David Anointed King of Judah

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

2 Samuel 2:1-7
1 After this David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.”
2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron.
4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”
5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him.
6 Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing.
7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

A bit of a recap is in order.

David, as a young man and an increasingly important soldier for the nation of Israel, became in the kings eyes a competition to the throne. The rumor spread through Israel that he had been anointed by the prophet Samuel and tensions rose in the royal family. Eventually David became an outcast, literally running for his life from the man he had just eulogized in the previous passage.

For the young man David, his initial anointing from the Lord by Samuel to become the next king may have occurred as early as age 15. 2 Samuel speaks of David being 30 years old when he began to reign.

2 Samuel 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

I understand that David was 30 years old in this passage when he was anointed the second time by the men of Judah in verse 4, creating a split kingdom. David ruled over Judah, while the remaining tribes assumed the royal lineage, under Saul’s son Ish-boseth.

With all of this background, what jumps out to me is the extended period of time David was “on-hold” for the throne. Not only on hold, but under pressure, experiencing disappointment, despair and a threat of death at the hand of his father-in-law.

In all of his waiting, there must have been times when he looked back on the day Samuel anointed him, and longed for the realization of his ascension. Up to 15 years of waiting, and now the door is open. Obviously David was meant to simply take the throne, for he had been promised it, and this is the opportunity to take it.

Yet he asked the Lord. He saw opportunity, and we know David was a man of action, yet he asked of the Lord for guidance on timing and location. Note that he was very specific in his request to the Lord, even to which city would be best to return home to. He brought his family, and his faithful men, and resided in Hebron.

Now what happened between verse 3 and 4? David is in Israel, and suddenly the men of Judah anointed David. Was this a spontaneous action on the part of the men of Judah, or did David run a political campaign to arouse the locals to his availability to lead?

If David was reluctant to enter Israel without the Lord’s direction, it seems obvious to me that he trusted God to bring to fruition the promise he made to David. To begin a political ad campaign seems out of character for David at this point of his life, even having the appearance of him trying to influence the situation for selfish gain.

He arrived in Hebron, and the promise was realized by the actions of the men of Judah. To think David interjected his will on the men of Judah to attain the throne seems to be without justification from the text and out of character for a man who sought God for such specific direction.

In this second anointing of David by the men of Judah, the nation was split in two, with Saul’s son Ish-boseth taking the throne to the north.

And then David acts. It may be considered his first official act as king over Judah. He praises Jabesh Gilead for their mercies to King Saul.

Let’s remember that Jabesh Gilead is not in Judah, but within the land of Gad originally, and as such was under the leadership of Ish-boseth. This doesn’t stop David for he has the temerity to send men to Jabesh Gilead, and to speak a blessing on them, repaying their kindness and encouraging them. No mention is made of Saul’s son reaching out to the only ones who showed his father respect.

David was astute in the healing of the nation, and as he grew in power within the tribe of Judah, he sought good relations with those outside of his authority.

This is instructive, for I sometimes think with an “us / them” attitude. My little kingdom needs my attention and those outside of it can find encouragement elsewhere. This is not David’s stance, for he sought to bring all of Israel into a united kingdom.

So is the Greater David, as He is constantly looking beyond the borders of His kingdom, inviting those into the kingdom of God, seeking to enlarge His tents.

As Isaiah once prophesied of the expansion of the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.

The place of His tent has been enlarged, even to include the entire earth. Let us look to those who may be on the outside as those we need to encourage to enter the Kingdom, to meet the Savior and to enjoy eternal life in the Son, the Greater David.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

David has executed the Amalekite who he understands killed his king and best friend. Now, after completing judgement on the Amalekite. David now turns to mourning, to writing a lament regarding Saul his king, and Jonathon his friend. For this passage I would like to consider the two subjects in separate posts.

This post will consider David and his expression of mourning for Saul, his father in law, his friend, his adversary, and his king. A much more complicated relationship, yet the expression of sorrow from David is an honest and deep expression of David’s respect for Saul, and the throne he occupied. He saw Saul as representing God’s man for the nation of Israel.

Let’s read the lamentation once more, considering David’s relation to Saul.

2 Samuel 1:17-27
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,
18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:
19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
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.
24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

David’s relationship with Saul, to say the least, was fraught with conflict, tension, confusion, madness and abandonment. No telling of the naked truth would suffice in this funeral dirge for Saul, and as we see David speak of the departure of his king, we see into the heart of David a deep commitment to honor the one man who caused him such terror and trial!

