Chapter 10 of 1 Chronicles records for us again the death of Saul. The story concludes with the reasons for his shameful death and the loss of his inheritance. It says, “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. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. ” Saul failed in his faith in God. He disobeyed God’s instructions, and look for help from other sources and refused to seek help from God.
The chronicler seems to pointing out to the post exilic generation that their exile was for the same reasons Saul was exiled from his place in Israel. But the repeating of this story is not to blame the past generations but to instruct the present generation. To turn from God & seek guidance from other sources and disobey God’s basic principles of life is to walk in the “Broad way” that leads to destruction. It was his hope that the new generation, having been given another chance, would see the truth behind the failures of both Saul and the divided kingdoms and therefore amend their ways.
Solomon presents us in the book of Proverbs with the pictures of 3 people. The first is the fool. He never learns from his mistakes, but repeats them and suffers the consequences. The smart man, is the man who makes the mistakes himself, pays the consequences, and refrains from that mistake again. However, the wise man is the one who watches others make the mistakes and learns from them. He doesn’t have to learn the hard way!
May we qualify as wise people!
Chuck
“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2(NLT)