Today’s Choices…Tomorrow’s Consequences

1 Samuel 31
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor

Big Idea: Do not sacrifice tomorrow on the altar of today.

I. Today’s Choices (vv. 1-7)
1 Samuel 31: 1-13
1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

A. In battling the Philistine army, Saul’s sons are killed, and he is badly wounded. Rather than face abuse by the Philistines, Saul takes his own life. How did Saul get here? How did he fall so far? Put simply, he failed to obey God and then he refused to repent (cf. 1 Sam. 13:11-14; 1 Chr. 10:13-14). Sometimes seemingly small decisions have much larger consequences.
1 Samuel 13:11-14
11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance.14 He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

B. Saul’s example is important because it reminds us that our worldview and resulting choices matter a great deal as they have relational, practical, and spiritual consequences (cf. Gal. 6:7-9).
Galatians 6:7-9
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

II. Tomorrow’s Consequences (vv. 7-13)

A. As king, Saul’s decisions affected more than just him and his family; they affected the nation of Israel (see v. 7). In the same way, our decisions affect more than just us, they affect others around us as well.

B. This narrative is another reminder of the importance to turn our hearts toward God. Like Saul, we each have our own flaws. But if we go to the Lord, He can not only protect us from our shortcomings but turn them into strengths for His purpose and glory (cf. 2 Cor. 12:7-10).
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

C. Saul ran a long time, but in the end, he simply could not outrun his sin. Though we are loath to do it, we need to face the reality of the consequence of sin (see Rom. 6:23a).
Romans 6:23a
23 For the wages of sin is death,

D. But even in this state there is always a way out through Messiah Jesus. God in His grace and mercy provides a way to forgiveness, healing, and hope (Rom. 6:23b). All we need to do is say yes to Jesus Christ!
Romans 6:23b
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.