73 lines
18 KiB
HTML
73 lines
18 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
|
|
<html><head>
|
|
<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
|
|
<script src="../../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script>
|
|
currentBook = '2Sa';
|
|
currentChapter = 1;
|
|
PriorBook = '1 Samuel';
|
|
PriorBookURL = './Comm/david_guzik/sg/1Sa_1.html';
|
|
PriorChapter = '1 Samuel 31';
|
|
PriorChapterURL = './Comm/david_guzik/sg/1Sa_31.html';
|
|
NextBook = '1 Kings';
|
|
NextBookURL = './Comm/david_guzik/sg/1Ki_1.html';
|
|
NextChapter = '2 Samuel 2';
|
|
NextChapterURL = './Comm/david_guzik/sg/2Sa_2.html';
|
|
Title = 'Study Guide for 2 Samuel 1';
|
|
</script>
|
|
<script src="./js/Comms/DG.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'all');">2Sa 1</a> - David Mourns the Death of Saul</h2>
|
|
<p>A. David learns of Saul and Jonathan’s death.</p>
|
|
<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'1-4');">1-4</a>) David hears the news in Ziklag.</p>
|
|
<p class="c2">Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. And David said to him, "Where have you come from?" So he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." Then David said to him, "How did the matter go? Please tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">After the death of Saul</span></b>: King Saul and his three sons were killed in battle against the Philistines, dying on the slopes of Mount Gilboa (<a onclick="return mV('1Sa',31,'1-8');">1Sa 31:1-8</a>). It was the sad end of a tragic life, concluding the story of a man who came to the throne humble but left it hard and bitter against both God and man.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">When David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites</span></b>: Towards the end of 1 Samuel despairing David left the people of God and allied himself with the Philistines. God prevented a complete alliance, and brought David back through breaking circumstances (the <b><span class="c3">Amalekites</span></b> stole the families and possessions of David and his men). Strengthening himself in God (<a onclick="return mV('1Sa',30,6);">1Sa 30:6</a>), David defeated the <b><span class="c3">Amalekites</span></b> and brought back everyone and everything.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. Though David still lives among the Philistines, he is a changed man since his breaking circumstances and his strengthening himself in the Lord God.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">ii. When David came back triumphantly to Ziklag, he knew that the Philistines and the Israelites just had a major battle. He must have been concerned as to the outcome of the battle.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">A man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head</span></b>: David knew this was bad news, so he immediately reacted with humility and mourning. He knew it was bad news because the messenger had the traditional expressions of mourning for the dead - <b><span class="c3">clothes torn and dust on his head</span></b>.</p>
|
|
<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'5-10');">5-10</a>) The Amalekite’s story.</p>
|
|
<p class="c2">So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?" Then the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance <i>to be </i>on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.' And he said to me, 'Who <i>are </i>you?' So I answered him, 'I <i>am </i>an Amalekite.' He said to me again, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still <i>remains </i>in me.' So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that <i>was </i>on his head and the bracelet that <i>was </i>on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa</span></b>: Some wonder if this Amalekite is telling the truth. He says that he "mercifully" ended Saul's life after the king mortally wounded himself (<a onclick="return mV('1Sa',31,4);">1Sa 31:4</a>). It may be that he merely was the first to come upon Saul's dead body and took the royal <b><span class="c3">crown</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">bracelet</span></b> to receive a reward from David.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. "The whole account which this young man gives is a fabrication: in many of the particulars it is grossly <i>self-contradictory</i>. There is no <i>fact</i> in the case but the bringing of the <i>crown</i>, or <i>diadem</i>, and <i>bracelets</i> of Saul; which, as he appears to have been a plunderer of the slain, he found on the field of battle; and he brought them to David, and told the lie of having dispatched Saul merely to ingratiate himself with David." (Clarke)</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">ii. We can gather that this was a lie because <a onclick="return mV('1Sa',31,5);">1Sa 31:5</a> says that Saul's armor bearer saw that he was dead. The words of this Amalekite were likely "An artificially composed speech, but scarce ever a true word." (Trapp)</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">I am an Amalekite</span></b>: If we do take the Amalekite's story as true, this is a chilling statement. In a unique war of judgment, God commanded Saul to completely destroy the people of Amalek (<a onclick="return mV('1Sa',15,'2-3');">1Sa 15:2-3</a>). Saul failed to do this - and now <b><span class="c3">an Amalekite</span></b> will bring a bitter end to his tragic life.