2 Samuel 1:1-16 “A Surprising Response?”
After David’s slaughter of the Amalekites, he stayed two days in Ziklag. “On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul,…” (2a) David asks from where he had come and he tells him he has escaped from the camp of Israel. He informed him of the deaths of Saul and His sons and that Israel has suffered a terrible defeat. He had killed Saul knowing he could not live after a Saul attempted to commit suicide. He said he brought Saul’s crown and bracelet to David, likely thinking he would be rewarded. Yet David was troubled by this. “David said to the young man who told him, ‘Where are you from?’ And he answered, ‘I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.’ And David said to him, ‘How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?’” (13-14) David called for the Amalekite’s death. He had no joy over Saul’s demise. May God give us the wisdom and insight David employed so we do not rejoice at the demise of those who have opposed us.
