Saul’s Downfall (Retold)
Category: Failure of obedience & seeking God
Could endure: Obey God’s word and seek Him wholeheartedly.
“If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 13:13–14; Deuteronomy 4:29.
Chose wrongly: Did not keep God’s command, consulted a medium.
“Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance.” (1 Chronicles 10:13)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 15:23; Leviticus 20:6.
Endured (negatively): Defeat, death, loss of dynasty.
“The LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles 10:14)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 13:11; Acts 13:22.
Why (wrong motive): Fear of people, disobedience, desperation.
“I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” (1 Samuel 15:24)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 17:5.
Result: Kingdom transferred to David.
“The LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David.” (1 Chronicles 10:14)
Cross-Refs: 1 Samuel 16:1; Acts 13:22.
Uzzah’s Death
Category: Failure of reverence in worship
Could endure: Transport the ark as God commanded.
“The Levites are to carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 15:2)
Cross-Refs: Numbers 4:15; Deuteronomy 10:8.
Chose wrongly: Touched the ark to steady it.
“When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled.” (1 Chronicles 13:9)
Cross-Refs: 2 Samuel 6:6; Numbers 4:20.
Endured (negatively): Struck down by God’s anger.
“The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark.” (1 Chronicles 13:10)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 10:2; Hebrews 12:28–29.
Why (wrong motive): Presumption, irreverence, mishandling holy things.
“…because he had put his hand on the ark.” (1 Chronicles 13:10)
Cross-Refs: Ecclesiastes 5:1; Acts 5:1–11.
Result: Fear of God spread, proper reverence restored.
“David was afraid of God that day and asked, ‘How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?’” (1 Chronicles 13:12)
Cross-Refs: 1 Chronicles 15:13–15; Psalm 111:10.
Unfaithfulness of the People (Genealogical Warnings)
Category: Failure of covenant loyalty
Could endure: Walk faithfully as God’s covenant people.
“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” (1 Chronicles 16:12)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 19:5–6; Psalm 78:7.
Chose wrongly: Engaged in idolatry, abandoned God’s law.
“Our offenses are many in your sight… We have forsaken our God.” (Isaiah 59:12–13, reflected in Chronicles’ historical perspective)
Cross-Refs: Judges 2:11–13; Hosea 8:1–4.
Endured (negatively): Exile and scattering.
“They were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land.” (1 Chronicles 5:25)
Cross-Refs: 2 Kings 17:7–8; 2 Chronicles 36:14–17.
Why (wrong motive): Desire to imitate nations, unbelief.
“But they were unfaithful… they prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land.” (1 Chronicles 5:25)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 2:11–13; Romans 1:23.
Result: Exiled by Assyria.
“So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria… who took the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile.” (1 Chronicles 5:26)
Cross-Refs: 2 Kings 17:6; 1 Chronicles 9:1.