Oops, this was supposed to be week 1, but I forgot to hit “publish.” Here’s a major theme from 1 Samuel 1-2 from David’s life.
Honoring the people in our lives honors God.
David had great faith in God and as a result he honored people. He is an example for us as he waited for God to fulfill his promises. The book of 1 Samuel tells of David’s struggles as he waited to become king of Israel (Samuel had anointed David as king of Israel many years earlier). King Saul became jealous of David because the people were praising him for his accomplishments. Eventually, Saul’s jealousy became so intense that he tried to kill David. As a result, David had to run and hide. For many years David hid from Saul in enemy territory and in the barren wilderness south and east of Jerusalem. David may have wondered when God’s promise that he would be king would come true, but his struggles prepared him for the great responsibilities he would later face. The book of 2 Samuel tells how David was finally rewarded for his patience and consistent faith in God.
As 1 Samuel comes to a close Saul is killed in battle against the Philistines. When David receives the news, he and his men were visibly shaken over Saul’s death. Their actions showed their genuine sorrow over the loss of their king, their friend Jonathan, and the other soldiers of Israel who died that day. They were not ashamed to grieve. Today, some people consider expressing emotions to be a sign of weakness. Those who wish to appear strong try to hide their feelings. But expressing our grief can help us deal with our intense sorrow when a loved one dies.
- Honor the Lives of Others
In 2 Samuel, Chapter 1, David displays his honor, loyalty, respect, and admiration for his fallen king. David learns of Saul’s death from an Amalekite—perhaps a shiftless deserter from the armies of his own countrymen—who brags that he delivered the deathblow to Israel’s king and produces convincing evidence to support his claim.
Consistent with his policy of respecting the royal messianic office, David kills the Amalekite. Grief stricken, David then utters the most stirring tribute to fallen companions recorded in the Bible. The words stand as a monument to David’s solidarity with Israel’s first dynastic family and demonstrate why he was such a fitting choice to be Israel’s next king.
In spite of all Saul’s hostility to him, David was generous to Saul in the song he composed in memory of him and his son Jonathan. David knew how the enemy Philistines would rejoice when they heard of Saul’s death, and he wished that the news could be kept from them (17–20). He cursed the place where Saul died (21), praised the bravery of Saul and Jonathan (22–23), and recalled the prosperity that Saul brought to the people (24). Most of all, he sorrowed over the loss of his true and faithful friend Jonathan (25–27).
Having the unambiguous tokens of Saul’s death—the royal crown and armlet (cf. v. 10)—in his possession, David was overwhelmed by the reality of the royal family’s destruction. Yet as in the case of the author of Lamentations, David’s agony works catalytically. His pain creates one of the most sensitive and moving expressions of mourning ever penned or uttered.
David was a talented musician. He played the harp (1 Samuel 16:23), he brought music into the worship services of the Temple (1 Chronicles 25), and he wrote many of the psalms. Here we are told that he wrote a funeral song in memory of Saul and his son Jonathan, David’s closest friend. Music played an important role in Israel’s history.
1:17–27 Saul had caused much trouble for David, but when he died, David composed a song in memory of the king and his son. David had every reason to hate Saul, but he chose not to. Instead, he chose to look at the good Saul had done and to ignore the times when Saul had attacked him. It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt and to respect the positive side of another person, especially an enemy.
1:26 By saying that Jonathan’s love was “deeper than the love of women,” David was not implying that he had a sexual relationship with Jonathan. Homosexual acts were absolutely forbidden in Israel. Leviticus 18:22 calls homosexuality “detestable.” David was simply restating the deep brotherhood and faithful friendship he had with Jonathan.
- Honor the Lord in Prayer
2:1 Although David knew he would become king (1 Samuel 16:13; 23:17; 24:20), and although the time seemed right now that Saul was dead, David still asked God if he should move back to Judah, the home territory of his tribe. Before moving ahead with what seems obvious, first bring the matter to God, who alone knows the best timing.
2:1 God told David to return to Hebron, where he would soon be crowned king of Judah. David made Hebron his capital because (1) it was the largest city in Judah at that time; (2) it was secure against attack; (3) it was located near the center of Judah’s territory, an ideal location for a capital city; (4) many key trade routes converged at Hebron, making it difficult for supply lines to be cut off in wartime.
2:4 The men of Judah publicly anointed David as their king. David had been anointed king by Samuel years earlier (1 Samuel 16:13), but that ceremony had taken place in private. This one was like inaugurating a public official who has already been elected to office. The rest of Israel, however, didn’t accept David’s kingship for seven and a half years (2:10, 11).
- Honor Faithfulness and Kindness 2:4–7
David understood that the Lord had selected him to be the leader of all Israel and took prudent steps to make that happen. He began as his predecessor did, by making a contact with Jabesh Gilead.
2:4–6 David, the newly anointed king of Judah, heard about the brave actions of the Jabesh Gileadites, “who had buried Saul” (v. 4) and his three slain sons (cf. 1 Sam 31:11–13). The men of Gilead had been motivated by their respect and appreciation for the slain king (cf. 1 Sam 11:1–11). David was impressed by this courageous act, for it mirrored his own respect for the royal family. Accordingly, “he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead” affirming them with the message (lit.), “Blessed are you to Yahweh.” Their burial of Saul was an act of loving loyalty (NIV “kindness”). In return he assured them of the Lord’s “faithfulness” as well as his own. David’s kind words sent to them by his personal emissary must have relieved the concerns of some, for David was reputed to be an enemy of Saul and therefore a potential adversary of the Gileadites.
2:7 Having reached out to these loyal supporters of Saul’s regime, David encouraged them to “be strong and brave” (lit., “strengthen your hands and become men of power/virtue”). He urged them to accept the fact that Saul their “master [was] dead” and move beyond their grief. Though the one who had brought them deliverance and protection was gone, the Lord had raised up another to take Saul’s place. The “house of Judah” had already anointed David “king over them,” and David would gladly be Jabesh Gilead’s king as well.
King David showed honor, mercy, and fairness to Saul’s family, enemies, rebels, allies, and close friends alike. His just rule was grounded in his faith in and knowledge of God. God’s perfect moral nature is the standard for honor and justice for David and for us as well.
Darrell
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Sources:
Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 462-464.
Donald C. Fleming, Concise Bible Commentary (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994), 117.
Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, vol. 7, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996), 284.
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