Giving up...

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.
(1 Samuel 31:1-7 ESV)
From the moment Saul had hardened in his disobedience, refused to repent, and was rejected by God as king, he started giving up and giving in. That tendency was reinforced as he saw the people embrace David, while God repeatedly protected David from Saul's wrath.  The most recent reinforcement came when Saul sought the medium, only to hear that he would surely die in this battle. But Saul gives in rather than dying valiantly.  The Philistines divided Saul and his 3000 or so choice soldiers from the rest of the army and made them an example. Then, the rest of the army gave up - not only on the battle, but on the Israeli dream. The gave up their cities and let the Philistines waltz right in.  How many of us, in how many ways, have given up on so many things to the enemy? We have allowed one stronghold to the enemy and let him build on it to such and extent that the whole war seems hopeless? Let's stop giving up, and trust in God.