DAVID LAMENTS SAUL AND JONATHAN

PROCLAMATION

“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son; Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow …”  2 Samuel 1:17-18 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  Two days after David had returned to Ziklag from the slaughter of the Amalekites, a man arrived with torn dirty clothes saying that he had escaped from the Israelite camp.  David inquired of him how the battle went and the man told him that the Philistines had defeated the Israelites.  Many of them had fled and many died, including Saul and his sons. (2 Samuel 1:1-4)  Then David asked him how he knew that Saul and Jonathan were dead.  The man said he happened to be on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul who was wounded and leaning on his spear.  He said that Saul asked him to kill him and so he did.  Then he said that he took the crown off of Saul’s head and the band off of his arm and brought them and presented them to David. (2 Samuel 1:5-10)  David and all of his men tore their clothes and wept for Saul and his son and the army of The Lord.  David asked the man where he was from and he said that he was an Amalekite.  Then David told one of his men to kill him because he had testified that he had killed one of The Lord’s anointed. (2 Samuel 1:11-16)  David lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught the lament of the bow.  The remainder of the chapter is the psalm of lament which David composed for Saul and Jonathan. (2 Samuel 1:19-27)

 

APPLICATION

Sometimes people brag about their wrong doings, and maybe even exaggerate them, and they expect to be appreciated if not rewarded for their efforts, like the Amalekite mentioned above.  Everybody is not to be believed.  In the end, people get what they deserved, not necessarily what they wanted.  It is also important to note that David did not dishonor or harm the anointed man of God, even when he was wrong.  We need to learn to respect the people that God puts in charge even when we disagree with them.  We should not harm the person or the reputation of the anointed of God. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  We should pray for them.

 

DAVID SPARES SAUL'S LIFE AGAIN

PROCLAMATION

“So David took the spear and the curse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from The Lord was fallen upon them.”  1 Samuel 26:12 (KJV)  

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  The Ziphites again went to Saul and told him where David was hiding. (1 Samuel 26:1)  So Saul gathered three thousand men and went down to the wilderness of Ziph to search for David.  When David learned that Saul had followed him there, he set out for the place where Saul had camped. (1 Samuel 26:2-5)  He asked Abishai to go with him into Saul’s camp and he agreed.  They went by night and found Saul sleeping, with Abner, the commander of the army, and the soldiers all around him.  Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David stopped him.  David took the spear and the water jug which was near Saul’s head and they left without being seen. (1 Samuel 26:6-12)  When David was some distance away from the camp, he called out to Abner questioning his protection of the king. (1 Samuel 26:13-16)  Saul recognized David’s voice and responded to him.  David questioned Saul to ascertain why he was pursuing him.  He let Saul know that again he could have killed him but didn’t.  Saul again admitted that he was wrong and had sinned.  He thanked David for again sparing his life and said that he would not harm him.  David told Saul to send one of his young men over to him to get his spear. (1 Samuel 26:17-22)  Then David said, “As surely as I valued your life today, so may The Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1 Samuel 26:24)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible teaches us saying, “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  David knew this (1 Samuel 26:11) and for the second time he had the chance to kill Saul but did not do it.  Again I say, “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” (Sherrilyn Kenyon)  When we know that which is the right thing to do, we should do it.  When you “Know better, do better.” (David and Meredith Liben)  This quote was taken from a book teaching the foundations so every child can read by the end of second grade.  I think that it is applicable in a lot more situations, including Christian behavior.  We should do that which we know is right, and avoid that which we know is wrong.

 

AT TIMES IT IS BETTER TO FLEE THAN TO FIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, ‘Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?’ ”  1 Samuel 21:1 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  When David left Jonathan to flee from Saul, he went to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest.  Ahimelech was concerned when he saw David as to why he was alone.  He told the priest that he was travelling alone on a special mission for the king and that he would meet up with his men later. (1 Samuel 21:1-2)  David asked the priest for some bread, but there was only consecrated bread so David took that.  He also asked the priest for a weapon but all that was there was the sword which David had used to cut off the head of Goliath, that had been wrapped and stored.  So David took Goliath’s sword. (1 Samuel 21:3-9)  Then he went to Achish king of Gath, enemies of Israel, to hide from Saul.  Because they recognized him, David had to pretend that he was insane in order to be safe in their presence. (1 Samuel 21:10-14) 

 

APPLICATION

Years ago I heard this old saying, “Sometimes it is better to run away, and live to fight another day” (Author unknown)  David knew better than to fight with King Saul.  The Bible teaches us not to harm the man of God saying, “Touch not” the anointed of God and do His prophets no harm. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  The Lord God will chastise and punish His own as He sees fit and feels is appropriate.  It is better for us to walk away and avoid a confrontation with a man of God than to risk incurring the wrath of God by harming one of His own.  We can disagree with one without becoming disagreeable.

