“When all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.” (vv.11-12)
Why did the the men of Jabesh-gilead risk their lives to bring back the bodies of king Saul and his sons. Saul was not a particularly honorable man. In fact at this point, he was far from God - seeking a demonic spirit for guidance rather than God’s Spirit, which eventually lead to his death (vv.13-14). The answer lies in the first action taken by Saul when he became king.
Years earlier, when the men of Jabesh-gilead were threatened by the Amorites, they sent word to Saul of their eminent destruction. King Saul immediately responded by marching with his troops all night in order to rescue them. Even though Saul had fallen far from this orginal act of love and mercy, the men of Jabesh-gilead never forgot it (1 Samuel 11:9-11).
What I take from this portion of scripture today is, when you sow seeds of love and mercy, they will return to you.
The Truth
“For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
