September 6

1 Sam 31 Where’s the glory? What a sad chapter. The enemies of the Lord are rejoicing. The people of God are in retreat. The king of Israel is dead. The price of disobedience is quite high. It always involves death, sometimes even for God’s people. But when persistent disobedience is displayed, God’s justice is challenged. The Lord will not tolerate persistent disobedience especially in those who tasted of His heavenly gift. So where is the glory? It is seen in the consistency of God’s justice. After decades of persistent disobedience in Saul, God vindicates His justice. Israel’s first king, picked for his masculine appearance, lies dead and disgraced because he would not truly repent. The Lord had warned him many times. But he would not turn. This is our God. He is just. He will not always put up with our foolishness. That is glory to consider. There is one glimmer of honor in this passage. The men of Jabesh Gilead put their lives on the line to steal the bodies of Saul and his sons. It wasn’t right that the enemies of the Lord should gloat over death and destruction wreaked upon Saul, his family and Israel. It wasn’t right that Saul should have an honorable burial. Jabesh Gilead was one of Saul’s ancestral homes. Jabesh Gilead had typically remained aloof from battles. Saul’s first act as king was to save Jabesh Gilead from a tyrant. They would not forget his intervention to save them. They travelled all night to steal the bodies off of the wall. They cremated the bodies. This is the only record of the people of Israel cremating someone they wished to honor. It is indicative of an emergency. Then they buried the bones in their own city. Why? Mixed reasons. He was their hero. He was their kinsman. He was the Lord’s anointed. Any one reason was sufficient. I’d like to think it was the last reason. I’d like to think it was because they saw a little of the Glory of God, and for that sole reason they put their lives on the line. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john