The Mount of Self Destruction

1 Samuel 31:1-13 NKJV

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. [2] Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. [3] The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. [4] Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his armourbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. [5] And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. [6] So Saul, his three sons, his armourbearer, and all his men died together that same day. [7] And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. [8] So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. [9] And they cut off his head and stripped off his armour, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. [10] Then they put his armour in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. [11] Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, [12] all the valiant men arose and traveled 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] Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

2 Samuel 1:19 NKJV

"The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

Wow! The decline and demise of king Saul is a warning to every one of us.

He started off so well, physically head and shoulders above others, anointed by the prophet Samuel.

But his big stumbling block was his failure to follow the words of the Lord. He thought he knew better, only partially obeying the Lord's commands.

Then he fell prey to envy when he saw how the people loved David more than him.

He even ended up seeking a witch to bring back Samuel for guidance!

Finally, defeated by the Philistines, he ends up committing suicide.

It is no different today when we read of Christian leaders falling into sin and losing their anointing. We shouldn't be surprised.

Once we take our eyes off of Jesus and chase self aggrandisement, thinking we are above God's Word, we're done for.

Saul's story is one of self destruction - may it not be ours too!

We are all exposed to the same satanic stumbling-blocks. We may not be a king or queen, but we are all examples as followers of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.