David’s relationship with Saul is expressed in this passage from the point of view of a honorable man, as David sought to honor the king with his accomplishments, and not with the kings efforts as they impacted David. This time of mourning was not about David, but about the first king of Israel, and as a man of character, David would focus on that.

sword of Saul returned not empty

Saul was first and foremost an effective warrior. His sword accomplished that which it set out to perform. This statement, true as it was, honored Saul, and was intended to dull the memory of his body taken from the battle field and shamed by the Philistines.

It is an extension of David’s desire not to have the news of the fall of the mighty ones (Saul and Jonathon) spread through out the Gath and Ashkelon, the land of the Philistines.

Right from the start, Saul knew how to muster his army, how to execute effective combat, and won many battles to the benefit of his kingdom. David remined the nation of this characteristic of their first king.

beloved and lovely

David is being, at least in my opinion, incredibly gracious in this description of Saul, for as we discussed in the previous post, these terms refer to love and agreeableness.

David, in his experience, must have felt betrayed in any love Saul had for him, as he was rejected many times by the king, even in his efforts to bring the king success.

As for agreeableness, this also seems to be difficult to associate with David, for Saul seemed to be against many requests David brought before the king. Many times Saul would not consider any benefit David requested.

As David recounts these characteristics, he may be thinking of Saul in the beginning of his relation with Saul, as he ascended in his kingdom as an effective soldier for Saul, and as a family member eventually. As an example, David won the hand of two of Saul’s daughters. Two of Saul’s daughters? Saul’s eldest daughter Merab was a reward for taking out Goliath. David eventually rescinded the offer due to his humble origins. Yes, Saul finally agreed to the provision of his second daughter to David, but if I recall, it was grudgingly, and with ulterior motives.

After David married Michal, and was forced to begin running from Saul, Saul took Michal from David and married her off to another man, named Paltiel.

Agreeable? David is so gracious! As mentioned in the first post, this funeral dirge, as it related to Saul, is a difficult discussion, yet it shows the heart of David as he relates to the dead, his forgiving spirit, and of his desire to speak well of his departed king.

swifter than eagles, stronger than lions

Again, David refers the the effectiveness Saul exhibited in battle. He was swifter that eagles. David had first hand experience of Saul’s swiftness, as he was often barely ahead of Saul and his army as they pursued him.

Yet we cannot claim this phrase is only for Saul, for David declares this characteristic was of both Saul and Jonathon, that they were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions as a team, in unity on the battlefield.

Both Saul and Jonathon were effective in battle, exercising a swiftness and courage that often overwhelmed the enemy. As a military tactician and strategist, David honored both men in this statement, emphasizing their strength together.

daughters of Israel, weep over Saul

Finally, as a fruit of the military wins over their national enemies, the populace experienced prosperity. During Saul’s reign, in our study on David, we have focused on how Saul impacted David. This obviously was only a part of Saul’s efforts in the throne, and it is apparent that Saul brought much good to the nation. He provided an environment that elevated the living conditions of this upstart monarchy.

All of that is gone now. The nation has been overwhelmed, with the victorious Philistines marauding through the country without a leader to defend it. For some, it may appear the nation was over before it ever had a chance. A one king nation and now it has been vanquished. A flash in the pan, an utter failure of a nation, soon to be absorbed into the surrounding cultures.

Yes it was a very dark day for Israel. Prosperity was gone, along with a potential loss of identity, becoming at best a puppet state for Philistine, or simply to fade away as a people. No other country has experienced the lows that Israel has, and as an early national defeat, the people would mourn, the survivors would mourn, the rebels would mourn.

And God would provide a man who had been through the wringer, who had been under God’s preparatory hand for years.

David would ascend to the throne.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

David has executed the Amalekite who he understands killed his king and best friend. Now, after completing judgement on the Amalekite. David now turns to mourning, to writing a lament regarding Saul his king, and Jonathon his friend. For this passage I would like to consider the two subjects in separate posts.

For this post, lets consider David and his expression of mourning for his best friend Jonathon. I wanted to discuss Jonathon, for his feeling toward Jonathon definitely seem less complicated.

2 Samuel 1:17-18
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,
18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:

David wrote out his heart, and intended the entire nation to be taught of his feelings of the downfall of the ruling family of Israel. He was not seeking to sling mud, create division or push some agenda on the nation. He spoke of them as mighty ones, Israel’s glory, beloved and lovely, united in death. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s read the passage.

2 Samuel 1:19-27
19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
21 “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
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.
24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

David refers to Jonathon specifically in verse 22, 23 and 26. Now of course, as David speaks of the mighty ones having fallen, he is including Jonathon, but for the sake of this post, let us consider David’s specific references to Jonathon

bow turned not back

David starts out with the bravery of Jonathon. Any reader of the Old Testament, and of the exploits of Jonathon can readily recall when he took on a battalion of Philistines with his sheild bearer. And he attacked based on outside circumstances, believing God could direct. Amazing courage.

