August 8, 2025 • 27 mins
Chapter 17 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 1 Samuel 31.
Death of a King - The first King of Israel marches into battle for the last time. With an arrow in his side and Philistines surrounding him, Saul breathes his last breath.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by John 10:10, GThe thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
the Bible. If you've been enjoying the series, please write
a review and let me know how this podcast has
impacted your life. Welcome to the epic Adventure of David,
a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
(00:21):
few know about David the Man. In this episode, we
follow Saul in the battle. He and Jonathan march valiantly
against the United Philistine Horde and meet their inevitable doom.
In episode fifteen, Saul visited a witch to conjure the
spirit of Samuel. This spirit, whether it was Samuel or not,
(00:41):
told Saul that this would be the end. This episode
is meant to give us mixed emotions. King Saul has
been one of the main antagonists in this series, but
his trajectory is tragic and we can't help but pity
his mental and emotional decline. I challenge you to have
the heart of days in this episode. Do not revel
(01:02):
in the King's death, mourn him and what his death
means for the nation. He represents many people who, for
no fault of their own are inappropriately elevated and worshiped.
Saul is in many ways a villain, but is also
a victim, a victim to the social and cultural pressures
of leadership and the corruption of pride. In order to
(01:23):
acquaint ourselves with the tragedy of Saul, we will go
back to his coronation as king. Our preludes are typically
told from the perspective of other characters in scripture, but
this one goes right back to Saul's beginning, when the
skies opened up and damned his reign. Saul's rise was quick,
and his decline was just as fast. His character arc
(01:45):
represents the inevitable rise and fall of every king. No
matter how noble, how fierce in battle, or how wise
they are, all kings fall short of the glory of God.
It is the destiny of every man to fail, which
is why the Man of Christ is all the more
glorious to us. Without further ado, here is Saul's final episode,
(02:06):
The Death of a King.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Prelude to chapter seventeen.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
You desired a man to save.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
You, Samuel yelled at the people.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Well, here he stands before you. The Lord has given
you the desires of your heart. If you will fear
God and serve him, If you will obey his voice
and refuse to rebel as your forefathers, if you and
your new king follow him and him alone, all will
be well. But take heed, my children. The pride of
(02:46):
the heart is more powerful than you know. God will
resist the rebellious and arrogant heart. If you go against him,
he will be against you and your king.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
This guy had turned completely dark, and the wind began
to pick up tremendously behind Samuel. The people began to stir.
The weather was unsettling. It seemed to match the mood
of Samuel. His words clearly reflected the heart of God.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Stand and see this great thing that the Lord will
do before your.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Eyes, Samuel said, with a trumpeting voice.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Thunder and rain shall go before you, and you shall
know truly what you have done has breathed the heart
of God.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
As Samuel said, this.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Lightning struck down behind him.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
The cypress tree behind and corrupted in flames. Then, as
if the flood gates of heaven whirlmen, rain poured out
from the clouds. Thunders shook the earth, and rain began
to fall down like arrows under the people below. The
people were fearful that the Lord would strike them down.
They cried out, saying.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Pray for us, Samuel, we have added to all the sins.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Of our.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Samuel shook his head and sighed, You have nothing to fear.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
He said, with the wind at his back.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Continue in the paths of the Lord with all your heart.
You do not cling to the empty things that cannot
satisfy you. They are empty and weak. The Lord will
not forsake his people. He is great, and it pleases
him to make you his people. It gives him joy
to protect you. As for me, far be it from
(04:29):
me that I should sin by ceasing to pray for you.
I will still be here to instruct and guide you.
I will give counsel, offer prayers, and make sacrifices on
behalf of the people and God's armies.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
The wind began to subside for a moment, and the
rain had drowned out the flames caused by the lightning.
All that remained were wet coals, barely flickering. Samuel's voice
was soft now and weary. He looked down at them
and said.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.
Consider and remember the great things he has done for you,
Yet the warning remains. If wickedness prevails in your hearts,
you and your king shall be swept away.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
The people left wet and contemplative. It was not the
coronation Saul had in mind. As the people left, Saul
remained there silently, looking at Samuel from a distance. A
small part of him was angry at the interruption. He
did not know whether Samuel supported him as king reluctantly,
or if he was actively praying against him. A spark
(05:41):
of spite simmered deeply in Saul's heart. He ignored it
and put on a smile as he approached Samuel. The
two of them left Gilgal to prepare and establish the
kingdom Chapter seventeen, Death of a King. Saul sat by
the fire, wrapping himself in fur. He could see his
(06:02):
breath in the cold air, floating up into the cloudless
night sky. The fire cracked and simmered. Its heat was
a pleasant presence on such an unforgiving night. One of
the logs fell to the side of the fire, away
from the flames. The radiating heat slowly began to dissipate
from the wood. Saul watched the red and orange hue
(06:23):
emanating from the logs, slowly fade and disappear. His heart
ached at the sight of it, although he did not
know why. Jonathan sat on the other side of the
fire studying his father. He had not spoken since his
return from Endor. He was like a ghost, simply floating
into space, without any aim or purpose. It saddened Jonathan
(06:45):
to watch his father's descent over the years. Ever since
he banished David. King, Saul's heart and passion had disappeared
like the heat of a coal away from the fire.
