2 Samuel 1 David’s Grief

Saul and Jonathan are dead. David’s grief spills over to the whole camp. The man who brought the news finds his own death waiting.

We heard the true story of Saul’s death at the end of 1 Samuel. The man that comes to David with the news of Saul’s death has an angle. He makes himself out to be involved and caring for Saul. In reality, he was more than likely a ‘vulture’ who scavenged the dead. There is no other way he came to possess Saul’s crown and armlets. Let’s rejoin David’s camp and listen in as he pours out his grief.

♥ ♦ ♥

David had originally planned for his men to set out and join Saul’s forces right after arriving at Ziklag from the battlefield, but that was days ago. They had gone into another battle instead and were all weary.

David aches to know the status of the battle between the Philistines and Saul’s forces. But his first duty is to those who follow him. Their safety rests on his shoulders. This was never more evident to him than the moment he and his men discovered their absence. With their liberation it is time to turn to rebuilding their homes and ensuring their safety.

Part one of this process was sending gifts to those who had supported them in the past. David intends these gifts as a reminder of his loyalty to them and an enticement for their protection in kind, should the need arise again. Part two is restoring order and a feeling of security to his own people.

David, Abigail, and Ahinoam walk side by side as they near the place they called home for the last year. This place holds both bitter and sweet memories. With the toe of his sandal, David gently kicks a pile of rubble. It shifts to reveal a smashed jar. One of Abigail’s favorites for fetching water. Ahinoam squeezes her hand in mutual support.

“There is nothing to do but to start anew. We have done that often enough.”

“True my husband” replies Abigail. She straightens her shoulders and raises her chin defiantly towards the wreckage before her.

They begin sifting through the debris, hoping to find something salvageable. David isn’t worried about the broken pieces. The spoil they brought back has plenty to replace what was lost.

Much progress is made in clearing away the remains by night fall. The whole camp gathers under the trees for evening meal.

“Where will we sleep Ima” a young child asks.

“Under the stars tonight my son” replies his father who walks in on their conversation. He hands his wife a blanket and she wraps it across her shoulders.

“Come here Kaleb” she calls softly. He comes to her and she places him in her lap and wraps the blanket around both of them. He husband wraps them both in his strong arms and covers them with a goatskin covering. He leans against a tree sheltering his family.

The spoils gathered from the battle with the Amalekites did not contain undamaged tents but the materials used in their construction provides enough coverings to keep David’s group warm through the night. Sentries are stationed to ensure physical and emotional safety.

Morning brings sounds of construction. Trees are being felled and stripped for branches to weave into coverings for roofs and mats. Those same trees are being split and fashioned to provide structure for the new dwellings. Stones from the original homes are being refitted around the new supports.  Work is slow but steady. Two days of construction later and the homes are taking shape. The people should be able to shelter in their homes this night.

About mid-morning an alert call is heard from one of the watchmen. This sound signifies travelers approaching. David grabs his sword and heads towards the sound of his watchman. He is joined by his generals who are likewise armed. A lone figure walks between two watchman. His clothes are torn and his head is covered with dirt, not as in dirty, but as in mourning. As the three approach, the visitor falls to the ground before David to honor him.

David remains watchful as he questions the man. “Where do you come from?” (2 Samuel 1:3a).

“I have escaped from the camp of Israel” (2 Samuel 1:3b).

David’s eyes light up at hearing this. “How did it go? Tell me” (2 Samuel 1: 4a) he demands.

The man hangs his head in shame. “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are dead” (2 Samuel 1:4b).

“How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” (2 Samuel 1:5b).

The man raises his head just short of looking David in the eye. “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his speak, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them her to my lord” (2 Samuel 1:6-10). As he was speaking, the man removed a bag from over his shoulder. He now opened it and held out the items of Saul’s royalty to David.

David recoiled from the man as if the man had struck him. With a great cry, he took hold of his own clothes and tore them. “My king! My king” he cried. David’s generals did likewise.

The man was shocked at David’s initial reaction. He knows of Saul’s hunt for David. He decides it is wise to keep silent for now.

The sound of their mourning stopped the rest of the camp in its tracks. Those who hadn’t joined them initially did so now. Within moments the entire camp was filled with the sounds of mourning. The people knew David’s heart. They knew of his love for Jonathan, the king’s son.

They also knew David was loyal to Saul, in spite of Saul’s determination to end David’s life. On two occasions David had opportunities to end his own flight by taking Saul’s life, but he stayed his hand and forbade any other to harm even a hair of Saul’s head.

