Last words can be quite revealing. James Rodgers, when asked if he had a last request before facing a firing squad, said: “Why, yes, a bulletproof vest.” Douglas Fairbanks’ last words were “I never felt better.” William Palmer who was hanged, said, when told to step on the scaffold’s trap door, “Is it safe?” P. T. Barnum’s last words were, “How were the receipts today?” You would think that being so close to death’s door would sober a person into considering the prospect of facing his Maker, but that doesn’t always seem to be the case.
It wasn’t the case with Saul, king of Israel, either. His last words reflected his life: prideful and self-centered. The setting was the battle between the Jews and Philistines, the one that God in his mercy prevented David from participating in.
THE BATTLE RAGES The Philistines won a massive victory in that battle (1 Samuel 31:1), due largely to their use of iron (which the Jews didn’t have). Forty years earlier God said this would happen if they insisted on having a king — and God was right! Saul had just gone to a spirit medium for advice — what a way to go face the Lord! Actually, Saul and his 3 sons were killed in the retreat (1 Samuel 31:2-3). Saul was only wounded, then killed himself because he was afraid of what the Philistines would do to him if they captured him alive (1 Samuel 31:4-6). His last words were to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me” (v. 4).
THE KING DIES When the day started Saul had no idea he would die that day. God doesn’t tell us ahead of time when it will be our last day. We don’t know when we will die, just that it will happen. “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment.” Death is an important part of life. If it weren’t for death, people would live very differently! Preparation for death is an important part of preparation for life. Only those who are prepared to die are really prepared to live. We never know when it will be God’s time for us to die, so need to always be ready. When one accepts Jesus as Savor one of the benefits is eternal life. Jesus took the sting of death (I Cor 15:55), so death is just a shadow (Psalm 23). Death brings a life far greater than this life to those who are God’s people (Phil 1:21).
Saul, unfortunately, had none of this hope in his life. He ended up a suicide (1 Samuel 31:4-10). Ironically his body was hung on the wall of the same city where he had been anointed king! His life came full circle, ending up where he started — nothing was gained during those 40 years. It was a waste for him and for the nation. A life lived out of fellowship with God always ends up empty.
DAVID RESPONDS TO NEWS OF SAUL’S DEATH When David and his men returned from rescuing their families and getting back their possessions, they found out about Saul’s death (2 Samuel 1:1-10). Even though it meant they could return to Israel in safety, and David would be made king, still they mourned and wept. Saul’s life had been wasted, David’s good friend Jonathan was dead, the Jews were defeated and scattered, and God’s reputation was shattered. That mattered more to David than his own gain of the throne. He wasn’t self-centered, but truly a man after God’s own heart (Prov 24:17; Mt 5:44-45).
Later that day David delt with the messenger who came, claiming to have killed Saul and looking for a reward from David. For his deception and greed end up being killed (2 Samuel 1:11-16). His greed led to death, much sooner than he expected it.
David then wrote a psalm of remembrance for Jonathan and Saul (2 Samuel 1:17-27). Saul’s was seen as a wasted life, Jonathan as a good friend who will be missed. How will people feel when YOU die? What will they say? Will they miss you for the godly influence you had, or feel sorry for a life wasted on selfish living? NOW is the time to decide.
Ecclesiastes 3: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die,05
If this is the day God has chosen for you to die, are you ready to meet Him?
Is there anything between you and God that needs to be settled before you die?
Is there anything between you and any person that needs to be settled before you die??
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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