The young prince interrupted the silence and called his father,
out of his mind, my king, Jonathan said, we march
at first light. What are your orders for the men?
Saul looked away from the fire and up at his son.
(07:07):
He opened his mouth to speak, but there was nothing
for him to say. The spirit of Samuel had spoken
through the witch of Or this would be the day
that he dies. Saul shook his head and returned his
gaze to the flame. Jonathan pursed his lips and shook
his head.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
The Philistines will not wait for you, father, They march
against us tomorrow, whether we are ready or not. Will
you lead us? Saul said nothing, in response, his heart
and soul ached. He was filled with quiet and painful
regret at the state of his life. However, Jonathan would
not allow him to simply sulk. He left his seat,
crouched in front of his father and looked him in
(07:45):
the eye. Has the King already died? Its words cut
through Saul like a sharp blade. The father and son
exchanged painful gazes, both unwilling to say what was on
both of their minds. They both knew that this battle
would be their last. Saul cleared his throat and patted
his son on the shoulder. He conceded, and the two
(08:07):
spoke of strategy for the next hour. At first light,
they would march. At first light, the army of Israel
gathered on Mount Gilboa. The rocky mountains surrounded a deep
valley of lush grass.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Below. All was still then quiet. For a small moment,
the newly risen sun kissed the earth below, and the
cold ground basked in the warm rays of new light.
Saul turned his face to the sun, enjoying the brief tranquility.
For a moment, Saul's cold and hardened heart felt the
gentle and loving presence of his creator, Like a single
(08:43):
drop of cold water to a desert flower. It was
all he needed. A small smile rose from the sides
of Saul's mouth. He lowered his gaze to the valley below.
The stillness of the morning was interrupted by quakes in
the earth below Saul's feet. The ground was shaking, and
Saul looked to the other side of the valley at
the horde of Philistine's approaching. They were like a swarm
(09:05):
of locusts covering the sun. Saul's heart began to beat
harder and harder as he scanned the vast army. Jonathan
stood two hundred yards to Saul's left, with another group
of skilled soldiers and his two brothers, Abinadab and Malchishua
behind him. He would go around the side and flank
the enemy. However, Saul feared it would do them no good.
(09:26):
The united Philistine army stretched wide for nearly a quarter mile.
Saul pulled out his sword and drew a deep breath.
He stood upon a stone elevated above his men. Do
not let them see your fear, Saul thought to himself.
They need a king, not a coward. The king puffed
out his chest and raised his sword high in the air.
(09:47):
Out of Saul's mouth came a bellowing cry of war.
He screamed with every ounce of pent up rage in
his body. The men raised their swords in return, shouting
an anthem of war back to their king. Without any
word or prayer. Saul turned to the battlefield and began
his march. Although age had taken Saul's youthful strength, he
(10:08):
still loomed ahead, larger than every other man. The King's
size alone was enough to contend with the Philistines coming
his way. He swung with broad strokes, wiping up two
of the stems with one blow. Many Israelite soldiers ran
past their king to protect it. They fought with fire
in their bellies and passion in their hearts. However, it
(10:28):
did not take long for the Philistines to force their
will against the king and its men. Bodies began falling
at an unmanageable rate till each passing minute defeat seemed
all too lightly. However, Saul would not retreat or surrender.
This was their last stand against the Philistines. His legacy
as king would be defined by this moment. He would
(10:49):
not bow down. On the other side of the battlefield
Jonathan and his chosen warriors charged against the enemy flag.
Jonathan's renounce speed and a jill, they lived up to
its reputation. He sliced to the first line of Philistines
with ease. Their advances were well timed and well reversed
as they made their way to the back of the
(11:10):
Philistine rummy, that is where the Kings were. Never before
had Jonathan fought so ferociously. His pace was unmatched by
any Philistine coming after him. Before they could even prepare
an attention, he ran past the little swift Glow to
the neck world Saul's other sons, a bit of Dad
and Malkishua were in pursuit behind him. The Kings were
(11:32):
surrounded by dozens of well trained guards arm to his
spears and shields, where Jonathan was the first to reach them,
leaping into one of the men's shields and knocking him
down on his head. Jonathan's men launched themselves forward as well,
rating a frenzy among the guards. Spears and swords clashed,
and Jonathan raged at the guards, desperately trying to get
(11:54):
to the Kings. A Vinadad ran at one of the guards,
but was not with the spirit it was belly. Jonathan
looked back as his brother fell to the ground on him.
Jonathan yelled. He ran towards his fallen brother, only to
be knocked down by the enemy shield. Jonathan rolled in
the dirt, dodging the thrust of the Philistine spear. When
(12:15):
the enemy spear was thrust into the dirt, Jonathan grabbed
it and kicked forward and knocking him on his back.
He then thrust the spear into the god's throat, killing
him instantly. The prince walked over to his other brother, Malchishua.
He was surrounded by four guards. Before Jonathan could reach
him to help, Mountishea had four spears launched into his stomach.
(12:36):
The sad fool, Jonathan yelled with broken passion. He ran
towards the four guards and killed every single one of
Philistine blood soaked his royal armor. As Jonathan stood over
his brother's mangled body, and four chariots ridden by Philistine
kings began riding towards him, Jonathan looked back and breathed
(12:57):
in deeply. He held his sword up to the oncoming chariots.
