“Faith Journeys with God in the Land”-Part 17

Like our last episode (Part 16), this episode (Part 17) was also recorded from the massive archaeological site of Beth Shean. In this episode, we walk to the top of the Old Testament site of Bethshean (185 steps up!) as we consider the life and death of King Saul.

Saul was the first king of Israel. He was anointed by Samuel. His headquarters was Gibeah, just to the north of Jerusalem in the Central Benjamin Plateau. His primary enemy to his kingdom were the Philistines. There were numerous battles with them recorded in the Bible (e.g. 1 Samuel 13-14, 17). However, at the end of Saul’s life, the Philistines marched from the Coastal Plains to the Jezreel Valley to battle the Israelites there. Saul and his army took positions on the Gilboa mountain range located on the southern edge of this large valley. In this conflict, however, the Philistines proved to be too strong. Knowing the battle was lost, Saul falls on his own sword and dies besides his three sons somewhere on the slopes of Gilboa. After cutting off Saul’s head, the Philistines took his headless body from Gilboa to Beth Shean and hung it shamefully on the walls of the town square (1 Samuel 31, 1 Chronicles 10). After all, David previously cut off the head of the Philistine giant in the Elah Valley. Saul got the same dishonorable treatment!

During the course of his life, Saul struggled in various ways (e.g. emotionally, spiritually). But perhaps the common denominator to all his struggles of life was his pride. Saul’s pride ultimately led to his death on Gilboa. He didn’t keep his pride in check, causing this jealous and unstable king great anguish during his reign as Israel’s king. For us in our faith journey with God, we are to live humbly before God. To do so. Is not to live with a low esteem of ourselves, but rather with a humble appreciation for how God created us. As it has been said, to live humbly “is not to think less of yourself, but to think of yourself less.”

Видео “Faith Journeys with God in the Land”-Part 17 канала John DeLancey