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No matter where we go-no matter where we sit, eat, walk or run-they will find us. They search for the vulnerable. They probe for the weak. They hunt for a suitable host in which to thrive and multiply. We cannot hide from them. Some people are infected and don't even know it. Others think, "It could never happen to me!" But it can-and will. Just as there are physical viruses that plague mankind at every turn, spiritual viruses seek to plague the minds and lives of all true Christians.
Israelites were happy under Samuel's leadership, but they wanted a king to replace the priesthood. God listened and he made Saul as the king over Israel. What a privilege to be the first king to rule God's people. But Saul, took the glory for himself, instead of giving it to God, and lost the great glory from God. Let us see two of the spiritual virus from the life of Saul.
1. Hardheartedness
1 Samuel 31:1-2
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.
Here we see in these two words, Saul, his three sons and his army fighting against the Philistines. But we see before in Chapter 15, Saul's sin was revealed, when he disobeyed Samuel by not completely destroying the Amalikites. But God did not kill him at this time. Once again Saul's sin was revealed in Chapter 19, when he was trying to kill David. But God did not kill him. Once again, Saul's sin was revealed in Chapter 22, when he killed 85 priests of the Lord. But God did not kill him at this time also. Once again, Saul's sin was revealed in Chapter 28, when he disguised himself, went to a witch to inquire about the war. But still God did not kill him.
Many times, even in our lives, this once-again sin comes over and over again. There are some sins which we fall into over and over again. Saul who came in the O.T. times, received so much of mercy from God. But today we are so privileged by being in the N.T. times, when we have the blood of Jesus cleansing us and giving us a lot of chances to change.
What are some sins that we are repeatedly falling into. Its time for us to understand that today is another opportunity from God, for us to change, and let us repent.
2. Loneliness
1 Samuel 31:3-6
3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me." But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.
6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
Mount Gilboa is a place where Saul lost his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. Mount Gilboa is a place, when Saul lost lot of his country men. Mount Gilboa is a place, where Saul lost major part of his army. Mount Gilboa is a place where his life became very lonely. The frustration of loneliness led Saul to ask his own arm-bearer to kill him. The frustration of his loneliness led Saul to suicide himself.
Are we in Mount Gilboa today? Are we feeling lonely today? What is it that is making us feeling lonely today? One thing that can make us feel lonely is not sharing about our life. When we have great friends, who are willing to spend time with us why are we feeling lonely today. When we have Jesus, who is willing to listen and forgive our sins why are we feeling lonely.
Let us not take opportunities from God for granted but let us be quick to repent and change. Let us not be in the Mount of loneliness, but lets open-up and talk about our life, our hurt feelings and lets be united with God.
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