Protecting the Dignity of Others

Synopsis     1Sam 31:7-2Sam 1:4     11/11/2018

The Philistines defeated the army of Israel at Mount Gilboa. And Saul and his sons were dead. So, the Israelites living in the region fled from their homes in fear of the Philistines. As a result, the Philistines occupied several cities in the central region of Israel.

The Philistines discovered Saul’s body the day after the battle. They also found the bodies of Saul’s sons nearby. So, they exposed Saul’s body by hanging it on the walls of Beth-shan. But they cut off his head and carried it back to their homeland as a celebration of their victory.

Meanwhile, David was with his men in Ziklag. After their victory over the Amalekite raiders, they returned there. And so, it wasn’t long before news of Saul and Jonathan’s death came to David.

Jabesh Honored Saul After His Death

The warriors from Saul’s hometown heard about how his body had been desecrated. So they made a special mission to recover Saul and his sons bodies. They worked in the dark of night to recover Saul’s body. Then they took the dead back to their home town.

Upon returning to Jabesh, they burned the bodies of the fallen king and his princes. And then they buried their bones in a secret place in order to prevent further desecration.

These men risked their lives to preserve the dignity of a dead king.

Protecting the Dignity of Others

If I see the world rightly, then I recognize something intrinsic about the dignity of every human being. God has created every person I meet in His image. So every person I meet rightly deserves my reverence and respect.

And we hold this truth deep in our psyche.

But sometimes I fail to live it out.

So, there’s a certain challenge in encountering men and women who are willing to risk everything to reverence the dignity of other human beings. It resonates. I know that’s what is right. Perhaps it’s time to stop taking this for granted.

Think of all the people in your community who have committed their lives to protecting and preserving the lives of the people you love.

And then, let your heart be filled with gratitude to the God who has made us all.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Cor 3:16