Sunday Sermonette: Shaggy Dog Story Finally Ends

Years ago, when Saul spared the life of a single Amelekite, contrary to God ' s command to exterminate them, God told Saul that he no longer had God ' s favor and would no longer be king. But Saul went right on being king as though nothing had happened. He repeatedly tried to kill David but David repeatedly forgave him and declared fealty to Saul. Saul kept winning battles. The Amelekites returned from the dead only to be exterminated again, twice. Then Saul decided to hire a necromancer to resurrect Samuel, who told Saul that he would be killed because he failed to exterminate the Amelekites years before, even though in fact he did (the sole survivor was ultimately murdered), even though they kept reappearing to  be re-exterminated. Anyway, the Philistines finally do defeat the Israelites and Saul finally dies. David is temporarily out of the picture having gone over to the Philistines but been ordered to stay home for this battle. This is the last chapter of 1 Samuel, but 1 and 2 were originally a single book. It was cut in half by medieval monks. Samuel is gone for the second half -- no more necromancy -- and the kingship of David begins, which is evidently why the division was made here.31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.3 The fighting grew fierce aroun...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs