powerless before the Lord

The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.

1 Samuel 31:3

This is the end of King Saul. He died in battle like brave kings should. Yet Saul took his own life in the end, fearful of what the enemy would do to him. He died still at odds with David, still at odds with God, still fighting Israel’s enemies and running from the will of God. And in complete irony, Saul’s end is a metaphor for his leadership. His decisions always hurt himself. He willfully chose to end his life in the way he chose to live it... in a desperate act to maintain his own control all the while having a sovereign God overrule all the circumstances around him.

God told Saul, through the ghost of Samuel (that weird story is another instance of Saul’s impulsive rush to disobey God to get what he wanted) that the king and his sons would die battling the Philistines. That is told for us in 1 Samuel 28. That would set the stage for David to finally lead on Israel’s throne. And just as God said, Saul was dead the next day. Saul’s impulsiveness was no match for God’s sovereignty as God, the true king of Israel, ruled over His people.

Saul, the powerful, impulsive, self-preserving, mood-swinging, power-hogging king would not be able to maintain his control. It drove Saul crazy... literally! It destroyed his family and his kingdom. It led to his own suicide. There is no human power worth seeking that is better for us than submission to the powerful will of God!

Jesus,

You are the Servant Who perfectly submitted to the will of Your Father. And even though it meant Your death for us, You obeyed God’s will. Yet now You are highly exalted as King of kings and Lord of lords! You promise us an eternity of reigning with You if we will believe and submit to Your saving rule! I reject my own hope of power and control over my life. I submit to You, my Lord.

Amen