And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. (2 Sam. 1:5-10)
The news of the battle and the death of Saul and his sons comes to David by one of the Amalekites. The young man spins a strange story of how Saul died at his hand during the battle and David confronts him about slaying the king of Israel. Despite the tokens of the king being brought to David, acknowledging that he is now king in Saul’s place, David slays the Amalekite for killing Saul. Since he had not actually slain the king, he died for trying to curry David’s favor as the new king. David did not rejoice over Saul, for he never sought Saul’s death, but wept and lamented for Saul and Jonathan.
David did not want to become king by the death of Jonathan and Saul, though he knew that was certainly a possibility. This Amalekite, seeking favor for killing Saul, claimed a fanciful tale of Saul’s death which has inconsistencies and unlikely events. David, whether he believed the young man or not has him killed for the claimed act of killing the Lord’s anointed, the king of Israel. The Amalekite should have known better and was put to death, if not for the slaying of Saul, for the claim and for lying about it to David to obtain some reward for the killing of Saul. Since David was grieved by the death of Saul, but even more so his friend Jonathan, the outcome for the Amalekite was the same as if he had killed Saul. David cried aloud and declared a lament for Jonathan and Saul, expressing his deep friendship, love, and character in not celebrating their deaths despite all of Saul’s pursuits and attacks against David.
As Christians we are not to celebrate when our enemies, those who attack or misuse us, or even those we disagree with, are rebuked, punished, or destroyed. God tells us to pray for our enemies, not for the destruction, but for their repentance and Salvation. When God works, we rejoice in Him, but we are still sorry for any who perish, especially those who leave this life without Christ, headed to a devil’s hell. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and neither should we as His servants and children. The victory which God brings, first over sin, but also in the battles we face, means since our warfare is not with flesh and blood, that neither is our victory and rejoicing. We celebrate our God and His work to bring all those who do not know Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to a right relationship with Him through repentance and reconciliation. When those who spitefully use us are brought down and restored to the LORD, we do not celebrate their loss but God’s gain and our answered prayers. Reaching the lost, teaching the nations, and preaching His Word, means the world will oppose us because they are at war with God, but we are to stand strong in His might and triumph, not in the flesh but through the Spirit who accomplishes His will in us that whosoever will come to Him and surrender to Him on His terms may receive His free gift of eternal life.
While we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
David did not want to become king by the death of Jonathan and Saul, though he knew that was certainly a possibility. This Amalekite, seeking favor for killing Saul, claimed a fanciful tale of Saul’s death which has inconsistencies and unlikely events. David, whether he believed the young man or not has him killed for the claimed act of killing the Lord’s anointed, the king of Israel. The Amalekite should have known better and was put to death, if not for the slaying of Saul, for the claim and for lying about it to David to obtain some reward for the killing of Saul. Since David was grieved by the death of Saul, but even more so his friend Jonathan, the outcome for the Amalekite was the same as if he had killed Saul. David cried aloud and declared a lament for Jonathan and Saul, expressing his deep friendship, love, and character in not celebrating their deaths despite all of Saul’s pursuits and attacks against David.
As Christians we are not to celebrate when our enemies, those who attack or misuse us, or even those we disagree with, are rebuked, punished, or destroyed. God tells us to pray for our enemies, not for the destruction, but for their repentance and Salvation. When God works, we rejoice in Him, but we are still sorry for any who perish, especially those who leave this life without Christ, headed to a devil’s hell. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and neither should we as His servants and children. The victory which God brings, first over sin, but also in the battles we face, means since our warfare is not with flesh and blood, that neither is our victory and rejoicing. We celebrate our God and His work to bring all those who do not know Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to a right relationship with Him through repentance and reconciliation. When those who spitefully use us are brought down and restored to the LORD, we do not celebrate their loss but God’s gain and our answered prayers. Reaching the lost, teaching the nations, and preaching His Word, means the world will oppose us because they are at war with God, but we are to stand strong in His might and triumph, not in the flesh but through the Spirit who accomplishes His will in us that whosoever will come to Him and surrender to Him on His terms may receive His free gift of eternal life.
While we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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