1 Samuel 31 | Sermons | Grace Church of Mentor

“Under the Tamarisk Tree”

1 Samuel 31

The final chapter of 1 Samuel is disappointing but not surprising as we learn how Saul’s life and kingship, marked by unrepentance and judgment, is brought to an end. While David seeks the Lord during difficulty and is strengthened in 1 Samuel 30, Saul has persisted in disobedience and is cut down, his remains left under a tamarisk tree.

An unrepentant life ends in judgment—no matter how well it began.

The inescapable reality of God’s judgment (1 Samuel 31:1-10).

God’s judgment is certain. Samuel’s warning comes to fruition in Saul’s life. A delayed sentence is not an avoided one. God keeps His Word. His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance; otherwise, we will surely suffer the rightly deserved wrath and judgment for our sin (Romans 2:4-5).

God’s judgement is comprehensive. Saul, his sons, his family line, and his reign are cut down by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.

God’s judgment brings collateral damage. Warned the day before by Samuel when with the medium at Endor, Saul now sees his dead sons and knows his death is near. Instead of trusting the Lord, Saul insists on his way, falling on his own sword when his armor bearer refuses to kill him. The armor bearer too falls on his own sword when he sees Saul dead. Even the Israelites beyond the Jordan abandon their cities and flee when they see that Saul and his sons are dead.

Our walk with the Lord will affect others. Saul was called to repent but he chose otherwise.

The fruit of a tree reveals the kind of tree it is. Saul’s spiritual condition is revealed, and he experiences the fruit of judgment in this final passage of 1 Samuel. Every fruit born at Saul’s end is the harvest of the seeds of his rebellion. He belongs with the Philistines, his body and weapons sent throughout the land to proclaim their good news.

The sobering reminder of a good beginning (1 Samuel 31:11–13).

A good beginning can be genuinely good. Many start well, but fewer end well.

Some valiant men retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons and burn them in Jabesh, where the Spirit of God had come upon Saul to rescue the Israelites from the Ammonites at the beginning of his kingship (1 Samuel 11). The bones are then buried under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh.

Saul’s early obedience bore good fruit. A person can have a good influence on others that God can use even if the person’s life ends in ruin like Saul’s. Our wrong choices do not limit God nor change who He is.

Regardless of our position and how we begin, God is just and holy, calling each of us to submit to Him because judgement is certain. Each person not covered in the mercy and grace of God will receive the just judgment deserved as a sinner, a stiff-necked rebel against a holy, righteous, and omnipotent God.

Application Points

Do you believe there are areas of your life that do not matter to God? Do not be deceived! God knows and cares about all areas of your life. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Are you walking with God or away from Him? You only have one life. Every decision matters. It is not too late to turn to Jesus, to repent and humble yourself before the only One who can save.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

Romans 2; Hebrews 4; Philippians 1; Revelation 2

A Hymn to Encourage: “My Jesus, Fair”

My Jesus, fair, was pierced by thorns By thorns grown from the fall. Thus He who gave the curse was torn To end that curse for all

O love divine, O matchless grace That God should die for men! With joyful grief I lift my praise Abhorring all my sin, adoring only Him

My Jesus, meek, was scorned by men By men in blasphemy. “Father, forgive their senseless sin!” He prayed, for them, for me

My Jesus, kind, was torn by nails, By nails of cruel men And to His cross, as grace prevailed, God pinned my wretched sin.

My Jesus, pure, was crushed by God By God, in judgment just. The Father grieved, yet turned His rod On Christ, made sin for us

My Jesus, strong, shall come to reign To reign in majesty The Lamb arose, and death is slain. Lord, come in victory!