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David Finds Out
1Saul was dead.
Meanwhile, David had defeated the Amalekites and returned to Ziklag. 2Three days later, a soldier came from Saul's army. His clothes were torn, and dirt was on his head. He went to David and knelt down in front of him.
3David asked, “Where did you come from?”
The man answered, “From Israel's army. I barely escaped with my life.”
4“Who won the battle?” David asked.
The man said, “Our army turned and ran, but many were wounded and died. Even King Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
5David asked, “How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man replied:
I was on Mount Gilboa and saw King Saul leaning on his spear. The enemy's war chariots and cavalry were closing in on him. 7When he turned around and saw me, he called me over. I went and asked what he wanted.
8Saul asked me, “Who are you?”
“An Amalekite,” I answered.
9Then he said, “Kill me! I'm dying, and I'm in terrible pain.”
10So I killed him. I knew he was too badly wounded to live much longer. Then I took his crown and his arm-band, and I brought them to you, Your Majesty. Here they are.
11At once, David and his soldiers tore their clothes in sorrow. 12They cried all day long and would not eat anything. Everyone was sad because Saul, his son Jonathan, and many of the Lord's people had been killed in the battle.
13David asked the young man, “Where is your home?”
The man replied, “My father is an Amalekite, but we live in Israel.”
14-16David said to him, “Why weren't you afraid to kill the Lord's chosen king? And you even told what you did. It's your own fault that you're going to die!”
Then David told one of his soldiers, “Come here and kill this man!”
Reflect
Have you ever wanted something but knew that your desire was wrong? Perhaps it was improper relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Maybe it was taking a little extra money from the company’s bank account. Maybe it was cheating on your income taxes or that final exam at school?
We are constantly bombarded with opportunities to serve our own desires. In this text, the Amalekite warrior knew that David was Israel’s “king in waiting” and knowing such, he had an opportunity to position himself as one of the new king’s favourites. Perhaps if David believed his story of having slain Saul, freeing David from the fear of being hunted by Israel’s first king, he could find a favoured position in David’s kingdom.
While the Amalekite was first guilty of falsely claiming to take Saul’s life, his greater failure was his disregard of David’s unwavering commitment to what God had ordained. Even though Saul had been seeking David’s life, he was still God’s anointed leader and would remain in that position until legitimately defeated. To take the life of Saul would have been putting his own ambitions ahead of God’s timing. While David was not willing to do this, the Amalekite warrior was and as a result, he had to experience a harsh reality.
God has established his will for a purpose. It is always to our benefit to submit to his will, and not try to bend his will to what we want!
Respond
I am constantly presented with opportunities to fulfill my desires without submitting to your will and timing. Please help me to consistently submit my desires to your will.
Jon Ohlhauser
Jon is currently Provost & VP for Academic Affairs at Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick. Jon holds a Ph.D. in Communication and has held various faculty and administrative positions in post-secondary education in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. He also served as a legislative speech writer in Edmonton, AB for a number of MLA’s. John is married to Jeneanne and has 7 children. Jon enjoys the challenge of living a healthy and active lifestyle and is currently a registered, competitive amateur boxer.