Suicide in Scripture
Dear friends,
There are two instances of suicide in the Bible. The death of Saul, Israel’s first king, is recounted twice, the first time at the end of the book of 1 Samuel. A great battle on Mount Gilboa is coming to a terrible end, with the defeat of Israel, and the routing of her armies by the Philistines. At the height of the mountain, Saul’s three sons lie dead around him. He sees his line, his heritage, extinguished before his eyes. Archers have critically wounded him, and he knows that his position is about to be overrun. He can barely stand, and he does not wish to be taken alive to spend days tormented by his enemies ahead of some public execution. He commands his young armour bearer to finish him off – “don’t let these ***** take me” – but the soldier refuses to carry out this order (no assisted suicide for Saul, then) leaving Saul with the difficult task of falling on his own sword. Saul’s assessment of Philistine actions is proved correct, as even after his death his body is not spared humiliation. In the bigger picture, however, we have already been told that God’s favour has been withdrawn, and that Saul’s increasingly desperate attempts to cling to power (hunting down internal opponents, consulting the dead) only presage disaster.
The other suicide in Scripture is better known; that of the disciple Judas after he realises that he has been tricked by the Jerusalem authorities into revealing Jesus’ location, thus setting in motion the train of events that would eventually lead to Jesus’ execution. Judas’ death, (also ambivalently) reported by both Matthew and Luke, is either a suicide (“he hung himself”) or a terrible accident (“he fell headlong”). Either way, Judas dies alone, covered with the shame of his betrayal, unloved, the thirty pieces of silver cold and comfortless.
In both instances the taking of one’s own life is portrayed as something shameful, with both Saul and Judas, from very different ages, placed by two (four?) very different writers as being “outside of God’s plan for them”. They both had very good reasons to die – Saul was dying of his wounds anyway, and wanted to spare himself (and possibly Israel) further pain and humiliation – Judas’ world had collapsed and he could not bear to face the consequences of being the prime mover in the death of his friend, his Lord. The tone of Scripture is that the gift of life in Creation is something sacred, and that those who play God with the boundary between time and eternity should do so in fear, not in arrogance. Walking outside of God’s plan does not lead to “the happy place” for anyone. It leads to hubris.
Worship Services for Sunday 13th October
9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s Stoke Row with Canon Kevin Davies
11am Holy Communion at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Canon Kevin Davies
Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm 410 935 129
Harvest Hope
The earth is faithful, even if we are fickle. Our harvest celebrations were blessed with colour and cake. Frances and Steve from Manor Farm brought their wonderful produce stall, and we collected for Tear Fund and the Ways and Means Trust. Thank you to everyone who came along, and who contributed, decorated, played, baked and sang. There is, yet, much to be thankful for.
Suicide is always a difficult and emotive matter to write about. I doubt there’s any one of us who has not been touched by it in some way. Autumn leaves begin to turn, the change of seasons reminding us that time is the most precious thing we have – time enough to love, and work, and heal. The imperative of Scripture is found early on, in the choice given to God’s people: “choose life!” (Deut 30:19). So let us do this thing, with each turning day. Let us walk while we have the light, and live.
Your Rector, Canon Kevin.

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