His gaze was filled with fame and sword. The son
of the king composed himself and studied his breathing and
prepared for the attack. All was still for a moment.
The battle raging around him, galloping of horses and the
raging of kings seemed to be held quietly. In time,
(13:20):
Jonathan looked up to the heavens, at peace with his God.
He had served him faithfully and knew, despite what may
happen to him, the kingdom of Israel would be held
securely in the Lord's hands. David would be king, and
the nation would live to fight another day. Jonathan set
his feet forward and ran to work. He charted and
(13:43):
delivered a bload of the horse of the first.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Chariot, causing it to fall off balance.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
The other chariot rode fast out that Jonathan was able
to launch a stone in the wheels and leaking it
to Teason. Finally, another chariot came forward and with one
swoop of his sword, slashed on the chest. The prince
fell back and cried out in pain. His legs trembled
as he stood to his feet, Ripping his wound in
(14:08):
one hand and sword in the other. He stepped forward
to fight back, but one of the Philistine kings knocked
him back down. The last thing he saw was four
swords of Philistine kings coming down. The warrior prince was slain.
Saul continued his advance on the other side of the battlefield.
(14:30):
His bones ached from the fighting and his aged body
was growing weary, yet he continued to fight. However, with
every step he took forward, more of his men were slain.
The thousands of Israelites that marched up against the Philistines
had been dwindled down to mere hundreds, and many were
beginning to retreat. The king continued with labored breathing and
(14:52):
heavy steps, but he knew that he could no longer fight.
He turned his back from the battle towards a covering
of stones beside the hill. His armor bear fought beside him,
slaying every Philistine that came up against him. The two
finally made their way to the covering and rested near
the large stones hidden from the battle. Saul tried to
(15:13):
steady his labored breathing. Regret filled his heart once again,
and he considered the sad state of his final hours.
He had spent far too much time campaigning against David
when he should have been protecting his people. He had
let his guard down, and the Philistines had grown more
powerful while he hunted shadows of his own shame. This
(15:34):
was his final chance to redeem his sullied name. Saul
gripped his sword tightly and came out from behind the stone.
As he showed himself, an archer landed a perfect shot
to Saul's chest. Saul screamed and fell to his knees.
The arrow sunk in deeply to his right lung. His
armor bear grabbed Saul and dragged him behind the stones.
(15:56):
The wounded king gasped for air and clasped at his
armor bearer.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
Draw your sword, the king stammered, Kill me now, before
the Philistines take me.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
I will not be the man who slayed the king.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
The armor bear protested, kill me before they take me
and torture me.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Saul winced in pain. He could barely breathe Kill me,
he begged, but the armor bearer refused. Saul shoved him
back and drew his own sword. He looked up to
the heavens. It was as Samuel predicted, this was truly
the day he would die. The king held his sword
out to his chest with trembling hands. Tears streamed down
(16:40):
his face. He shook his head and closed his eyes.
Memories of regret and pain flooded his mind. He remembered
his coronation, how the heavens opened up and lightning burst
from the heavens. He remembered Samuel's rage that the people
had called for a king. His reign was doomed from
the beginning. He was an idol held up by the people,
(17:03):
a golden calf. Like all false gods. He had disappointed
his worshippers. He had fallen short of the called God
gave him. It was fitting for him to die at
the hand of the Philistines. They represented the evil he
could not quite defeat within himself, like his own inner demons.
(17:23):
Victory against them had always eluded him. Yet he knew
there was one who could rise above it all, a
warrior sent by God who was able to slay both
inner and outer enemies. He would be king when Saul died.
He would lead them like Saul never could. The fall
of King Saul would be the rise of King David.
(17:46):
So the king pressed his sword against his chest and
fell forward. As the king hid the ground, the sword
went straight through his heart. The first King of Israel
had died. Chaos followed the death of Saul and his sons,
the nearby Israelite cities were overrun by Philistines. Those who
(18:09):
had not fled were taken captive, and the borders of
Israel near the Jordan had become Philistine territory. They had
taken Saul's body along with his sons, and beheaded them.
They paraded the heads like trophies, sending them far and
wide to Philistine cities. They made a mockery of the
king and his princes. They put Saul's armor in the
(18:29):
temple of their idols and fastened his body to the
wall of beth Shan. However, the people of Jebish Glid
would not allow the king's body to be mocked in
such a way. They remembered his march against the Philistines
when they were attacked. It was his first act as king.
So the brave men of Jebish Galid arose and went
(18:49):
to beth Shan in the dead of night. They retrieved
the bodies of Saul and his sons and took them
back to be burned and mourned properly. The fire consumed
Saul's the coals cracked and simmered around him. The flames
rose up into the sky, burning into the night. It
was the longest fire Saul was ever able to keep burning.
(19:12):
The reign of Saul was a message of struggle, torment,
and anguish. From the very beginning. He was a representation
of man's attempt to build up for themselves a kingdom
apart from God. His paranoid and selfish campaigns against David
showcased the fragility of man's ego. Yet in the midst
of all human struggle, God is still at work and moving.
(19:35):
Despite their rejection of him, God would not abandon his people.
