August 19, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Samuel and Acts? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Samuel 1 (NIV)
David Hears of Saul’s Death
1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.……Continue Reading
David certainly does not have the reaction one might expect to the news of Saul’s death. This is a man that has been actively trying to kill him and so one might expect relief, peace, or even joy that the pursuit, the hiding, and the danger will now be over. But once again David responds with respect and compassion to his enemy. Of course he is greived for his dear friend, Jonathan, but to show that same sadness for Saul is truly admirable. He even executes the one who claims to have killed him. We can all learn so much from David when it comes to dealing with difficult people in our lives, that we do not have to just accept the world’s view that they hurt you so you are entitled to hurt them back but rather we forgive, we work toward peace in that relationship, and we listen to God as to how we He would have us act toward them.
2 Samuel 1-4
2 Samuel 1
”Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:“
II Samuel 1:17-18 NKJV
We should be writers of poetry in our response to events. It’s seems that all of what David writes (at least about Saul) is not truthful.
I guess “do not speak ill of the dead is David’s mindset. Of course he has always been respectful to Saul, despite all he did to him.
I feel bad for the Amalekite that killed Saul. Saul basically committed suicide but it was incomplete and he asks the Amalelite to do him a mercy.
2 Samuel 1
Psalms 69-70; 2 Samuel 1; Amos 1-9
2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel 1
I think David was wrong to kill this Amalekite. He did Saul a favor that he would not suffer a crueler death by the hands of the Philistines and killed him only because Saul asked and would have died anyway. So Saul’s blood is on his own hands, not on him. And in spite of Saul’s treatment of David, he mourns his death because of the position he held and for what once was in their relationship and the way it could have been. But David’s real sadness is about Jonathan, his dear friend who would have had a better end if his father had done better. He was the true loss that Israel suffered
2 Samuel 1
A young man kills King Saul, takes his crown and armband and runs to David to tell him. He went to the wrong side with his information and spoil. Little did he know, that although David suffered from the actions of his adversary, he was loyal to the Lord’s will regarding who he anointed to be on the throne. And killing God’s anointed was a serious offense. Like David, let us accept who God allows to be in power. We can do what we can to put God’s people in leadership positions, but if it is not the Lord’s will, we must accept it and move on. God has a plan, it is perfect, it will be carried out in his way, in his timing as he did in the time of David.
I am not sure I understand. Saul is already dying and asks this foreigner to put him out of his misery or perhaps keep him from being tortured. Why would David kill him? How is this a righteous act?
Hey Kim, sorry it has taken me so long to approve this and reply. I didn’t recognize your email and your last name was not given. But anyways, yes Saul wrongly asked to be killed for fear that the Philistines capture and torture him. And you would find different takes on David killing the messenger, but I don’t think it was a righteous act. And I imagine he was more responding to the person’s attitude in sharing the information, but still no justification to kill him.