Oct 25, 2020. II Samuel 1:1-16

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A DEADLY LIE. II Samuel 1:1-16. 10/25/20. #01.

2 Samuel 1:1-16 [New King James Version]

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 Then David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.” 5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” 6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ 10 So I stood over 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 bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.” 11 Therefore David took hold of his own 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, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.” 14 So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. 16 So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”

  • Messenger of gloom
    • David = at Ziklag for 3 days when a messenger came
      • David had recaptured his family + things
      • He destroyed the Amalekite camp
      • The messenger was in rags and full of dirt
    • David inquires about the messenger
      • He is an Amalekite
      • He had just come from the battle
      • Israel = routed and Saul + Jonathan were dead
    • David wants to know how mess. knows Saul is dead
    • The mess. spins a story, hoping to gain favor ŵ David        
      • He states that he came upon Saul when he was nearly dead and Saul wanted him to kill him
      • The messenger doesn’t explain why he was at battle
      • The messenger obeys Saul and kills him and takes his crown
    • The truth from 1 Sam. 31 was that Saul fell on his own sword so Phil. would not abuse him 
      • The Amalekites was looking for a reward since David was a sworn enemy of Saul’s
      • The Amalekites probably was a servant of a Philistine officer who came across Saul’s body
  • Miscalculation
    • David did not know what actually happened
      • David and his men mourn Saul, Jon., and Israel
      • Even though Saul was David’s sworn enemy, he was still God’s anointed king
      • The loss of Jonathan and defeat of Israel would have
    • Instead of rewarding the Amalekites, David has him executed
      • The Amalekites dared to harm God’s king
      • The lie backfired on the Amalekites and it cost him his life
    • This passage is dripping with irony
      • Saul was supposed to have eradicated Amalek
      • David had just destroyed an Amalek. camp
      • Now an Amalekite finds Saul and takes his crown plus the signet bracelet (a symbol of his power)
      • The Amalekite had no idea the trap he set for self
    • Later, two servants of Ishbosheth will make the same error
  • David the patriot
    • Even though this presents David with his opportunity to ascend to the throne, David mourns Saul and Jonathan
      • David doesn’t want evil to come upon Israel
      • Even though David allied with the Phil. to escape Saul, he loved his people (Achish was duped)
    • David seeks the best for Israel, God’s people
      • As long as David focused on serving God, he benefitted Israel
      • Only when David turned to selfish desires, did both he and Israel suffer
    • David loved Israel because he loved God
    • We want the best for America because we want America to be blessed by God
      • When our leaders oppose God, believers become the enemies of our godless leaders
      • The greatest expression of patriotism is to pray for repentance and revival for our nation
    • He is no patriot who supports the enemies of God
    • No call for open rebellion, but we cannot submit to evil