*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*TELL IT NOT IN GATH, PUBLISH IT NOT IN.... ASKELON.(4)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
1 Sam 31:8,9, 13
*And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.*
*And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.*
*And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
The Phillistines published Saul's death in the house of their gods, but David ordered Israel not to publish. In other words, not to mock his death but mourn it.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
How David would have wished he was in possession of Saul's body and how beautifully Saul would have been given a royal burial.
If only Saul had wishes, David would have honored them.
Despite this, he ordered the nationwide mourning of Israel's first king
David says 2 Sam 1: 24 *Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,.....*
The valiant men of Jabesh, though burnt the body, may be because of how badly it was desecrated, went on to fast for seven days. No matter how the body was before they saw it, burning the body of Saul went further than desecration to horror.
David posthumous honor of Saul tells us how good it is to respect the demise of a person.
We must respect preservation if we wish the same thing. Jacob was embalmed, and so also was Joseph, Gen 50:1-2, 26.
God honors it. A dead person must not be treated as nothing just because no life existed in him/her again.
This tells us that every dead deserves a good burial.
John 19:40 says *So they took Jesus’ body and bound it in linen wrappings with the fragrant spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.*
Mark 16:1 says *....Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.*
There is also the rightful and honorable way to mourn.
Paul encouraged mourning but not as though we have no hope, 1 Thess 4;13.
Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, which tells us that it is not anti faith to weep over a loss of life, John 11:35.
Samuel died and was mourned, 1 Sam 25:1.
There is also a place for honoring the wishes of a dying man or woman.
Jacob's last wish was *... Do not bury me in Egypt,...*... *but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them." Joseph answered, "I will do as you have requested."* Gen 47:29-30
Joseph's last wish was that his bones be carried away from Egypt, Gen 50:25.
Moses fulfilled all, Exd 13:19. Their sepulcher became the inheritance of the children of Israel, Joshua 24:32.
Though the dead know nothing, they often leave legacies that outlive generations, Jer 35:6.
David's lamentation over Saul is embedded in our hearts that though the man was dead, he was once anointed by God. David extolled him as the weapons of war that perished.
It was not a time to mock Saul but to look closely at ourselves and how we start and be careful to ensure we finish well.
David, in his lamentation, was saying to us, 'Cry no more for Saul, for he is gone, but cry for yourself so that your end would not be as shameful as Saul's own."
How will you end?
May we all end well in Jesus name.
*Remorse corners.*
Though we wish the dead eternal rest, though some may not have lived lives of eternal rest, it is still acceptable to God for the living to treat their bodies well and respect their last wishes.
*Call to Word action.*
We can not determine anyone's eternal destination except he/she chose to choose Heaven while he/she lived. We are, however, comforted by what we witnessed of them and our words bearing witness with the Holy Ghost, that they made it! (ref Rom 9:1).
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Hearing of Saul's death was horrifying to David, how much more his anger towards the man who brought the report of his death. Truly according to the saying that 'hell, has no fury than a woman who is scorned'. No one is angrier than an anointed king who heard of the death of another anointed king who has been rejected in love!
*Prayer.*
Lord, let me finish well, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
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