David and all his people “mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword” (2 Samuel 1:12). Even the people who were secretly glad to hear of Saul’s death were deeply distressed by Israel’s defeat in battle. Israel was just beginning to crawl out from under the Philistine oppression and now they had lost a major battle against ALL the kings of Philistia.

When the sun finally set on this long day of mourning David asked that the man be brought to him. He had issues with this man that needed addressed. The man had faded into the background of people as the day wore on.

Joab approached the man. “David wishes to see you.”

“It is about time” he thinks in his heart. To Joab, he bows and quickly follows him to where David waits.

David speaks as the man approaches. “Where do you come from?” (2 Samuel 1:13b).

“I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite” (2 Samuel 1:13c) he replies.

With an edge of steel to his voice, David poses his next question. “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” (2 Samuel 1:14).

The man is shocked by David’s question. When Joab told him David wanted to see him, he expected he was going to receive a reward for his service to the king or at least for bringing the news of Saul’s death to David’s ears. But David’s words strike fear in his heart. He has no answer to give.

David called out to one of his young men. “Go, execute him” (2 Samuel 1:15b).

The Amalekite messenger eyes grew large but he did not resist being led away. He knows that David’s word is law within this camp. If he were to break free of the young man charged with killing him, he wouldn’t make it ten steps before another of David’s men took up the task. And why shouldn’t they. His own words had condemned him. EVERYONE knew that Saul had been anointed by Samuel under God’s direction. He was God’s anointed, just as David had said. If he changed his story to say that he came upon Saul AFTER he had died, his whole story and character would be called into question. He was dead either way.

The young man tasked with carrying out sentence struck him with his sword. His death was not instantaneous but his suffering would be short. Before he closed his eyes the final time he saw David standing over him. There was finality in his voice as he spoke. “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed’” (2 Samuel 1:16).

David turned and walked away, leaving the man lying on the ground. His last breath taken for perpetuating a lie.

When David had gone back to his homesite, he reached for his most precious possession; his lyre. No matter where he went, this instrument went with him. Through it he pours out his heart and soul.

David begins to strum it quietly. It was a mournful melody he was playing. Once the strings had centered his mind, he added his voice to the song. It was a song of mourning for Saul and Jonathan.

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
Tell it not in Gath,
publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

“You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

“From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan turned not back,
and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.

“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

“How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!

“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.

“How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”

(2 Samuel 1:19-27)

David’s voice falls silent. His face clearly shows the path his rivers of tears have followed, bearing his sorrow on them as they flowed during David’s song. After a few more moments, David’s lyre falls silent too.

The whole camp had stopped and entered into the music with David. Their hearts bore witness to David’s grief, and this song would stay with them for a long time. Now that David’s song has ended, the people stir. It is time to break the fast of mourning and then retire for the night.

(to be continued)

No matter what Saul did to David, he NEVER stopped loving him. He NEVER stopped honoring him either. David would not lift a finger to harm Saul. He even repented of taking a corner of Saul’s garment. He was truly sorry to hear of Saul’s death.

I don’t believe that David took this man’s story for truth. Yes, he believed that Saul and Jonathan had died, but NOT as this man reported. But he let the man’s own words stand as judgment against him. I’m wondering if the man’s looting of Saul’s body was what David was referring to about putting his hand out against the Lord’s anointed.

I’m curious though of the man’s motives in bringing the Saul’s crown and armlets to David. Why didn’t he keep them and try and sell them instead? He couldn’t sell them in Israel, but surely the Philistines would have paid handsomely for them. Maybe he thought he would be killed for them instead. He might even have been able to melt them down and sell the metals. Was he looking for a reward from David? He got nothing ‘good’ for his trouble.

Father God, I am amazed at David’s longsuffering! Anyone who treated me as Saul did David, would NOT get my sympathy in the end.

You just reminded me of someone who treated me disgracefully that I still ‘cared’ about. When she died, I was relieved, but I was also sorry for all that she had lost. I felt more grief for what could have been, than her actual passing. I grieved for the broken relationships that would never be mended, and the place of love that she would never occupy in the hearts of her grandchildren. I also grieved for her daughter. For the mother she never was to her and never would be. Not the same as David and Saul, but it does give me some understanding.

I believe that David grieved more over Jonathan’s death than Saul’s. Jonathan was closer than a brother to David. Part of his own heart. THAT relationship was truly worth grieving the loss of it. Did it affect David the rest of his life? I know that You continued to fill David’s heart and helped him move on from this place of grief.

I ask for Your hand on all those who are grieving right now. Fill our hearts with Your peace. I’m not grieving a death, but a progressive loss. Hold me tight as this process finds its complete resolution. Help me find joy in what remains. And HEALING too Father. Restore at least some of what is being lost. In Jesus’ precious name I pray!