After Saul’s horrendous decision to go to a witch for help, the wheels absolutely fall off.

In this Sunday’s passage, the book of 1 Samuel closes with a gruesome scene that is anything but a happy ending.

The army of Israel faces massive loss. King Saul and his sons are dead. The enemy has won, taking over major ground.

Worst of all, God’s name and his reputation are diminished as pagan gods are worshipped and elevated for the conquering of God’s people.

As we learn in this passage, the defeat of God’s people has a connection to God’s glory, which directly affects how we live today. When we fail to live in the freedom Jesus bought for us remain enslaved to sin, it not only affects our own life, but it also impacts God’s reputation.

But even in this defeat, God is up to something. You can't see it at the end of 1 Samuel, but as we'll see next Fall in 2 Samuel, God is always at work for his people.