The Departure of God, the Departure of Strength
1 Chronicles 10:3
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.


Why was the battle sore against the king of Israel? Saul believes himself to be forsaken of God, and therefore to have become the sport of man. Here we are reminded of the analogy of the vine and the branches. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can the Church make vital and faithful progress, except by continual fellowship with God. Saul was muscular as ever, as ambitious as ever, and as energetic as ever; but he had lost the consciousness of the nearness of the Almighty. What are all church buildings, formularies, ceremonies, pecuniary resources, literary achievements, when the Spirit of God has been grieved or quenched?

(J. Parker, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.

WEB: The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers.




The Death of Saul
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