He had raised up a hero for them, a king
to reign righteously and humbly. Yet even David was capable
of falling. David's reign as king would be but a
small shadow of an even greater king to come. The
Good Shepherd foretold since the beginning of mankind, the Christ.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
God will resist the rebellious and arrogant heart. This was
a resounding truth in the life of King Saul. From
the very beginning. His reign was wrought with pride, compromise,
and anxiety. Every warning Saul gave the people and the
prelude turned out to manifest itself and Saul's life. We
watched it happen from sixteen episodes. His steady decline in
(20:26):
the Madness left us begging for his rule to end.
This episode provides us with closure, as Saul finally comes
to grips with how far he's fallen. I suppose knowing
the time and place of your death will cause you
to contemplate your life. Saul is more reflective in this episode.
This is the most sober his mind has been since
(20:47):
the day of his coronation. This episode is a warning
for us to not wait too long to truly reflect
on the state of our hearts. If Saul had truly
examined himself sooner, he could have salvaged his legs. At
the end, the king had a moment of sobriety and
thought about his life. He remembered his coronation, how the
(21:07):
heavens opened up and lightning bursts from the heavens. His
reign was doomed from the beginning. He was an idol
held up by the people, a golden calf. Like all
false gods, he had disappointed his worshippers. He had fallen
short of the call God gave him. It was fitting
for him to die at the hands of the Philistines.
(21:27):
They represented the evil he could never quite defeat within himself,
like his own inner demons. Victory against them had always
eluded him. Yet he knew there was one who could
rise above it all, a warrior sent by God who
was able to slay both inner and outer enemies. This
final reflection from Saul is for you and I. So
(21:49):
often in life, our outer struggles are manifestations of our
inner struggles. Saul raged against the Philistines, but could never
quite seize victory over them. He could be the hero
he wanted to be because he didn't realize the first
battle that needed to be won was within him. Calm
the storm within and the storm without will seem a
(22:10):
lot less terrifying. Saul's death is not the majestic and
noble in all kings imagine for themselves. He died an
inglorious death, ending his own life so he wouldn't be
embarrassed by the Philistines. Even at the end, Saul's pride
drove his decisions. In this episode, the king's frayed character
(22:30):
is once again put in contrast to Jonathan's the warrior
prince and beloved friend of David fights till the very
end and meets a noble Inn. His death comes as
a bigger surprise to us in this episode and grieves
us more. Jonathan's life represents a different kind of disappointment.
The philosopher King Solomon would later on write, whether it
(22:53):
is love or hate, man does not know, both are
before him. It is the same for all, since the
same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to
the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean,
to him who sacrifices, and him who does not sacrifice,
as the good one is, so is the sinner, and
he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.
(23:16):
This is an evil in all that is done under
the sun, that the same event happens to all. Solomon's
reflection is depressing, but spot on death comes to the
righteous and the unrighteous, the brave and the cowardly, the
good and the evil. We do not mourn Saul's death
in the same way we mourn Jonathan's. The prince was
(23:37):
nothing like the king, and it seems like robbery to
have him die too early. But that is death. It
is a great equalizer, and eventually comes for all of us.
Most of us are uncertain about how and when we
will die, but we are certain of death's eventuality. This
reality can cause many people to fall into nihilism, but
(23:59):
Christ's triumph death gives us a grander view. We are
sober in our consideration of death, but it does not
have the final say for those that have put faith
in Jesus. After considering the impartiality of death, Solomon encourages
his readers with this, Enjoy life with the wife whom
you love, all the days of your vain life that
(24:21):
He has given you under the sun, because that is
your portion in life, and in your toil at which
you worked under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might, for there is no
work or thought, or knowledge or wisdom in the grave
to which you are going. Jonathan and Saul both knew
that time was coming. While Saul was left paralyzed, Jonathan
(24:44):
was invigorated. Our time is short on earth. Let's make
every minute matter. This episode is filled with profound imagery,
specifically around the coals of the flame. Do you remember
Samuel's original question to Saul, are you able to keep
the coals burning? The coals have always represented the heart
(25:05):
of man and its proximity to the Lord. The closer
the coals are to the flame, the longer they burn.
Saul forgot to tend to the coals of his heart.
He stayed from God and burnt out. In this episode,
the coals are mentioned a few times. Saul's heart aches
when he watches the cold lose its heat, but he
(25:25):
doesn't know why. This represents how disconnected he is from
his roots. David has people around him to remind him
of his calling, thus keeping his coals burning in the flame. Saul, however,
had pushed away everyone who kept him accountable. King Saul's
heart and passion had disappeared, like the heat of a
cold away from its fire. At the end, his body
(25:48):
is burned, and it was the longest fire Saul was
ever able to keep burning. The story of Saul proved
to be more valuable than the life of Salt. Many
of the people, like you and I are a to
extract meaning and messages from his life. Therefore, in his
death he was able to accomplish more than his life.
The era of Saul has come to a close, and
(26:10):
now it is time for King David to rule the
temptation is to assume his reign will be more noble
than Saul's. But we should not be so sure. The
crown can corrupt noble characters, so David will have to
cling to righteousness desperately if he wants to resist the
pride of the throne. In our next episode, the exiled
(26:30):
Champion of Israel returns. Will he be accepted or will
the hatred of Saul? Linger find out next time in
episode eighteen, A Sorrowful Coronation. Thanks again for listening. For
more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last a lifetime,
go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes
in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of Faith devotional
(26:54):
at Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes, Write a review
and let us know how this this podcast has impacted
your life. God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
the Bible. If you've been enjoying the series, please write
a review and let me know how this podcast has
impacted your life. Welcome to the epic Adventure of David,
a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
(00:21):
few know about David the Man. In this episode, we
follow Saul in the battle. He and Jonathan march valiantly
against the United Philistine Horde and meet their inevitable doom.