Also, to be in the kings house and yet to be faithful to David, the rightful king, must have strained at Jonathon’s senses of right and wrong, but we must consider the courage it took to be faithful to one in the house of his very enemy.

This condition should be easily recognized by the believer in Jesus, for as we believers walk this earth, we are essentially in the house of the enemy of our King. As Jonathon, we also are to realize our allegiance is with the King not in the land, and that a rebel king is seeking our obedience.

May we be faithful in walking with the only True King!

beloved and lovely

Beloved – simply expressing love for family, a neighbor or for God. David knew his friend and that he was of the right spirit, not vengeful, but with the right spirit.

This word is used of Saul in the same passage, and it will be mush harder to understand when we discuss David speaking thus of him!

Lovely – to be pleasant, agreeable. Sometimes this term refers to singing. This is the spirit of seeking unity, to be at peace. This should not be confused with the spirit of giving up, or of appeasement, for they are two different spirits. To be agreeable is to seek a way for finding similar ground to stand on with those you differ.

Truly, to be agreeable is as much an attitude as an action, and in the attitude of being agreeable, much can be accomplished. To be flexible in finding righteousness is a skill that comes from the Lord, and exhibits a gracious character, a character that draws people to us.

lies slain on your high places

David did not shy away from hard truths. Jonathon had been massacred on the hills, even on the high places.

High places sometimes refers to areas of cultic worship. For our passage this morning, it is likely David is referring to the battlefield of Mount Gilboa. Even as Israel had the advantage in location, for the word speaks of the Philistines chasing the Israelites on Mount Gilboa, Jonathon was slain.

love was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women

This is a magnet verse for a certain group within the church that carry an agenda. It is as if the term “love” (אַהֲבָה ʼahăbâh) describes love in a restricted physical sense only.

When coupled with the following verse, this group within the established church claim David and Jonathon were lovers sexually.

1 Samuel 20:17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Regarding the term “love”, it is true that the term is used once in reference to sexual desire.

2 Samuel 13:15  Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”

And it may be understood to speak of the sexual act between a man and woman, but many times, even in the most sexually active book of the Bible (the book of Songs), the term may also speak of the emotional spiritual desire and not only that which is of the physical act. I have added a few verses to consider for my reader.

Song 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his banner over me was love.

Song 2:5 Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.

Song 5:8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am sick with love.

Song 8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.

Song 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house,

Proverbs has a reference that leans towards the sexual act between a man and a woman

Proverbs 5:19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. he would be utterly despised.

The point is that the term does not have to identify sexual activity, and may refer to love generically, that is in the sense of care, bonding and commitment.

My goodness, this term is also used in God’s care towards His people.

Hosea 11:4 I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

Jeremiah 31:3 the LORD appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you

So what is David speaking of in this verse then?

I would suggest we remember David’s experience with women, even at the time these passages were written.

David entered into multiple marriages, and at times, his wives tried to shame him, or were used to provide advantage for king Saul.

As he was not faithful to one woman, it can be understood that this reflected into his own opinion of women and their importance in a man’s life.

David had found a soul he could trust, that his soul had bonded with and that he related to deep in his heart. His attachment to Jonathon was soulish, of the inner man and related to the higher ideals of friendship, trust and honor between men.

For those men in my audience, think back to your closest male friend, and honestly consider your feelings toward him. A close friend, a trusting relationship, a bonding of experiences between men, does not require the introduction of any sexual act between them. But there are some in the established church with an agenda.

For the believer, the man or woman who has a living experience with the Risen Savior, it is wise to consider those introducing this heinous picture of David and Jonathon as worthy of rejection. David had enough sin on his plate. We need not consider his relation with Jonathon to also be sinful!

Leave a comment to discuss!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

David Hears of Saul’s Death

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

David Hears of Saul’s Death

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

2 Samuel 1:1-10
1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.
2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.
3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’
10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And 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.”

In this passage, we have a story of an Amalekite telling a story. A fabrication to ingratiate himself to the future king of Israel.

So many questions.

