The war between the Philistines and Israel proceeds and Israel suffers many loses including Jonathan and two other sons of Saul dying (v1-2).

Saul is badly wounded and after his armour bearer refuses to finish him off, Saul kills himself (v3-5). Here we have a very sad end to a reign which initially seemed to promise so much. It is not how we begin but how we finish that matters most.

Great panic spreads throughout Israel and tte Philistines gain much ground (v6-7). They then seek to make a spectacle of Saul and his sons (v8-10). The brave men of Jabesh-gilead (v11-13).

In days of great darkness these men bring a glimmer of hope. There are times when God punishes His people because of their faithlessness, but God always has a remnant of the faithful who he preserves.

As we consider the sad and dishonourable end for Israel’s first king, the king who they asked for, we begin to see what happens when God’s people act contrary to His will. When we act outside God’s will, things will never turn out just as well as we might have hoped for.