In episode fifteen, Saul visited a witch to conjure the
spirit of Samuel. This spirit, whether it was Samuel or not,
(00:41):
told Saul that this would be the end. This episode
is meant to give us mixed emotions. King Saul has
been one of the main antagonists in this series, but
his trajectory is tragic and we can't help but pity
his mental and emotional decline. I challenge you to have
the heart of days in this episode. Do not revel
(01:02):
in the King's death, mourn him and what his death
means for the nation. He represents many people who, for
no fault of their own are inappropriately elevated and worshiped.
Saul is in many ways a villain, but is also
a victim, a victim to the social and cultural pressures
of leadership and the corruption of pride. In order to
(01:23):
acquaint ourselves with the tragedy of Saul, we will go
back to his coronation as king. Our preludes are typically
told from the perspective of other characters in scripture, but
this one goes right back to Saul's beginning, when the
skies opened up and damned his reign. Saul's rise was quick,
and his decline was just as fast. His character arc
(01:45):
represents the inevitable rise and fall of every king. No
matter how noble, how fierce in battle, or how wise
they are, all kings fall short of the glory of God.
It is the destiny of every man to fail, which
is why the Man of Christ is all the more
glorious to us. Without further ado, here is Saul's final episode,
(02:06):
The Death of a King.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Prelude to chapter seventeen.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
You desired a man to save.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
You, Samuel yelled at the people.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Well, here he stands before you. The Lord has given
you the desires of your heart. If you will fear
God and serve him, If you will obey his voice
and refuse to rebel as your forefathers, if you and
your new king follow him and him alone, all will
be well. But take heed, my children. The pride of
(02:46):
the heart is more powerful than you know. God will
resist the rebellious and arrogant heart. If you go against him,
he will be against you and your king.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
This guy had turned completely dark, and the wind began
to pick up tremendously behind Samuel. The people began to stir.
The weather was unsettling. It seemed to match the mood
of Samuel. His words clearly reflected the heart of God.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Stand and see this great thing that the Lord will
do before your.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Eyes, Samuel said, with a trumpeting voice.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Thunder and rain shall go before you, and you shall
know truly what you have done has breathed the heart
of God.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
As Samuel said, this.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Lightning struck down behind him.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
The cypress tree behind and corrupted in flames. Then, as
if the flood gates of heaven whirlmen, rain poured out
from the clouds. Thunders shook the earth, and rain began
to fall down like arrows under the people below. The
people were fearful that the Lord would strike them down.
They cried out, saying.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Pray for us, Samuel, we have added to all the sins.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Of our.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Samuel shook his head and sighed, You have nothing to fear.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
He said, with the wind at his back.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Continue in the paths of the Lord with all your heart.
You do not cling to the empty things that cannot
satisfy you. They are empty and weak. The Lord will
not forsake his people. He is great, and it pleases
him to make you his people. It gives him joy
to protect you. As for me, far be it from
(04:29):
me that I should sin by ceasing to pray for you.
I will still be here to instruct and guide you.
I will give counsel, offer prayers, and make sacrifices on
behalf of the people and God's armies.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
The wind began to subside for a moment, and the
rain had drowned out the flames caused by the lightning.
All that remained were wet coals, barely flickering. Samuel's voice
was soft now and weary. He looked down at them
and said.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.
Consider and remember the great things he has done for you,
Yet the warning remains. If wickedness prevails in your hearts,
you and your king shall be swept away.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
The people left wet and contemplative. It was not the
coronation Saul had in mind. As the people left, Saul
remained there silently, looking at Samuel from a distance. A
small part of him was angry at the interruption. He
did not know whether Samuel supported him as king reluctantly,
or if he was actively praying against him. A spark
(05:41):
of spite simmered deeply in Saul's heart. He ignored it
and put on a smile as he approached Samuel. The
two of them left Gilgal to prepare and establish the
kingdom Chapter seventeen, Death of a King. Saul sat by
the fire, wrapping himself in fur. He could see his
(06:02):
breath in the cold air, floating up into the cloudless
night sky. The fire cracked and simmered. Its heat was
a pleasant presence on such an unforgiving night. One of
the logs fell to the side of the fire, away
from the flames. The radiating heat slowly began to dissipate
from the wood. Saul watched the red and orange hue
(06:23):
emanating from the logs, slowly fade and disappear. His heart
ached at the sight of it, although he did not
know why. Jonathan sat on the other side of the
fire studying his father. He had not spoken since his
return from Endor. He was like a ghost, simply floating
into space, without any aim or purpose. It saddened Jonathan
(06:45):
to watch his father's descent over the years. Ever since
he banished David. King, Saul's heart and passion had disappeared
like the heat of a coal away from the fire.
The young prince interrupted the silence and called his father,
out of his mind, my king, Jonathan said, we march
at first light. What are your orders for the men?
Saul looked away from the fire and up at his son.
