People are dying to hear about Saul

2 Samuel Chapter 1

- David hears about King Saul and Johnathan, David’s best friend from a young Amalekite man. He was hoping David was going to reward him for the this bit of good news thinking that Saul was David’s enemy.

- The young man told David that he just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear, Saul called out to the young man and asked him to finish him off because he was almost dead and didn’t want to be captured and tortured by the Philistines.  We know from 1 Samuel chapter 31 this is not what had happened, but David was not aware of the truth at this point. The one thing that was true was the young man robbed the bodies because he had Saul crown and armband to try and convince David of his story. He was nothing more than a grave robber  and a liar, but that was enough.

- David grieves upon hearing the news and tears his clothes and his men follow suit, they mourn and fast until evening not only for Saul and Johnathan, but for nation of Israel because many others had died that day.

- After inquiry who and where the young man was from, David asks him a very pointed question, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

- We are not told what the young man’s answer was, perhaps he was dumb founded by the question, maybe he was left speechless after realising that he was not going to be rewarded for his news.

- David had one of his men kill the the young man for claiming that he had killed the LORD’s anointed.

- When I read this it made me wonder about Jesus and the principalities and powers, the wold rulers and spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places. Why weren’t they afraid to lift their hands to destroy the Lord’s anointed? David exacted an imperfect justice on a person claiming to be the doer of the deed. In Psalm 82:6 GOD tells members of his council that they may be gods, sons of the Most high, nevertheless they (some of them) will die like men. From outward appearances it looked like the Jewish people were to blame for Jesus’ death, but perhaps the enemy was hoping GOD would wipe them all out for this offence to his messiah and he would have to start over, thereby giving the Devil more time. Unlike David GOD will have perfect Justice on the real doers of the deed.

- David the writes a lament for Saul and Johnathan and it is said to be recorded in the book of Jashar (or the upright) The book is considered one of the lost books of early Israelite poetry.

- Note what David says about Saul and Johnathan in verse 23 - “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided;

they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Even though Saul was wrong about David, Johnathan took David’s side against his Father. As misguided as Saul was Johnathan stayed with his Dad, until the very end.

- David deeply loved his friend Johnathan and this reminded me of a part of the Gospels when the Apostle John pens  - One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus; John 13:23 and again in John 21:20 It’s very interesting almost coincidental (I’m being cheeky) that David who was a shadow of Christ had a beloved friend named Johnathan and Jesus had one of the disciples that the other disciples including Peter thought held a higher friendship. John was also the only Disciple to die of old age whereas the rest were martyred for the Gospel. Jesus the descendant of King David was able to do for his friend what David was unable to do for his.

- Jesus say to his disciples in John 15:14-15

  You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

 - There is a song called What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! 

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Final thought, David loved his friend, but he could not deliver him from death. Jesus can be your best friend and he will definitely be able to deliver you from death. Oh what a friend we have in Jesus!

Next – A Coronation, Exacerbation, and Assassination all in one nation