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. Though the Bible does not specifically say it, Amalek is commonly regarded as an illustration of our fleshly, carnal nature. </p><ul class="c6"><li>Like our fleshly nature, Amalek focuses its attack on the tired and weak (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',25,'17-18');">Deu 25:17-18</a>) </li><li>Like our fleshly nature, Amalek does not fear God (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',25,'17-18');">Deu 25:17-18</a>)</li><li>Like our fleshly nature, God commanded a permanent state of war against Amalek (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',17,16);">Exd 17:16</a>)</li><li>Like our fleshly nature, the battle against Amalek is only won in the context of prayer and seeking God (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',17,11);">Exd 17:11</a>)</li><li>Like our fleshly nature, God promises to one day completely blot out the remembrance of Amalek (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',17,14);">Exd 17:14</a>)</li><li>Like our fleshly nature, Joshua wins the battle against Amalek (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',17,13);">Exd 17:13</a>)</li><li>Like our fleshly nature, Amalek was once first but will one day be last (<a onclick="return mV('Num',24,20);">Num 24:20</a>)</li><li>Like our fleshly nature, Amalek allies itself with other enemies in battle against God's people (<a onclick="return mV('Jdg',3,13);">Jdg 3:13</a>)</li></ul>
|
|
<p class="c5">ii. Using this picture, we see that Saul's failure to deal with Amalek when God told him to ended in ruin, with an Amalekite delivering the death-blow. In the same way, when we fail to deal with the flesh as God prompts us to, we can expect that area of the flesh to come back and deliver some deadly strikes.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord</span></b>: We can easily imagine the Amalekite smiling as he says this, assuming David is delighted that his enemy and rival is dead. <i>Now</i> David can take the royal <b><span class="c3">crown</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">bracelet</span></b> and wear them himself.</p>
|
|
<p class="c1">3. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'11-12');">11-12</a>) David’s reaction: mourning for Saul.</p>
|
|
<p class="c2"><i>Therefore </i>David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and <i>so did </i>all the men who <i>were </i>with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">David took hold of his own clothes and tore them</span></b>: When David heard of Saul's death <i>he mourned</i>. We might have expected <i>celebration</i> at the death of this great enemy and rival, but David <b><span class="c3">mourned</span></b>. </p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. Out of pure jealousy, hatred, spite, and ungodliness Saul took away David's family, home, career, security, and the best years of David's life - and Saul was <i>utterly unrepentant</i> to the end. Yet David <b><span class="c3">mourned and wept and fasted</span></b> when he learned of Saul's death.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">ii. This powerfully demonstrates that our hatred and bitterness and unforgiveness are <i>chosen</i>, not <i>imposed</i> on us. As much as Saul did against David, he chose to become <i>better</i> instead of <i>bitter</i>.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">And so did all the men who were with him</span></b>: These men had their own reasons to hate Saul, but they followed the example of their leader David and answered all Saul's hatred and venom with love.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">For Saul and Jonathan . . . for the people of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> and for the house of Israel</span></b>: David's sorrow was first for Saul, but it was also for his great and close friend Jonathan. More than that, it was for the people of God as a whole, who were in a dangerous and desperate place in light of the death of the king and the defeat by the Philistines.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. David heard this life-changing news - the throne of Israel was now vacant, and it seemed that the royal anointing he received some 20 years before might now be fulfilled with the crown set on his head. Nevertheless, David expressed little thought of himself. "His generous soul, oblivious to itself, poured out a flood of the noblest tears man ever shed for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword." (Meyer)</p>
|
|
<p class="c1">4. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'13-16');">13-16</a>) David executes the Amalekite.</p>
|
|
<p class="c2">Then David said to the young man who told him, "Where <i>are </i>you from?" And he answered, "I <i>am </i>the son of an alien, an Amalekite." So David said to him, "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, <i>and </i>execute him!" And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, "Your blood <i>is </i>on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the Lord's anointed.'"</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">Where are you from?</span></b> The young Amalekite probably believed that David was getting ready to reward him.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?</span></b> Despite many opportunities to legitimately defend himself, David refused to reach out and destroy Saul. David knew that since God put Saul on the throne, it was God's job to end his reign - and woe to the one who puts forth <i>his</i> hand to destroy a God-appointed leader.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Go near, and execute him</span></b>: This shows that David’s grief over Saul was real. He didn’t put on a false display of grief and then secretly honor the man who killed Saul</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you</span></b>: There were many factors that might excuse what the Amalekite did and said. </p><ul class="c6"><li>Saul was in rebellion and hardened against God</li><li>Saul was trying to kill David</li><li>Saul was already dying</li><li>Saul asked the Amalekite to kill him</li><li>It may be that the Amalekite merely discovered Saul's dead body</li></ul>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. Yet none of these excuses mattered. Except for justified killing in war, self-defense, or lawful criminal execution, it is God's job to end a life - not ours. This is true of every human life, but it is even truer of the life and ministry of <b><span class="c3">the Lord's anointed</span></b> - God is fully able to deal with his servants, or even those who merely claim to be His servants.</p>
