not the end result verse 10 then they put his arm in the temple of the Ashtoreths may fasten his body to the wall that she bet Xian is a very interesting city was a large city and it's one of the largest group of ruins and Israel. It's incredible when you come around the corner. I mean it. It's a city. You see a large city and you see the temple up on the hill there is a Roman basilar's amphitheater.

There's street. The cargo section.

The heart of the city you can walk down and see part of the shop that they had thousands of years ago. Incredible thing and they've actually discovered the temple of Astor off in the city. That's an amazing thing when you see this verse written 3000 years ago talking about a temple of Astor off and bet Xian and guess what we found that there was a temple basher often bet Xian over and over again we see archaeological stuff proving what this book says there has never been one item found anything discovered that disproves the validity and the truth and the accuracy of this book not one thing friend. Remember that family think of that next time you hear of the news they on the Discovery Channel or the history Channel, we found the tomb of Jesus and the bones are in their you have is we got the wrong tomb burner or this new gospel were this so you know it, and every year is just another you know if you find another word but I think regurgitation is probably a good word.

I regurgitation of some new new attack on the gospel with bet Xian is a very real place. I've seen it. The ruins are clearly seen, this temple basher off said, verse 11. Now, when the inhabitants of Jabez.

Gilead occurred with the Philistines at Dundas Saul all the valiant men arose and traveled all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall with bet Xian. They came to Jabez and burn them. There they may read this and may wonder why these guys come to the service of Saul. Well, we were told in the book of first Samuel one of the first acts of sample as Saul as a leader first Samuel 11 chapter 9 verse 11 says and they said the message to the messengers okay thus you shall say to the men of Jabez Killian tomorrow. By the time the sun is hot.

You shall have help then the messengers came reported to the men of Jabez and they were glad.

Therefore, the minute Jabez said tomorrow it will come out to you and you may do with us whatever seems good to you. So was on the next day that's all. But the people and three companies when they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and killed ammonites in Toledo the day it happened that those who survive are scattered so that no two of them were left together men of Jabez, Gilead had a problem they sent us on said Saul. Can you help us and Saul responded and Saul came in and help them and they won the battle and these men of Jabez Killian never forgot that Saul began his service to God such promise. Again, a Jabez, Gilead, and it's interesting that the enemas like this is tucked in there that refers back to the beginning again.

Saul was gifted. Saul was anointed, but he didn't. He didn't just make one bad decision you make one bad decision after another bad decision after another bad decision and became prideful rebellious rebellion was the beginning of in these men.

They felt like they had owed Saul something because Saul had a relationship with them when they were in trouble. They called on Saul. Saul responded now in this moment. Saul Arty deceased has a problem.

They come to his rescue.

Here's the thing, build relationships, build friendships, build them in this body because here's what I see. Sometimes people who don't build relationships they don't serve in the body. They don't really function as a body member.

Then they had a snack and then they say a semi-need to help me.

A lot of times there in that place, in part because they not built relationship. See, they built relationships within the body are you people that are praying for the moment, they had trouble the moment they share with you know what I meant hard spot. I'll be praying for him and what had been sometimes is we get to that spot and we go I need some friend is a bad time start mean friends. Well, that's a bad time to start realizing you needed friends, you native friends all but see if you wait till tragedy hits. It's hard to build a bridge in a day in builders relationships why you are doing well.

Needle have some catastrophe on your life friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend if you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossed the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

You can also write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life before we go.

Have you been listening to the teachings to the book of first Samuel we can pick some of these teachings, it will encourage your prayer life.

Pastor Neal can you tell us more about we all hunger for a deeper connection with the Lord and pastor David shares through past living examples how to have that deeper connection. So when you give a gift today we are going to send you for your generosity praying through first Samuel. It's a four CD series that will encourage you in a deeper relationship with the Lord. And as you step out on faith and give a gift to cross the bridge today will send this in appreciation for your generosity. Again, please visit cross the bridge.com to give today and get your copy of praying through first Samuel we would also like to encourage you to grab pastor David Daly each day wake up perfectly past work of God's life lessons to consider a daily reading plant and a fault to meditate on your day heart. And it's easy.

It's free to sign up today, cross the bridge.com folks. Thanks for listening into the next time. As David McKee continues teaching verse by verse. First Samuel