(07:07):
He opened his mouth to speak, but there was nothing
for him to say. The spirit of Samuel had spoken
through the witch of Or this would be the day
that he dies. Saul shook his head and returned his
gaze to the flame. Jonathan pursed his lips and shook
his head.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
The Philistines will not wait for you, father, They march
against us tomorrow, whether we are ready or not. Will
you lead us? Saul said nothing, in response, his heart
and soul ached. He was filled with quiet and painful
regret at the state of his life. However, Jonathan would
not allow him to simply sulk. He left his seat,
crouched in front of his father and looked him in
(07:45):
the eye. Has the King already died? Its words cut
through Saul like a sharp blade. The father and son
exchanged painful gazes, both unwilling to say what was on
both of their minds. They both knew that this battle
would be their last. Saul cleared his throat and patted
his son on the shoulder. He conceded, and the two
(08:07):
spoke of strategy for the next hour. At first light,
they would march. At first light, the army of Israel
gathered on Mount Gilboa. The rocky mountains surrounded a deep
valley of lush grass.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Below. All was still then quiet. For a small moment,
the newly risen sun kissed the earth below, and the
cold ground basked in the warm rays of new light.
Saul turned his face to the sun, enjoying the brief tranquility.
For a moment, Saul's cold and hardened heart felt the
gentle and loving presence of his creator, Like a single
(08:43):
drop of cold water to a desert flower. It was
all he needed. A small smile rose from the sides
of Saul's mouth. He lowered his gaze to the valley below.
The stillness of the morning was interrupted by quakes in
the earth below Saul's feet. The ground was shaking, and
Saul looked to the other side of the valley at
the horde of Philistine's approaching. They were like a swarm
(09:05):
of locusts covering the sun. Saul's heart began to beat
harder and harder as he scanned the vast army. Jonathan
stood two hundred yards to Saul's left, with another group
of skilled soldiers and his two brothers, Abinadab and Malchishua
behind him. He would go around the side and flank
the enemy. However, Saul feared it would do them no good.
(09:26):
The united Philistine army stretched wide for nearly a quarter mile.
Saul pulled out his sword and drew a deep breath.
He stood upon a stone elevated above his men. Do
not let them see your fear, Saul thought to himself.
They need a king, not a coward. The king puffed
out his chest and raised his sword high in the air.
(09:47):
Out of Saul's mouth came a bellowing cry of war.
He screamed with every ounce of pent up rage in
his body. The men raised their swords in return, shouting
an anthem of war back to their king. Without any
word or prayer. Saul turned to the battlefield and began
his march. Although age had taken Saul's youthful strength, he
(10:08):
still loomed ahead, larger than every other man. The King's
size alone was enough to contend with the Philistines coming
his way. He swung with broad strokes, wiping up two
of the stems with one blow. Many Israelite soldiers ran
past their king to protect it. They fought with fire
in their bellies and passion in their hearts. However, it
(10:28):
did not take long for the Philistines to force their
will against the king and its men. Bodies began falling
at an unmanageable rate till each passing minute defeat seemed
all too lightly. However, Saul would not retreat or surrender.
This was their last stand against the Philistines. His legacy
as king would be defined by this moment. He would
(10:49):
not bow down. On the other side of the battlefield
Jonathan and his chosen warriors charged against the enemy flag.
Jonathan's renounce speed and a jill, they lived up to
its reputation. He sliced to the first line of Philistines
with ease. Their advances were well timed and well reversed
as they made their way to the back of the
(11:10):
Philistine rummy, that is where the Kings were. Never before
had Jonathan fought so ferociously. His pace was unmatched by
any Philistine coming after him. Before they could even prepare
an attention, he ran past the little swift Glow to
the neck world Saul's other sons, a bit of Dad
and Malkishua were in pursuit behind him. The Kings were
(11:32):
surrounded by dozens of well trained guards arm to his
spears and shields, where Jonathan was the first to reach them,
leaping into one of the men's shields and knocking him
down on his head. Jonathan's men launched themselves forward as well,
rating a frenzy among the guards. Spears and swords clashed,
and Jonathan raged at the guards, desperately trying to get
(11:54):
to the Kings. A Vinadad ran at one of the guards,
but was not with the spirit it was belly. Jonathan
looked back as his brother fell to the ground on him.
Jonathan yelled. He ran towards his fallen brother, only to
be knocked down by the enemy shield. Jonathan rolled in
the dirt, dodging the thrust of the Philistine spear. When
(12:15):
the enemy spear was thrust into the dirt, Jonathan grabbed
it and kicked forward and knocking him on his back.
He then thrust the spear into the god's throat, killing
him instantly. The prince walked over to his other brother, Malchishua.
He was surrounded by four guards. Before Jonathan could reach
him to help, Mountishea had four spears launched into his stomach.
(12:36):
The sad fool, Jonathan yelled with broken passion. He ran
towards the four guards and killed every single one of
Philistine blood soaked his royal armor. As Jonathan stood over
his brother's mangled body, and four chariots ridden by Philistine
kings began riding towards him, Jonathan looked back and breathed
(12:57):
in deeply. He held his sword up to the oncoming chariots.
His gaze was filled with fame and sword. The son
of the king composed himself and studied his breathing and
prepared for the attack. All was still for a moment.
