2 Samuel

David took the fractured kingdom that Saul had left behind and built a strong, united power. Forty years later, David would turn this kingdom over to his son Solomon. David had a heart for God. He was a king who governed God’s people by God’s principles, and God blessed him greatly. We may not have David's earthly success, but following God is, ultimately, the most successful decision we can make.

David sinned with Bathsheba and then tried to cover his sin by having her husband killed. Although he was forgiven for his sin, the consequences remained—he experienced trouble and distress, both with his family and with the nation. God is always ready to forgive, but we must live with the consequences of our actions. Covering up our sin will only multiply sin’s painful consequences.

2 SAMUEL 1

462

A. DAVID’S SUCCESSES (1:1—1 0:19) After years of running from Saul, David was finally crowned king over the tribe of Judah. The rest of Israel, however, followed ishbosheth, Saul’s son. David did not attempt to take the tribes by force but placed the matter in God’s hands. After a few years Ishbosheth was assassinated, and the rest of the tribes finally put their support behind David. David moved the capital to Jerusalem, defeated the surrounding nations, and even showed kindness to Sauls tamily. We may not understand why God seems to move slowly at times, but we must trust him and be faithful with what he has given us. 1. David becomes king over Judah David Learns of Saul’s Death

After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent 1°. 49.4. 47

two days in Ziklag.2On the third day a man arrived from Saul's army camp. Hehadtorm 4,5 _ his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground 1 Sam 4:12 before David in deep respect.

3“Where have you come from?” David asked.

“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.

4”What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.” aa

The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and id cane Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 1:4

4 Sam 4:16-17

5"How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man.

6The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on }'8.m 29:4; 31:1-6 his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. 7 When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him.

8“He responded, ‘Who are you?” 18 on 15:2-3:

“Tam an Amalekite, I told him. 30:1,13,17

9”Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’

10“So T killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn't live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

‘David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. '?They 1:17 __ mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD’s army Gen 37:29, 34 and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.

18Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “ Where are you from?”

And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.” 114

14" Why were you not afraid to kill the LORD’s anointed one?” David asked. 1 Sam 26:9-11 i 4:1 David had great faith in God. He waited for God to fulfill consider expressing emotions to be a sign of weakness. Those his promises. The book of 1 Samuel tells of David's struggles who wish to appear strong try to hide their feelings. But expressas he waited to become king of Israel (Samuel had anointed ing our grief can help us deal with our intense sorrow when a David as king of Israel many years earlier). King Saul became loved one dies. jealous of David because the people were praising him for his 4:13 The man identified himself as an Amalekite from Saul's accomplishments. Eventually, Saul's jealousy became so intense camp (1:2). He may have been an Amalekite under Israelite that he tried to kill David. As a result, David had to run and hide. —_jyrisdiction, but more likely he was a battlefield scavenger. For many years David hid from Saul in enemy territory and Obviously the man was lying both about his identity and about in the barren wilderness south and east of Jerusalem. David what happened on the battlefield. (Compare his story with the may have wondered when God’s promise that he would be king account in 1 Samuel 31:3, 4.) Because he had Saul’s crown would come true, but his struggles prepared him for the great with him, something the Philistines wouldn't have left behind, responsibilities he would ‘ater face. The book of 2 Samuel tells we can infer that he found Saul dead on the battlefield before how David was finally rewarded for his patience and consistent the Philistines arrived (1 Samuel 31:8). faith in God. A life of deceit leads to disaster. The man lied to gain some 4:1 When Sau! died, David and his men were still living in Ziklag, personal reward for killing David's rival, but he misread David's a Philistine city. Because Saut had driven him out of Israel, David character. 1f David had rewarded him for murdering the king, had pretended to be loyal to Achish, a Philistine ruler (1 Samuel David would have shared his guilt. Instead, David had the 27). There he was safe from Saul. messenger killed. Lying can bring disaster upon the liar, even 4:11, 12. “They mourned and wept and fasted all day.” David for something he or she has not done. and his men were visibly shaken over Saul’s death. Their actions 4:13 The Amalekites were a fierce nomadic tribe that frequently showed their genuine sorrow over the loss of their king, their conducted surprise raids on Canaanite villages. They had been friend Jonathan, and the other soldiers of Israel who died that Israel’s enemies since Moses’ time. David had just destroyed an day. They were not ashamed to grieve. Today, some people Amalekite band of raiders who had burned his city and kidnapped

its women and children (1 Sarnuel 30:1-20). This man was prob-

ably unaware of David's recent confrontations with the Amale-

kites, or he may not have come. Instead, he incurred David's

wrath by posing as an enemy of Israel and claiming to have killed

God’s chosen king.