David Finally Sees How He’d React to Saul’s Death
[10] “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
[11] Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. [12] And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. [13] And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” [14] David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” [15] Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. [16] And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’” (ESV)
2 Samuel 1:10–16 ESV Read More
Less than a week after weeping bitterly as an army that all of their wives and children were taken, then regaining every one of them in a brutal war against the Amalekites, David and his men get the news that the King of Israel has fallen. The proof is the unspeakable delivery of the King’s crown and armlet and this braggadocios tale from an Amalekite.
David is hit with an extremely complex hit of emotions that you can only respect when you realize this is a real story and these aren’t made-up fictional movie characters.
He loved Saul: He served Saul for many years and became very close to him. As armor bearer, he would have given his own life for Saul. As commander of the army, he risked his life daily to extend Saul’s kingdom.
He loved Jonathan: In this same announcement he found out that his best friend had been killed. They spent years together and had taken oaths to help and care for one another.
He thought he would die at Saul’s hand: With Saul dead, liberation and a new freedom have come to David. It had been at least a year since they had seen each other, so some of that fear and dread may have worn off.
He was originally supposed to be in that battle: He could have been there to see the whole thing first hand, but he was fighting of the Philistines. Would things have gone differently if he would have stayed? What would have happened to his wives?
There is now only one King of Israel, and it’s me.: David knew that Saul was the only thing holding him back from fulfilling what Samuel said with the anointing of oil so many years ago. While it was unimaginable a week ago, now everything is in place for the fulfillment of his calling.
David’s reaction is complex too. He kills the Amalekite, probably because he’s an Amalekite for one reason, and because David still respects the position of God’s anointed King of Israel. That is no act to be proud of, no matter what you think of Saul.
The next thing he does is out of grief and honor. He writes a song and teaches it to everyone to pay respect and to mourn the death of Saul and Jonathan. He can say more in a song about these guys to immortalize them than he can in a monument or a speech. His song is a lot like what you’d hear at a funeral. You won’t hear about Saul throwing spears or being jealous. You won’t hear about him changing around what God wanted to get his own benefits. It’s an honor-song. It shows the depth of the relationship David had with the house of Saul, and how deeply he was affected by them.
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