1 Chronicles 10:8-14: a reflection

8On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped him and took his head and his armor, then sent into the land of the Philistines all around to carry the news to their idols and to the people. 10They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. 11When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the LORD’s word, which he didn’t keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire, 14and didn’t inquire of the LORD. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

After recounting the death of Saul, the chronicler gives a sobering summary of his life: So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the LORD's word which he didn't keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire, and didn't inquire of the LORD. A whole reign, a whole life, is summed up in a few words: he did not keep God's word, and he sought guidance from a forbidden source rather than inquiring of the LORD. At the heart of Saul's ruin was a failure to seek God.

Notice how Saul's life is summed up: he did not inquire of the LORD. Among all that might have been said, the chronicler fixes on this: Saul sought guidance from a medium, and did not seek God. His life ended, and was summarized, by this failure, that he did not truly seek and inquire of the LORD, but turned elsewhere. The great failure at the heart of his ruin was a failure to seek God. His life was summed up by whom he did, and did not, seek.

That sobering summary is worth taking to heart, for our lives too will be summed up by something, and the question of whether we sought God is central. Saul's life was summed up as one that did not inquire of the LORD; and we might ask what our own lives would be summed up by, whether we are truly seeking God or turning elsewhere for what we need. Let Saul's epitaph prompt you to seek God, lest your life too be marked by a failure to inquire of him. Seek the LORD, inquire of him, turn to him for guidance and help, rather than to the many other sources you might turn to; do not let your life be summed up, as Saul's was, by a failure to seek God. Make the seeking of God central to your life, that it not be said of you, as of Saul, that you did not inquire of the LORD, but that you sought him, and were found by him.

Lord, after recounting the death of Saul, the chronicler gives a sobering summary of his life: so Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the LORD's word which he didn't keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, and didn't inquire of the LORD. A whole life is summed up in a few words: he did not keep your word, and he sought guidance from a forbidden source rather than inquiring of you. At the heart of Saul's ruin was a failure to seek you. Show me how Saul's life is summed up: he did not inquire of the LORD. Among all that might have been said, the chronicler fixes on this: Saul sought guidance from a medium, and did not seek you. His life was summarized by this failure. The great failure at the heart of his ruin was a failure to seek you. Take that sobering summary to my heart, for my life too will be summed up by something, and the question of whether I sought you is central. Let Saul's epitaph prompt me to seek you, lest my life too be marked by a failure to inquire of you. Help me seek the LORD, inquire of you, turn to you for guidance and help, rather than to the many other sources I might turn to. Keep my life from being summed up, as Saul's was, by a failure to seek you. Help me make the seeking of you central to my life, Lord, that it be said of me that I sought you, and was found by you.