The battle raging around him, galloping of horses and the
raging of kings seemed to be held quietly. In time,
(13:20):
Jonathan looked up to the heavens, at peace with his God.
He had served him faithfully and knew, despite what may
happen to him, the kingdom of Israel would be held
securely in the Lord's hands. David would be king, and
the nation would live to fight another day. Jonathan set
his feet forward and ran to work. He charted and
(13:43):
delivered a bload of the horse of the first.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Chariot, causing it to fall off balance.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
The other chariot rode fast out that Jonathan was able
to launch a stone in the wheels and leaking it
to Teason. Finally, another chariot came forward and with one
swoop of his sword, slashed on the chest. The prince
fell back and cried out in pain. His legs trembled
as he stood to his feet, Ripping his wound in
(14:08):
one hand and sword in the other. He stepped forward
to fight back, but one of the Philistine kings knocked
him back down. The last thing he saw was four
swords of Philistine kings coming down. The warrior prince was slain.
Saul continued his advance on the other side of the battlefield.
(14:30):
His bones ached from the fighting and his aged body
was growing weary, yet he continued to fight. However, with
every step he took forward, more of his men were slain.
The thousands of Israelites that marched up against the Philistines
had been dwindled down to mere hundreds, and many were
beginning to retreat. The king continued with labored breathing and
(14:52):
heavy steps, but he knew that he could no longer fight.
He turned his back from the battle towards a covering
of stones beside the hill. His armor bear fought beside him,
slaying every Philistine that came up against him. The two
finally made their way to the covering and rested near
the large stones hidden from the battle. Saul tried to
(15:13):
steady his labored breathing. Regret filled his heart once again,
and he considered the sad state of his final hours.
He had spent far too much time campaigning against David
when he should have been protecting his people. He had
let his guard down, and the Philistines had grown more
powerful while he hunted shadows of his own shame. This
(15:34):
was his final chance to redeem his sullied name. Saul
gripped his sword tightly and came out from behind the stone.
As he showed himself, an archer landed a perfect shot
to Saul's chest. Saul screamed and fell to his knees.
The arrow sunk in deeply to his right lung. His
armor bear grabbed Saul and dragged him behind the stones.
(15:56):
The wounded king gasped for air and clasped at his
armor bearer.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
Draw your sword, the king stammered, Kill me now, before
the Philistines take me.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
I will not be the man who slayed the king.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
The armor bear protested, kill me before they take me
and torture me.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Saul winced in pain. He could barely breathe Kill me,
he begged, but the armor bearer refused. Saul shoved him
back and drew his own sword. He looked up to
the heavens. It was as Samuel predicted, this was truly
the day he would die. The king held his sword
out to his chest with trembling hands. Tears streamed down
(16:40):
his face. He shook his head and closed his eyes.
Memories of regret and pain flooded his mind. He remembered
his coronation, how the heavens opened up and lightning burst
from the heavens. He remembered Samuel's rage that the people
had called for a king. His reign was doomed from
the beginning. He was an idol held up by the people,
(17:03):
a golden calf. Like all false gods. He had disappointed
his worshippers. He had fallen short of the called God
gave him. It was fitting for him to die at
the hand of the Philistines. They represented the evil he
could not quite defeat within himself, like his own inner demons.
(17:23):
Victory against them had always eluded him. Yet he knew
there was one who could rise above it all, a
warrior sent by God who was able to slay both
inner and outer enemies. He would be king when Saul died.
He would lead them like Saul never could. The fall
of King Saul would be the rise of King David.
(17:46):
So the king pressed his sword against his chest and
fell forward. As the king hid the ground, the sword
went straight through his heart. The first King of Israel
had died. Chaos followed the death of Saul and his sons,
the nearby Israelite cities were overrun by Philistines. Those who
(18:09):
had not fled were taken captive, and the borders of
Israel near the Jordan had become Philistine territory. They had
taken Saul's body along with his sons, and beheaded them.
They paraded the heads like trophies, sending them far and
wide to Philistine cities. They made a mockery of the
king and his princes. They put Saul's armor in the
(18:29):
temple of their idols and fastened his body to the
wall of beth Shan. However, the people of Jebish Glid
would not allow the king's body to be mocked in
such a way. They remembered his march against the Philistines
when they were attacked. It was his first act as king.
So the brave men of Jebish Galid arose and went
(18:49):
to beth Shan in the dead of night. They retrieved
the bodies of Saul and his sons and took them
back to be burned and mourned properly. The fire consumed
Saul's the coals cracked and simmered around him. The flames
rose up into the sky, burning into the night. It
was the longest fire Saul was ever able to keep burning.
(19:12):
The reign of Saul was a message of struggle, torment,
and anguish. From the very beginning. He was a representation
of man's attempt to build up for themselves a kingdom
apart from God. His paranoid and selfish campaigns against David
showcased the fragility of man's ego. Yet in the midst
of all human struggle, God is still at work and moving.
(19:35):
Despite their rejection of him, God would not abandon his people.
He had raised up a hero for them, a king
to reign righteously and humbly. Yet even David was capable
of falling. David's reign as king would be but a
small shadow of an even greater king to come. The
Good Shepherd foretold since the beginning of mankind, the Christ.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
God will resist the rebellious and arrogant heart. This was
a resounding truth in the life of King Saul. From
the very beginning. His reign was wrought with pride, compromise,
and anxiety. Every warning Saul gave the people and the
prelude turned out to manifest itself and Saul's life. We
watched it happen from sixteen episodes. His steady decline in
(20:26):
the Madness left us begging for his rule to end.
