Topical Bible: The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Saul's Family

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The anger of God against Saul's family is a significant theme in the biblical narrative, illustrating the consequences of disobedience and unfaithfulness to God's commands. Saul, the first king of Israel, was chosen by God but later rejected due to his repeated disobedience. This divine displeasure extended to his family, affecting their legacy and future.

Saul's Disobedience and Rejection

Saul's initial disobedience is recorded in 1 Samuel 13, where he unlawfully offered a burnt offering, a duty reserved for the prophet Samuel. This act of impatience and presumption led to God's first pronouncement of judgment: "But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler of His people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command" (1 Samuel 13:14).

Further disobedience is seen in 1 Samuel 15, where Saul failed to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions as God had commanded. Instead, he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock. Samuel confronted Saul, declaring, "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king" (1 Samuel 15:23). This marked the definitive rejection of Saul's dynasty.

The Impact on Saul's Family

The consequences of Saul's actions were not limited to his own reign but extended to his family. In 1 Samuel 28, Saul, desperate for guidance, sought out a medium, further incurring God's wrath. The prophet Samuel, appearing through the medium, foretold the imminent defeat of Israel and the death of Saul and his sons: "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 28:19).

This prophecy was fulfilled in 1 Samuel 31, where Saul and his three sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, were killed in battle against the Philistines. The death of Jonathan, a righteous and loyal son, underscores the far-reaching impact of Saul's disobedience, affecting even the innocent within his family.

The Gibeonite Revenge

Further exemplifying God's anger against Saul's family is the incident involving the Gibeonites in 2 Samuel 21. During David's reign, a famine struck Israel, and God revealed it was due to Saul's breach of a covenant with the Gibeonites. To atone for Saul's sin, David handed over seven of Saul's descendants to the Gibeonites, who executed them. This act of retribution highlights the enduring consequences of Saul's actions and God's justice in dealing with covenant violations.

The Preservation of Mephibosheth

Despite the overarching judgment on Saul's family, God's mercy is evident in the preservation of Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. David, honoring his covenant with Jonathan, spared Mephibosheth from the Gibeonite retribution (2 Samuel 21:7). This act of kindness reflects God's grace and the importance of covenant faithfulness, even amidst judgment.

The narrative of Saul's family serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness with which God views obedience and the far-reaching effects of sin. It underscores the biblical principle that God's anger is not arbitrary but a response to unfaithfulness and disobedience, with consequences that can span generations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 21:1
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... face may be discerned whether there is anger or otherwise ... holiness; it is, if not
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