2 Samuel 1:11-16
11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him.
12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.”
14 And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to reach out with your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, put him to death.” So he struck him and he died.
16 And David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the Lord’s anointed.’”
Condemnation of the Reporter
David’s sorrow
Upon hearing the battle report, David took hold of his clothes and tore them. His servants did the same. This was an expression of deep sorrow and mourning. Contrary to the Amalekite’s expectations, David grieved deeply. They mourned and wept (1) for Saul, (2) for his son Jonathan, (3) for the people of the Lord, (4) and for the house of Israel (the civilians). They fasted until the evening. David was not acting; he genuinely mourned the deaths of Saul and Jonathan from his heart. This is one of the reasons he was recognized as a leader of Israel. Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles.” Let us learn from this the proper mindset we should have as Christians.
Execution
The Amalekite who delivered the report was not rewarded but was executed on the spot. (1) He was “the son of a sojourner” (ASV). This means that he was a subject of King Saul. However, with his own mouth, he testified that he had delivered the final blow to Saul, the Lord’s anointed. (2) Although this was a false report, David saw the crown and bracelet the young man had brought and believed the report. The young man was reaping what he had sown. (3) It is difficult for Gentiles, who do not know God, to understand David’s noble character and faith. David feared the Lord and honored the king anointed by Him. Moreover, he had a covenant of friendship with Jonathan. The judgment of those who do not know God is fundamentally different from that of Christians. While Christians live in this world, they do not belong to it. They are guided by a higher standard and motivation. Let us take a moment to reflect on ourselves. How have we lived out our faith in our daily lives?
Today's prayer
God of Creation, Your thoughts are different from human thoughts. Please help me walk according to Your standards. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.