Sunday, October 11, 2026
City of Praise reflectionCourage and spiritual endurance — 1 Samuel 31:1-8
Courage and spiritual endurance
Today’s Scripture: 1 Samuel 31:1-8 (KJV)
- Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
- And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul’s sons.
- And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
- Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
- And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
- So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
- And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
- And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
Guided reflection
Read 1 Samuel 31:1-8 slowly, then read the surrounding chapter. Follow the people, choices and consequences in the narrative. A recorded action is not automatically an example to imitate; consider how it relates to God’s faithfulness and justice.
Attend especially to 1 Samuel 31:4: “Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.”
Observe: Who is speaking or acting, and what changes across these verses? Identify a word, action or contrast in 1 Samuel 31:1-8 that helps you explain the passage in your own words.
Reflect: What response to difficulty is encouraged here, and what shortcuts does it rule out? Ground your answer in 1 Samuel 31:4 and its surrounding verses. If the connection to this month’s theme is indirect, let the passage’s own meaning lead.
Respond: Face one postponed responsibility prayerfully, without retaliating or giving in to fear. Write one sentence explaining how your response follows from 1 Samuel 31:1-8, and return to it this evening.
Put the Word into practice
Choose one truth from today’s passage. Write down one practical step you can take today, then ask God for grace to follow through.
Today’s prayer
Father, as I consider 1 Samuel 31:4, give me courage joined with humility. Let the truth of this passage correct my assumptions and shape my response today. Help me practise what is faithful to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Part of our Scripture-led study plan. Read the passage in context and use the prompts for personal reflection.