1. Saul takes his own life (1-12)

Saul was handsome and able. He was Israel's first king. His final battle with the Philistines ended in tragic defeat. The Israelites fled before the Philistine army. The enemy killed Saul's sons and wounded him mortally. Saul did not want to be captured and abused by his enemies, so he died by his own hand. When the Israelites heard that their king was dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. The Philistines desecrated the bodies of Saul and his sons, but men of Jabesh Gilead, the city which Saul had rescued as his first act as king (1Sa 11), recovered the bodies and buried them.

2. Because he was unfaithful to God (13-14)

Saul was not defeated because of the military might of his enemies. He was defeated because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He did not obey God's word. Instead of seeking God's help through prayer he consulted a medium. So God put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David.

Application: Lord, keep my heart faithful to you. Teach me your ways and help me to pray.
One Word: Keep the word of the Lord