1 Samuel, 31
1. The Philistines gave battle to Israel, and the Israelites, fleeing from the Philistines, fell and were slaughtered on Mount Gilboa.
1. The Philistines gave battle to Israel, and the Israelites, fleeing from the Philistines, fell and were slaughtered on Mount Gilboa.
Chapter 31 of 1 Samuel narrates the final battle between Israel and the Philistines, in which Saul and his children are killed. The selected verses address topics such as death, mourning and defeat:
Psalm 116:15 "Precious is in the sight of the Lord the death of his saints." This verse talks about how God considers the death of his faithful servants precious, indicating that death can be seen as a moment of transition to a better life.
Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears, with songs of joy will reap." This psalm talks about how those who go through times of sadness and difficulty will eventually reap joy and happiness.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 "It is better to go to the house where there is mourning than going to the house where there is a banquet; for in that one sees the end of all men, and the living apply it to their hearts." This verse teaches that it is wiser to be present in a funeral than in a party, as it reminds us of the brevity of life and the importance of valuing it.
Jeremiah 22:10 "You shall not cry the dead, nor the Lastimeis; cry before he who leaves, for he will never return, nor see the earth in which he was born." In this verse, Jeremiah advises that we should not cry those who have died, but those who are leaving, for they will never return.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 "In everything we are troubled, but not distressed; perplexed but not discouraged. Persecuted but not helpless; slaughtered but not destroyed." Paul here talks about the difficulties we face in life, but encourages us to persevere, trusting God. This verse can be applied to Israel's defeat in battle, but also to any situation in which we find ourselves in trouble.
“Onde há mais sacrifício, há mais generosidade.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
