Saul’s Death

Saul’s Death

Q: How did Saul die?

• a. He was killed by an enemy in battle.
• b. He was killed accidentally in battle.
• c. He was killed by falling on his own sword.

The Philistine army attacked Israel. Fighting was fierce, and the Israelites fled. The Philistines were closing in on Saul and his sons. They killed his three sons and wounded Saul with an arrow.

Saul didn’t want the Philistines to be able to take credit for killing him. Saul told his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”

The armor bearer wouldn’t kill the king, so Saul fell on his sword and killed himself. When the armor bearer saw what Saul had done, he fell on his sword, too, and died beside his king.

Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and many of the troops all died together that day. God wanted Saul to be faithful to him and to follow his commands. But Saul went his own way and ignored God. As a result, the Lord didn’t bless Saul with victory and success.

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Saul’s life demonstrated this. He did what was right in his own eyes, and it resulted in God turning from him. It also resulted in Saul’s death. It’s much better to live out Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

For You

Seek out what God wants for your life. His plan is better than one you might think up on your own. Each morning ask God to direct you to what he wants you to do that day.

Answer: c

Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.   1 Samuel 31:4

(The Whole Story: 1 Samuel 31:1-6)