This episode provides us with closure, as Saul finally comes
to grips with how far he's fallen. I suppose knowing
the time and place of your death will cause you
to contemplate your life. Saul is more reflective in this episode.
This is the most sober his mind has been since
(20:47):
the day of his coronation. This episode is a warning
for us to not wait too long to truly reflect
on the state of our hearts. If Saul had truly
examined himself sooner, he could have salvaged his legs. At
the end, the king had a moment of sobriety and
thought about his life. He remembered his coronation, how the
(21:07):
heavens opened up and lightning bursts from the heavens. His
reign was doomed from the beginning. He was an idol
held up by the people, a golden calf. Like all
false gods, he had disappointed his worshippers. He had fallen
short of the call God gave him. It was fitting
for him to die at the hands of the Philistines.
(21:27):
They represented the evil he could never quite defeat within himself,
like his own inner demons. Victory against them had always
eluded him. Yet he knew there was one who could
rise above it all, a warrior sent by God who
was able to slay both inner and outer enemies. This
final reflection from Saul is for you and I. So
(21:49):
often in life, our outer struggles are manifestations of our
inner struggles. Saul raged against the Philistines, but could never
quite seize victory over them. He could be the hero
he wanted to be because he didn't realize the first
battle that needed to be won was within him. Calm
the storm within and the storm without will seem a
(22:10):
lot less terrifying. Saul's death is not the majestic and
noble in all kings imagine for themselves. He died an
inglorious death, ending his own life so he wouldn't be
embarrassed by the Philistines. Even at the end, Saul's pride
drove his decisions. In this episode, the king's frayed character
(22:30):
is once again put in contrast to Jonathan's the warrior
prince and beloved friend of David fights till the very
end and meets a noble Inn. His death comes as
a bigger surprise to us in this episode and grieves
us more. Jonathan's life represents a different kind of disappointment.
The philosopher King Solomon would later on write, whether it
(22:53):
is love or hate, man does not know, both are
before him. It is the same for all, since the
same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to
the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean,
to him who sacrifices, and him who does not sacrifice,
as the good one is, so is the sinner, and
he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.
(23:16):
This is an evil in all that is done under
the sun, that the same event happens to all. Solomon's
reflection is depressing, but spot on death comes to the
righteous and the unrighteous, the brave and the cowardly, the
good and the evil. We do not mourn Saul's death
in the same way we mourn Jonathan's. The prince was
(23:37):
nothing like the king, and it seems like robbery to
have him die too early. But that is death. It
is a great equalizer, and eventually comes for all of us.
Most of us are uncertain about how and when we
will die, but we are certain of death's eventuality. This
reality can cause many people to fall into nihilism, but
(23:59):
Christ's triumph death gives us a grander view. We are
sober in our consideration of death, but it does not
have the final say for those that have put faith
in Jesus. After considering the impartiality of death, Solomon encourages
his readers with this, Enjoy life with the wife whom
you love, all the days of your vain life that
(24:21):
He has given you under the sun, because that is
your portion in life, and in your toil at which
you worked under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might, for there is no
work or thought, or knowledge or wisdom in the grave
to which you are going. Jonathan and Saul both knew
that time was coming. While Saul was left paralyzed, Jonathan
(24:44):
was invigorated. Our time is short on earth. Let's make
every minute matter. This episode is filled with profound imagery,
specifically around the coals of the flame. Do you remember
Samuel's original question to Saul, are you able to keep
the coals burning? The coals have always represented the heart
(25:05):
of man and its proximity to the Lord. The closer
the coals are to the flame, the longer they burn.
Saul forgot to tend to the coals of his heart.
He stayed from God and burnt out. In this episode,
the coals are mentioned a few times. Saul's heart aches
when he watches the cold lose its heat, but he
(25:25):
doesn't know why. This represents how disconnected he is from
his roots. David has people around him to remind him
of his calling, thus keeping his coals burning in the flame. Saul, however,
had pushed away everyone who kept him accountable. King Saul's
heart and passion had disappeared, like the heat of a
cold away from its fire. At the end, his body
(25:48):
is burned, and it was the longest fire Saul was
ever able to keep burning. The story of Saul proved
to be more valuable than the life of Salt. Many
of the people, like you and I are a to
extract meaning and messages from his life. Therefore, in his
death he was able to accomplish more than his life.
The era of Saul has come to a close, and
(26:10):
now it is time for King David to rule the
temptation is to assume his reign will be more noble
than Saul's. But we should not be so sure. The
crown can corrupt noble characters, so David will have to
cling to righteousness desperately if he wants to resist the
pride of the throne. In our next episode, the exiled
(26:30):
Champion of Israel returns. Will he be accepted or will
the hatred of Saul? Linger find out next time in
episode eighteen, A Sorrowful Coronation. Thanks again for listening. For
more inspiring stories, daily prayers and wisdom to last a lifetime,
go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes
in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of Faith devotional
(26:54):
at Tonyevans dot org. Forward slash Heroes, Write a review
and let us know how this this podcast has impacted
your life. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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