4 "What happened?" David asked. "Tell me." "The menfled from the battle," he replied. "Many of them fell anddied. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead." - P66
9 Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I‘min the throes of death, but I‘m still alive.‘ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knewthat after he had fallen he could not survive. And I tookthe crown that was on his head and the band on his armand have brought them here to my lord." - P67
11 Then David and all the men with him took hold oftheir clothes and tore them. 12 They mourned and weptand fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and for the nation ofIsrael, because they had fallen by the sword. - P67
15 Then David called one of his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died.
16 For David had said to him, "Your blood be on yourown head. Your own mouth testified against you whenyou said, ‘I killed the LORD‘s anointed." - P67
An Amalekite from Saul‘s camp comes to report Saul and Jonathan‘s deathto David. He says that Saul was critically wounded and asked him to kill him, which he did. - P67
On hearing this, David and his men weep and fast until theevening. David then rebukes the Amalekite for killing the Lord‘s anointedand sentences him to death. - P67
Seeking to curry favor with the man who would replace Saul as king, anAmalekite comes to David with news of Saul‘s death. - P68
He misrepresentsthe events by claiming to be the one who killed Saul, thinking that David would be pleased with this report, when in fact, Saul killed himself. - P68
This man‘s worldly scheming stands in stark contrast to the integrityof David, who resisted two opportunities to strike down King Saulbecause he knew it would dishonor God to lay a hand on His anointed. - P68
God does not delight in the death of sinners, and neither should we. Instead, let us pray for our enemies with a humble and hopeful heart, asking our merciful God to save them. - P68
In response to the news of Saul and Jonathan‘s deaths, David leads hismen to mourn and fast. - P48
He also mourns for the Israelite armythat hasfallen to the Philistines-the same army that had been in hot pursuitof David and his men for many months. - P68
As for the Amalekite whoclaimed to have killed Saul himself, David commands that he be executed as punishment. - P68
David makes sure to show proper honor andrespect to the chosen servants of God upon their death, regardless ofhow they treated him in the past. - P68
Let us have the same attitude towardthe structures of authority God has ordained in the world. - P68
Humanleaders are never perfect, but God will deal with their flaws in His ownway and timing. - P68
Father, in this broken world, help me to love my enemies and pray for thosewho persecute me. - P69
Enable me to submit to and support those whom You haveendowed with authority. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P69
|