Wednesday, May 19, 2010

May 20

2 Sam. 1:1-10
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance. 3David said to him, ‘Where have you come from?’ He said to him, ‘I have escaped from the camp of Israel.’ 4David said to him, ‘How did things go? Tell me!’ He answered, ‘The army fled from the battle, but also many of the army fell and died; and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.’ 5Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan died?’ 6The young man reporting to him said, ‘I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning on his spear, while the chariots and the horsemen drew close to him. 7When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, “Here, sir.” 8And he said to me, “Who are you?” I answered him, “I am an Amalekite.” 9He said to me, “Come, stand over me and kill me; for convulsions have seized me, and yet my life still lingers.” 10So I stood over him, and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. 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.’

Blog Discussion Question: Was this good news or bad news for David?

2 comments:

KD said...

The Amalekite fabricated the story. The bible clearly said Saul died by falling on his own sword.

Pastor Jerry said...

For all the times that David could have killed Saul and did not, this news could not have come as good news to David. He may have been freed from the pursuit of Saul, but he was also now captive to the grief from losing a friend, and the deep sadness in losing the leader of his people. Much the same way, when JFK was killed, whether people liked him or not, the loss of a leader is a heart wrenching thing.