May 03, 2014 - Saturday

Start Time: 7:48 A.M.

End Time: 8:08 A.M.

Title: David Hears of Saul’s Death

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1 – 27

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head.When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor. “Where have you come from?” David asked him. He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”  “What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.” “The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.” Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”  “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit.  When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’  “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ “‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.  “Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’  “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”  Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them.  They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.  David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?” “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite,” he answered. David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 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 your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

NOTES:

Ø God will not allow men to take credit for what He has done!  This Amalekites lied and tried to take credit for killing Saul, possibly, he was thinking that David will give him favor for killing his enemy.  But little did he know that David take Saul’s kingship seriously for God anointed Saul Himself.  When we lie and try to take credit for things that clearly, the Lord made possible, it will fall back on us.  All things is for God’s glory even the death of Saul but when someone tries to take the glory for himself, God will not be pleased and the man who takes glory for something he doesn’t do will be struck down and his lies will become a testimony against himself.

→David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):  “A gazelle^[a] lies slain on your heights, Israel. How the mighty have fallen! “Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.   “Mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, may no showers fall on your terraced fields.^[b]For there the shield of the mighty was despised, the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil. “From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. Saul and Jonathan—in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. “Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.  “How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!”

NOTES:

Ø God laments or mourn in the death of His anointed one!  Upon hearing of Jonathan and Saul’s death, David mourned.  But this shows us, since David is a man after God’s own heart that God Himself, mourns for the lost of His anointed one, especially with Saul and Jonathan died in the hands of their enemy.  So in our defeats, God is also sad.  He feels sad to see us getting defeated especially when He could save us from it if we allow Him to do so.  Saul could have been saved but Saul chose to die in his own sword.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Precious Father and Awesome God!  I am touched to know that You feel for us Lord; that Your love for us does not only show in our victories but even when we fail or when we are defeated, Your love is obviously clear because it hurts for us too.  Thank You Lord because if we just trust You fully, You can deliver us from our defeats and help us win every battle we face.  Help me Lord to surrender everything and never to take credit on things that You deserve glory from.  Help me to give credit to whom it is due to.  Lord lead me and help me to become more like You every day.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!