2 Samuel 1 - The Death of Saul | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In 2 Samuel Chapter 1 an Amalekite brings so-called good news to David. The distance from Mt Gilboa to Ziklag in a straight line is 139 kilometres on Google maps, and most likely the Amalekite didn’t travel in a straight line. He probably travelled more than 150 kilometres in just a few days.

He was rushing to meet David and carried with him Saul’s crown he lifted off his body after the battle. He expected a reward, but instead was punished for claiming to kill the Lord’s anointed. One of the big issues that caused the Lord to reject Saul was his failure to obey and completely destroy the amalekites. And here an amalekite takes the crown off his head to bring to David.

Its very ironic. One of the things many unbelievers and even young believers have complained about is all the apparent rules God gives. They feel the burdens of God are too much. But here we see that if Saul had obeyed it would have been life for him, and his disobedience If David was in danger, Saul would never have considered doing anything to protect him, but would have gleefully celebrated his demise.

Now we see in this chapter David standing up for Saul and mourning his demise. David is a picture of Christ to us. How many of us celebrate when we see the demise of any other person. Sadly people celebrate when a pastor of another church falls, because they think in competitive terms.

That type of thinking stinks and God abhors it. David then lamented Saul and Jonathan. He loved Jonathan, even if in the last ten years of his life he was not able to spend time with him. Their hearts were knit when they first met, and they had a close connection greater than in many marriages. It was not weird, but the way that God intends for his people to be in faith - to be of one heart. We have much to learn from David and Jonathan’s example.