• Was this one of the Amalekites that escaped from David’s attack, when David came to rescue those taken from Ziklag?
  • If so, this poor Amalekite escaped from David to simply fall into the hands of Saul, just as he was being defeated. What luck!
  • Much more likely, this Amalekite was not of the armies that David decimated, but simply a prisoner of war that was being held by the camp of Israel.
• Earlier on in 1 Samuel, the text tells us that Saul died before the armor bearer committed suicide.
  • How did this Amalekite kill Saul without mentioning the killing of the armor bearer, who was sworn to defend the king against all threats?
• It is interesting that this Amalekite mentions Saul and his son Jonathon, but not the other sons.
  • Might he have known of the bond David had with Jonathon?
• Why would Saul call to his arch enemy, an Amalekite, to kill him? He had plenty of Philistines surrounding him if Saul sought death.

I could go on, but suffice to say, this Amalekite, in the aftermath of the battle, may have tripped over the body of king Saul, and simply took the crown and armlet of the king. Simply taking advantage of the death of soldiers in the battle field. Kind of a sad picture in my mind, that a foreigner was just waiting to pick from the dead, but somehow it may fit with this fellow. Not of the highest moral fiber, as he is obviously a liar. A liar and a story-teller!

As for David, let’s remember he just got back from a battle, rescuing his family from the Amalekites, and on the third day, was told information that would propel him into the position of king! Saul was the only man who stood in his way, and God had promised him this position. It was David’s time to rise to the throne!

But unlike this Amalekite, he refrained from looking first to his advantage, but sought news of his nation’s state of affairs, and of King Saul.

Here was a man who had nearly entered into battle against his own people, allying himself with the Philistines. David had a busy time this last few days, seeing God consistently working in his life. He had seen the hand of God rescue him from a very sticky situation with the Philistines. He had seen the hand of God deliver him from his own army moving to mutiny him as they entered the plundered Ziklag. He had seen the hand of God provide guidance to the Amalekites camp. He had seen the hand of God provide victory over the Amalekites. He had seen the hand of God in protecting his loved ones, recovering every kidnapped victim of Ziklag.

Now the hand of God was providing news of David’s opportunity to claim the kingdom as promised, and he asked about Saul and Jonathon. The kingdom could wait, for David was of a different spirit than this Amalekite.

Whereas the Amalekite would weave a story to get something, David would put off advantage for the sake of information. He knew the importance of data over dollars!

Much can be gleaned from this passage, but for this writer, these two men reveal a difference that is stark, that is important and for the believer, should be heeded. We, as believers should prioritize facts, data, information, knowledge and the wisdom of God as He works amongst us.

And He is working! Even when a liar comes to tell you a story! God is at work, if you have eyes to see!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

The Death of Saul

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

For this post, we will not see David, but it will focus of his father-in-law, his king, and his arch enemy describes a turning point in David’s life, and his future as the king.

Lets consider the outfall of Saul’s death.

1 Samuel 31:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
1 Samuel 31:9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.
1 Samuel 31:10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
1 Samuel 31:11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
1 Samuel 31:12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.
1 Samuel 31:13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

The Philistines won the battle, and on the very next day, they came back to the battle ground, after all the Israelites had run away, to strip off the fallen. Spoils of war!

This is a common act of the victorious, for the winning soldiers would often come back to pick the dead clean. Now of course, this act of recovering goods from dead soldiers sometimes brought our the worst in the soldiers. There were some who could not resist humiliating King Saul, along with the entire nation of Israel, in the decapitation of the defeated king, and the exhibition of his headless corpse on the wall at Beth-shan. Why at Beth Shan? It was deep in the defeated regions of Israel, where the Philistines could shame the king and his people. Perfect psychological warfare, even after the killing was over!

For a body to be hung on the city walls was a great shame, an insult to those of his family. This act of defilement was more than a show of victory over the nation, it was an exhibition of gloating by the Philistines, and heaped disgrace on the royal family, and nation of Israel.

Early on in King Saul’s reign, the town of Jabesh Gilead was the sighting of Saul’s first challenge in defending his people. An Ammonite army descended on Jabesh, placed the town under siege, and then forced the citizen’s of Jabesh into an agreement prior to attacking. The Ammonites would kill them by sword, or have their right eyes gouged out. What a choice!

But for some reason, the Ammonites allowed them to reach out for help, giving them seven days to bring reinforcements. Were they hoping to find more success by defeating greater numbers of Israelites? Or simply heaping additional shame on this town when no-one came?

But the newly crowned King Saul did come, and he was large and in charge. He rallied an army, though through threatening, and marched onto Jabesh. With his army, he defeated the Ammonites fully, and it became a fantastic victory for this newly ascended king.

The people of Jabesh did not forget, and they made efforts to retrieve the kings body. For reasons unknown, the people of Jabesh burned the body of King Saul. This was not common practice in the days of Israel. Possibly they burned the bodies due to the extent of dismemberment, or the deterioration from the daily heat. Personally, I think the Jabesh people sought to give Saul peace from being dug up again and put on display, continuing the shameful treatment of their first king.

