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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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2 Samuel 1:16
For David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”
When good news is not good news.
Or as the Scripture says, “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). This young man would find out that making up stories could be a costly experience. The Amalekite certainly didn’t understand David, let alone God. The Amalekites were the consistent enemies of Israel and this one thought he would profit from their defeat.
David was a man of discernment and integrity but this man was a liar and opportunist who got what was coming to him. He should have known better. Indeed, if he really knew David, he would have known better but he underestimated his enemy. He thought David was just like all the other men in the world. But he hadn’t done his homework and he would die because of it.
Saul and Jonathan had been fatally wounded in battle. Indeed, Jonathan and his brothers had died, but Saul was not yet dead. He commanded his armour bearer to kill him so that the Philistines couldn’t make a mockery of him. His armour bearer removed his sword but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Maybe he had remembered David’s words. So Saul fell on his own sword killing himself, and so the armour bearer did the same.
This Amalekite, however, wanted to win favour with David for some reason or another. Maybe he was seeking revenge on David, as David had just returned from defeating the Israelites. Whatever the reason, he had stolen the crown and armband from Saul before the Philistines could get their hands on them and had brought them to David.
David was distraught by the news and held a fast. At the end of the day, David brought the Amalekite before him once more and ordered one of his men to kill him.
There follows one of the most poignant and beautiful of all laments. One not of a victor but of a bereaved friend and brother. One not of victory but of grace, sympathy, and honour.
Yes, on that day there was only one victor and that was ‘war’. The Philistines had won a very shallow victory; Israel had suffered a temporary defeat but war had claimed a king and his princes. This was no time for David to rejoice at his success and their misfortune, but a time to reflect, ponder and eulogise. A true king does not gloat in victory but rejoices when righteousness triumphs, and when peace is restored.
It should be the same for us. We should not rejoice when our enemies get what they deserve, but rather when they turn to the living God and find grace, forgiveness and life.
That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).
Who do you need to pray for today so that they may come to enjoy the same ‘Life’ that you do?
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