The day after the battle the Philistines went to plunder the corpses, and they found the bodies of Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa. They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers with them throughout Philistia to tell the good news to their idols and to their people.
Victory for a day. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that because of you our victory is eternal (Colossians 2:13-15).
Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He disobeyed the Lord’s commands; he tried to find guidance by consulting the spirits of the dead instead of consulting the Lord.
Not true. Saul first tried to consult the Lord without success (1 Samuel 28:4-7). There is a heart disposition here of “do whatever works” (2 Kings 16:10-18).
So the Lord killed him and gave control of the kingdom to David son of Jesse.
Saul is relegated to just a few lines. And as for me, Lord? What will be written? What will you give me control of? Whatever it is, may you find me to be faithful (Matthew 25:14-21).
So all the leaders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made a sacred alliance with them, they anointed him, and he became king of Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.
Impossible to follow without 1 Samuel. That you for that book, Lord! It is so rich with spiritual truths…
David went to live in the fortress, it came to be called “David’s City.” He rebuilt the city, starting at the place where land was filled in on the east side of the hill, and Joab restored the rest of the city.
Shoring up his base, what David did with stones Jesus did with men (Matthew 10:1) – far from the security of a fortess (Matthew 8:18-20).
David grew stronger and stronger, because the Lord Almighty was with him.
This is far from being my case – at least according to appearances, Father.