Either way, the people of Jabesh, those valiant men, provided King Saul relief from the shame of defeat, the shame of exposure and the shame of defilement. They honored their king, their rescuing hero in a way only they could.

This was a very sad day for the nation, for their first king had been conquered. Depending on your point of view, he had been conquered much earlier than his physical death, but nevertheless, he had been conquered, and the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead went into enemy territory to retrieve what was left of their king.

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The Death of Saul

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

For our next couple of posts, we will not see David directly, but will consider his father-in-law, his king, and his arch enemy. The following recounting of Saul’s last days describes a turning point in David’s life, and his future as the king.

Lets consider Saul’s last day.

1 Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
1 Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
1 Samuel 31:3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.
1 Samuel 31:4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.
1 Samuel 31:5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.
1 Samuel 31:6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.
1 Samuel 31:7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

We have the death of Saul in this passage, along with the complete collapse of the Israeli army.

First, let’s consider the general situation prior to thinking about Saul. His army, as noted previously was far outnumbered and his reaction when he realized the size of the Philistine encampment was that of utter fear.

In this fear, Saul ventured off to a medium, who only reinforced every fear he had and informed Saul of his death the next day. That day came quickly, and the Philistines were brutal, in that the Philistines entered into the base camp of Israeli army at Gilboa, decimating their forces and killing Saul’s three sons. Although Abinadab and Malchi-shua were possible hires to the throne, it would have been Jonathon that would most likely have reigned in Saul’s place in the event of Saul’s passing.

This possibility would have caused a testing of the friendship between David and Jonathon, for who should reign if Jonathon would ascend to the throne. Not only a testing their freindship, but a testing of the very covenant Jonathon made with David.

1 Samuel 20:16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD take vengeance on David’s enemies.”

Would he abide by his word of being faithful to David? Could Jonathon justify his ascension in light of this curse? Might he seek the throne as David’s “friend”, and thus avert the very curse he uttered?

My friends, I want to think the best of Jonathon, yet we all know that power can corrupt. Even if there was such a situation that Jonathon could reign without incurring this curse, the nation would not be blessed, for God had determined David to reign.

In a very harsh way, Jonathon’s death was necessary, and in his death, he found honor in staying beside his king, defending his nation and fighting for God till the very end.

This potential competitor for the throne fell to one of Saul’s other son’s, but we will consider the wisdom of God’s plan in allowing that in future installments. For now, a complicated situation has been removed from David’s future.

Let us not forget that this solution brought great pain to David. Some of the Lord’s best plans allow for great pain in our lives. Jonathon and David were the closest of allies and the best of friends, exhibiting a loyalty that continued beyond Jonathon’s life. Yet Jonathon passed on the battlefield.

Saul also passed on the battlefield. But let me ask my reader – Did he die due to the battle? He was certainly wounded by the archers of the Philistines, but the fatal blow did not come from the Philistines. Saul sought his own armor bearer to kill him, in order to avoid the humiliation of capture and mistreatment by the Philistines.

Now consider the armor bearer’s conundrum. He was to protect the king, as this honor was not passed to one lightly, for it was a great responsibility, and carried with it great status. Not only was Saul asking this armor bearer to sacrifice the very person he lived to protect, but also to bring shame upon his own name and family, in killing the very anointed king of Israel.

Saul was fully consumed with his own needs at this time, and I get it, that he is on the very precipice of his grave, looking down into the pit. What else was the king to do? He had lost all honor and status, his kingdom was being run over and he knew he was to die that day. His only choice was how he would fall in battle, and he would not wait for God’s will in even that!

As we know, the armor bearer refused, and Saul fell on his own sword, capping off the self destructive behavior of a man seeking his own will throughout his life.

How sad. A day of tremendous loss for the nation. They lost much of the western territory to the enemy. They lost their army on the hills of Mount Gilboa. They lost their king. They lost the best hope of a successor king in Jonathon’s death. They lost cities to the Philistines due to abandonment. They lost national reputation in the sight of their neighboring countries.

What a terrible defeat. Israel was in tatters. But the shame of the defeat was to be worse as we will find in the next portion of the Word.

For now, let us be thankful for the opportunity to give up our own self will for the Lord’s will, to accept pain and sorrow as it comes from the hand of the Lord, and know that in everything that occurs in our lives, the Lord is in control, the Lord is a merciful God, and that God is good.

Yes, cling to the fact that God is good, even when things might seem very bad. He is on the throne, and He will never be removed from it, for His reign is is forever and ever.

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible