Here we are transported to the battlefield of Gilboa, from whose solemn issues David was mercifully spared. Israel's leader, Saul, who also had rejected God, to whom the people had turned as the one who would fulfill their desires (chapter 8: chapter 10:17-19), now at last was laid low, and many perished with him. Deeply saddening to read also that Jonathan, who loved David, and knew him as the rightful leader of the people of God, died among the unbelievers. As we read the sad account of Saul's death, we are constrained to believe that as he had lived, so he died. All the men of Israel fled from the vicinity of the battle, and the Philistines went and lived in their cities. The Philistines made much of Saul's death, but there were some brave men of Jabesh-Gilead who went by night and secured the bodies of Saul and his sons and gave them some sort of burial. In the Second Book of Samuel, chapter 2, David commended the men of Jabesh-Gilead for what they did.
In this First Book of Samuel we have seen man again proved a failure. The people, with their hearts set on being like the heathen world around them, demanded a king. They were given their desire in a man of fine appearance.—perhaps the finest flower of the natural man the country could have produced, but what a loss to the nation! Religious, but without the link of faith connecting him with the true God, Saul proved to have himself as his object, and when another was brought on the scene, who truly served God, David the shepherd of Bethlehem, he hated him and would have killed him. Then we have seen the trials of David; circumstances often extremely painful, and the man whom God purposed to be king over His people, failed to live up to the type of Christ, which in general he was. But the book closes with Saul's death, and David restored to communion with God after his second recorded failure.
Saul was the wrong leader; David the right one. Following- Saul led to destruction; following David had its difficulties, but a brighter day was about to dawn, and devotion to him was going to be rewarded.
There are two leaders today; Satan and Christ. Who are 'you following? It is a searching question; do not put it off! The day is coming when the poor dupes of Satan will be seen at the judgment throne there to hear the dread sentence of eternal judgment, but before that event, those who have received the knowledge of Christ as a personal Saviour, will be caught away to be with Him and to share His glory, the beloved of God. O, decide for Christ at once!