Seventh Sunday of Israel (CL)

2 Samuel 1:1-16

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. ² And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. ³ David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” ⁴ And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” ⁵ Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ⁶ And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. ⁷ And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ ⁸ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ ⁹ And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ ¹⁰ 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 here to my lord.”

¹¹ Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. ¹² And they 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. ¹³ And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” ¹⁴ David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” ¹⁵ Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. ¹⁶ And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”

The Battle is over the Victory is won. Saul has fallen and Israel is done. This guy brings the crown to David. But David does not seem very happy that this guy/kid killed the King. There is definitely time for a change. David will become King, there may still be a few more battles to fight. David is already anointed as the King, and God will fulfill his promises.

How many of us would be able to do what this Amalekite did? Would you be willing to obey your King even if he asked you to kill him? What about a commanding officer? There are people that will tell you that disobeying a superior officer is punishable by death. Amalekite is just obeying orders. He is providing mercy upon his King so the Philistine Army cannot kill him. Saul request death as his life lingers.

David hears the testimony of the young man. He does not take into account the context, or excuses. The young man killed the Lord’s Anointed therefore he must die. He has testified against himself. David judges this man based on his own words. To Murder someone is wrong. It does not matter whether this man is dying. It does not matter if this was only a Child (in the womb). This is about murder.

David executes justice for God. It will ultimately be good news. David will be made King. David’s offspring (seed) will likewise be killed on Mount Calvary. This King will die for his people. He will not die in fear, nor desire death. Jesus Christ is not afraid when he dies. He dies because he loves you. He dies and rises again. As one king falls another one will rise. So as the King of the Jews is crucified, Jesus Christ our King rises to new life. God is a God of life, not of death.