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Commentary
2 Samuel 1
The Amalekite stranger lied when he told David that he did slay Saul. As we read in 1 Samuel 31, this stranger was afraid to do that which Saul bade him to do, to slay him so that the Philistines would not molest him. Saul did take his own life as he had fallen on his spear to die. David spoke wisely when he told this stranger that his mouth testified against him, that he claimed to slay Saul. David neither credited nor discredited the validity of this strangers words. However, David did inquire about the courage of this stranger, how he was not afraid to kill the Lords anointed.
David still held a very high reverence for Saul and his son, Jonathan. David wanted only good memories of Saul. He wanted the people to remember that Saul was good in his time and that he was, in fact, the Lords anointed. In our lives, we have periods of disloyalty to God. We sometimes do that which is evil in His sight. God can become wroth in our disobedience to Him, and even sometimes take away our anointing. That which we are called to do is anointed by God. When we are not faithful to fulfill Gods will, we are sometimes punished by God. This punishment is purposed so that we can grow in Him, to increase our strength and our commitment to Him. He chastens those that He loves. Saul was very different in this respect. Saul had developed a heart of self will and service. Saul eventually done things that would bring glory only to himself, instead of to God. This thing displeased God. After a while, God took Saul's anointing and gave it to another, one after God's own heart... David.
Don't be discouraged if you fall short of Gods will for your life. Don't get boastful when you far exceed all that you had hoped or imagined. It is not you, but God in you. To God be the glory. Of ourselves, we are nothing. With God, we can do all things. If we remember this, and if we are mindful to put the credit to God, He will give us our hearts; desires.
The Little White Lie
Is there such a thing as a little white lie? Is it EVER alright to alter the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Challenge yourself with this question. In this chapter it seems as though the Amalekite young man wished to soften the hard news by giving the impression that he meant to in some way rescue Saul from his suffering by helping him die. If the version of the events really did play out just as the youth said it did, was it the right thing to do?
Saul was not to be saved. In previous chapters we see that Saul sought a word from the Lord so that he could know the outcome of the situation. Saul sought this word from evil sources. Well, he did get a word from the Lord, even though it was through an ungodly person. In this chapter, David met up with the Amalekite youth and inquired about the happenings. The young man did sway the truth just a little bit. It seems as though he wanted to play the hero role. David was very upset by the news that Saul had died. Even more so, the man standing in front of him claimed to be the one to kill Saul.
"I only wanted to end his suffering. He was going to die for sure, and he was suffering." Even though Saul did ask the young man to kill him, the youth did not. He was afraid to do it. Somehow the boy gathered enough courage to lie to David about the actual cause of death, probably to make himself look like a compassionate person, or some such thing. David ordered a man to kill this youth for having killed Saul.
There is another side to this story. Saul spent a lot of time and effort trying to kill David because of his jealousy. David was becoming more and more famous because of his success in battle. Saul struggled deeply about this and often tried to kill David. Even through all of that, David loved Saul with his whole heart. Can we love people even when they try to kill us? Do we know anything at all about a love so deep and pure? Challenge yourself with this question.
Don't take glory upon yourself by changing the truth. Not even a little detail should be changed. The hearer of the news will receive it whatever way they receive it. Changing the truth changes the interpretation of that truth. It just might cost you your life.
June 8, 2014 - 8:59 AM
