CASUALTIES OF WAR

Text: 1 Samuel 31:1-7

Warfare is a costly adventure. Lives are lost at the hands of an the enemy that wages war against freedom. Dictatorships and holy wars are fought to control the minds and wills of the common man. While making the sacrifice for freedom limbs are severed, lives are lost and lands are forfeited…the casualties of war are numerous.

Spiritual warfare is no different… For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) Members of the body of Christ are severed as wounded individuals depart from the church and eventually from the faith. Souls are lost for eternity because of the offence of someone out of the will of God. Spiritual ground that may have been gained in our communities, amongst family and friends is lost as reputations are destroyed by the enemy.

One day there will be a day of reckoning for the ones who have caused the offences derived from spiritual warfare… Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! (Matthew 18:7)

Ÿ Our text reveals a day of reckoning for King Saul

Ÿ Saul must pay the price for sparing the Amalekite king and permitting Israel to take the spoils

Ÿ Judgment must come for the priests, women and children he had slain in Nob at the hand of the Edomite Doeg

Ÿ The day that he must stand before God and give an account for his sins against David has arrived

Ÿ David prophesied of this demise: (1 Samuel 26:10)

David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

Ÿ Studying Saul’s life one must wonder what took judgment so long?

Ÿ God is patient and desires that all men repent.

Ÿ However, for those who refuse there will be a day of reckoning

Ÿ Unfortunately, others will be hurt in the process

I. The CASUALTY of WAR you might face is your FAMILY

1 Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Ÿ A common bond develops among soldiers like one big family

Ÿ They share meals, meetings and memories like family

Ÿ Saul’s soldiers fall all around him while others flee

Ÿ Those who participated in his sins fell first

Ÿ The ones who are loyal to sinners will fall along with them

Ÿ When you partake in sin you give the enemy power over you

Ÿ The ground you once gained will be overtaken by the adversary

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43-45)

1 Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons.

Ÿ As close family his sons provided a rear guard for protection

Ÿ His sons fell before him also

Ÿ The legacy of his kingdom had come to an end

Ÿ The future plans for his sons would not come to fruition

Ÿ Jonathan, David’s friend, a good man, was lost in the battle

Ÿ Those who are innocent can also become the casualties of war

Ÿ Jonathan like the sacrifice lamb must be slain to make way for David

Ÿ Just as the animal sacrifice paved the way for the Son of David

Ÿ His sons willfully followed him and were obliged to serve him

Ÿ One of them was bound to follow in their father’s footsteps as king

Ÿ However, the sins of their father fell on them as it is written…

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:4,5)

Ÿ The stubbornness of Saul became his idol…

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (1 Samuel 15:23)

Ÿ He refused to obey the Lord yet believed he did nothing wrong

Ÿ He let jealousy lead his decisions and manipulated his followers

II. The CASUALTY of WAR you might face is your FAITH

1 Samuel 31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

Ÿ The wounds of the enemy were fatal for he could not fight or flee

Ÿ We are engaged in spiritual warfare that at times seems hopeless

Ÿ You may find you cannot fight nor flee from the enemy

Ÿ Circumstances so uncertain make it hard to fight the good fight of faith

1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul unto his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

Ÿ Saul is more concerned about himself than his accountability

Ÿ No thought of repentance is upon his mind at all

Ÿ He was too proud to admit he was wrong and it cost him everything

Ÿ Like the thief who mocked Jesus while on the cross, his soul was lost

Ÿ His servant’s faith was shallow also as he was “sore afraid”

Ÿ Sin creeps in deceitfully while making hearts grow harder by the day

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

Ÿ Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail when sifted as wheat

III. The CASUALTY of WAR you might face is the FUTURE

1 Samuel 31:5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

Ÿ Saul’s death by cowardice was passed on to his servant

Ÿ His armorbearer now faced his final future… death by his own hand

Ÿ Jews believe the servant was Doeg, the Edomite who slew the priests

Ÿ As a co-worker of iniquity his sins were punished also

Ÿ Although he labored for a king his labors were in vain

Ÿ Jesus taught a parable to the religious laborers in his day:

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Luke13:26,27)

Ÿ What a waste, laboring for a master, who was doomed to destruction

Ÿ We must be certain that we do not follow men, but God

1 Samuel 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armorbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

Ÿ God’s judgment is swift and carried out in one day

Ÿ All the hopes of men in this life are just a breath away from eternity

Ÿ There is no future in worldly endeavors only death and separation

Ÿ Revelation predicts a city will be destroyed in one hour by his wrath

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. (18:9,10)

Ÿ What if this prophecy predicts U.S. is mystery Babylon?

Ÿ Has this country which has forsaken God become like old king Saul?

Ÿ Are your labors for the king of kings or the god of this world?

1 Samuel 31:7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

Ÿ The wicked king lost the land to the Philistines

Ÿ Failing to be obedient to God Saul lost his throne, his family, his land and his legacy

Ÿ What will it cost when you come face to face with the casualties of war?

Will your casualties become your family, your faith and your future? Do not let your heart become cold…heed the words of Jesus… And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12,13)