DO NOT FIGHT WITH A MAN OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“And the men of Ephraim … said unto Jephthah, ‘… we will burn thine house upon thee with fire … And Jephthah said unto them, ‘… are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?’  Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim …”  Judges 12:1-4 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  After Jephthah defeated the Ammonites, the men of Ephraim were mad at him because he did not call them to go and fight with him. (Judges 12:1)  Jephthah told them that he had called them but they refused to help him so he prayed and The Lord God gave him the victory over the Ammonites.  Then he asked them why they wanted to fight with him over this. (Judges 12:1-3)  They fought and Jephthah defeated them.  Jephthah led Israel for six years. (Judges 12:4-7)  When Jephthah died, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel for seven years.  When Ibzan died, Elon the Zebulonite judged Israel for ten years.  After Elon died, Abdon son of Hillel judged Israel for eight years. (Judges 12:8-15)   

 

APPLICATION

Occasionally we get into arguments and fights with people over some very silly reasons.  It is okay to disagree with a person, but the disagreement does not need to lead to a fight.  Most fights are not necessary.  However, a fight with the man of God is never a good idea.  The Bible says, “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  Fighting with a man of God is akin to fighting with God.  That is a fight that you cannot win.  The Lord God is omnipotent, He is all powerful.  The consequences of a mere human fighting with God are just unfathomable. 

DO NOT HARM THE LORD'S ANOINTED PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.  The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on The Lord’s anointed.  As surely as I valued your life today, so may The Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”  1 Samuel 26:23-24 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After David had spared King Saul’s life and Saul had thanked him, (1 Samuel 24:18-19) they parted company. (1 Samuel 24:22)  However, later the people went to Saul urged him to again pursue David and he did. (1 Samuel 26:1-2)  When Saul and his army had made camp and gone to sleep, David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp.  Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David would not let him.  They just took Saul’s spear and water jug and left. (1 Samuel 26:8-12)  When he was safely some distance away, David called out to Saul and told him what he had done. (1 Samuel 26:13-16)  For the second time David had the opportunity to kill Saul but he would not harm The Lord God’s anointed King. (1 Samuel 24:11 and 26:23) 

APPLICATION

There are people in this world who wish to do us harm even though we have done nothing to them, nor have we wronged them in any way.  The Lord God will protect us and deliver us from those evil doers. (Psalm 18:17 and 18:48)  And, as hard as this is for us to do, we are taught to love and to pray for our enemies, those who curse us, those who hate us, those who despitefully use us, and those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, and Luke 6:35)  We are not to repay evil for evil. (Romans 12:17)  We are definitely not to lay hands on, hurt, or harm any of The Lord God’s anointed individuals. (1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15)  He will take care of all those who have wronged us.  “Vengeance is Mine, and I will repay, saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30)  We also are not to rejoice when bad things happen to our enemy. (Proverbs 24:17)  Pray for them.

JUST BECAUSE WE CAN DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD

PROCLAMATION

“Then David went out of the cave and … He said to Saul … This day …The Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave … look at this piece of your robe in my hand!  I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you … I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.”  1 Samuel 24:8-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

As David fled from King Saul, he went into the wilderness in the hills of Ziph. (1 Samuel 23:13-14)  Saul continued to pursue David until a messenger told him that the Philistines were raiding his land. (1 Samuel 23:26-28)  Saul broke off his pursuit of David to battle the Philistines, but when he had defeated them, he returned to seek after David. (1 Samuel 24:1-2)  Saul went into a cave to relieve himself.  David and his men were far back in this deep cave and Saul did not see them.  David crept up behind Saul and cut off the corner of his robe, then crept back to his men. (1 Samuel 24:3-4)  After Saul left the cave, David came out of the cave and called to him.  He told him that some of his men had urged that to kill him, but he refused to do so. (1 Samuel 24:10)  David told Saul that he could have killed him, but he didn’t do it.

APPLICATION

Just because we have the ability, and the opportunity, and the desire to do something, that does not mean that we should do it, especially if we know that it is wrong or sinful.  When we know better, then we should do better.  We have the God given ability to choose between right and wrong.   We need to pray for God’s guidance and direction before we act or speak.  The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord God. (Psalm 37:23)