Honouring the Fallen

1 Samuel 30-31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12 

“When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.”

1 Samuel 31:11-13

Why did the valiant men of Jabesh risk their lives to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons from the celebrating Philistines?

Many years earlier, in his first decisive act of leadership as a newly anointed king of Israel, Saul had delivered the residents of Jabesh Gilead from the invading Ammonites. The people of Jabesh never forgot their deliverance. They also didn’t want the enemies of Israel to mock the anointed king of Israel in his death.

How do we treat fallen leaders?

Do we join in the public shaming, or do we honor the work of God in their lives, even if it costs us something?

The people of Jabesh Gilead knew the oppressive power of shame from their own history and they chose to overcome shame with courage and honor.

How will we respond in our tests?

“Lord Jesus, I pray for courage to honor your work in fallen leaders, for your glory.”