|
|
<p>B. David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan</p>
|
|
<p class="c1">1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'17-18');">17-18</a>) Introduction to the <b><span class="c3">Song of the Bow</span></b>.</p>
|
|
<p class="c2">Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told <i>them </i>to teach the children of Judah <i>the Song of </i>the Bow; indeed <i>it is </i>written in the Book of Jasher:</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">David lamented with this lamentation</span></b>: David's sorrow was sincere, and it was deeply felt. He crafted a song to express the depth of his feeling.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">The book of Jashar</span></b>: This book is also mentioned in <a onclick="return mV('Jos',10,13);">Jos 10:13</a> and it evidently contained a collection of early Hebrew poetry.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. We shouldn’t think that this is a “missing” book of the Bible. It is a <i>completely unjustified leap</i> over logic to say that if the Bible <i>mentions</i> an ancient writing, and if that ancient writing has any material in common with Biblical books, therefore that writing is genuinely Scripture and is a "lost" book of the Bible. Our Bibles are complete and completely inspired.</p>
|
|
<p class="c1">2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',1,'19-27');">19-27</a>) The <b><span class="c3">Song of the Bow</span></b>.</p>
|
|
<p class="c2">"The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!<br>How the mighty have fallen!<br>Tell <i>it </i>not in Gath,<br>Proclaim <i>it </i>not in the streets of Ashkelon;<br>Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,<br>Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.<br>O mountains of Gilboa,<br><i>Let there be </i>no dew nor rain upon you,<br>Nor fields of offerings.<br>For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!<br>The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.<br>From the blood of the slain,<br>From the fat of the mighty,<br>The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,<br>And the sword of Saul did not return empty.<br>Saul and Jonathan <i>were </i>beloved and pleasant in their lives,<br>And in their death they were not divided;<br>They were swifter than eagles,<br>They were stronger than lions.<br>O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,<br>Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;<br>Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.<br>How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!<br>Jonathan <i>was </i>slain in your high places.<br>I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;<br>You have been very pleasant to me;<br>Your love to me was wonderful,<br>Surpassing the love of women.<br>How the mighty have fallen,<br>And the weapons of war perished!"</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">a. <b><span class="c3">The beauty of Israel is slain</span></b>: In this song, David shows the great love and generosity in his heart towards Saul. It shows that David didn't kill Saul with a sword or with in his heart.</p><ul class="c6"><li>He saw <b><span class="c3">beauty</span></b> in Saul</li><li>He wanted no one to <b><span class="c3">rejoice</span></b> over the death of Saul</li><li>He wanted everyone to mourn, even the <b><span class="c3">mountains</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">fields</span></b></li><li>He praised Saul as a <b><span class="c3">mighty</span></b> warrior</li><li>He complimented the personality and loyalty of Saul (<b><span class="c3">not divided</span></b>)</li><li>He called the <b><span class="c3">daughters Israel</span></b> to mourning, and praised the good Saul did for Israel</li></ul>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. All this is a powerful testimony of how David kept his heart free from bitterness, even when we was greatly wronged and sinned against. David fulfilled <a onclick="return mV('1Cr',13,5);">1Cr 13:5</a>: <i>love thinks no evil</i>. David knew the principle of <a onclick="return mV('1Pe',4,8);">1Pe 4:8</a>: <i>And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."</i> </p>
|
|
<p class="c5">ii. David could do this because of his great trust in God and God's power. He knew that God was in charge of his life, and that even if Saul meant it for evil, God could use it for good.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">iii. "Such a magnanimous attitude on the part of one who had suffered so much at Saul's hand is incomprehensible apart from a deep commitment to the Lord." (Baldwin)</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">How the mighty have fallen!</span></b> David doesn't say it, but we understand that Saul <i>fell</i> long before this. He fell when he hardened his heart against God, against the word of God through the prophet, and against the man after God's own heart. Saul's death on Gilboa was the sad conclusion to his prior fall.</p>
|
|
<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan</span></b>: David's mourning for Jonathan makes more sense to us. Jonathan was David's deep friend and partner in serving God.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">i. <b><span class="c3">Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women</span></b>: We remember that David’s own experience of love with women was according to God's will. His multiple marriages kept him from God’s ideal: one man and one woman in a one-flesh relationship.</p>
|
|
<p class="c5">ii. There is not the slightest hint that David and Jonathan expressed their love in a sexual way. They had a deep, godly love for each other - but not a sexual love. Our present world has a hard time believing that love can be deep and real without it having a sexual aspect.</p>
|
|
<script src="./js/Comms/DG_Footer.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|