March 24 A READ 2 SAMUEL 1–4
David, King of Judah
OVERVIEW
Second Samuel continues the narrative of 1 Samuel and chronicles David’s rise to prominence as Israel’s leader. After mourning the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, David assumes the throne as king over Judah. But Saul’s dynasty is not to be replaced without a fight. Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, claims the throne of Israel, initiating seven years of bloody civil war, intrigue, defections, assassinations, suspense, rival factions, and rebellions. When at last the opposition has been quelled, David rules as king over a united kingdom.
MY DAILY WALK
Look up Matthew 12:25, and thoughtfully read it twice. Now ask yourself these two questions: (1) How was this verse proven true in Israel during David’s reign? (2) What does this verse mean in my home?
In David’s day many individuals were striving for positions of leadership and power. Some would even scheme, kill, or change sides to fulfill their personal goals. The result was instability, uncertainty, and death until the nation was united under one head.
Many activities compete for your attention. Television, clubs, family activities, civic functions, church meetings—all demand your time and energy. In many homes the result is confusion, frustration, and lack of focus or unity.
Families, like nations, function best when they operate under one head. Hold a family council to talk about leadership in your home. Spend some time looking at Bible passages dealing with headship in the home (Ephesians 5:21–6:4; Colossians 3:18-21). Then select a family goal for the coming week—something that will honor the Lord and benefit each family member.
THE FAMILY ALTAR WOULD ALTER MANY A FAMILY.
INSIGHT
Tears of David | 2 Sam. 1:11
Deep mourning for Saul came from the people he had hated and persecuted most severely (1:11). Compare this to Jesus’ grieving over the city of Jerusalem just days before its inhabitants would nail him to a cross (Matthew 23:37-39).
INSIGHT
Stronger and Weaker | 2 Sam. 3:1
Verse 3:1 says that David’s house grew stronger while Saul’s became weaker. To prove the point, the next few verses describe David’s abundant offspring through multiple wives (3:2-5). This was in contrast to the decline of the house of Saul, whose would-be successor, Ishbosheth, experienced the humiliation of losing a concubine to his top military leader (3:6-8).
David Learns of Saul’s Death
1After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. 2On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect.
3“Where have you come from?” David asked.
“I escaped from the Israelite camp,” the man replied.
4“What happened?” David demanded. “Tell me how the battle went.”
The man replied, “Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
5“How do you know Saul and Jonathan are dead?” David demanded of the young man.
6The man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots and charioteers closing in on him. 7When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. ‘How can I help?’ I asked him.
8“He responded, ‘Who are you?’
“‘I am an Amalekite,’ I told him.
9“Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’
10“So I killed him,” the Amalekite told David, “for I knew he couldn’t live. Then I took his crown and his armband, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”
11David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. 12They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day.
13Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, “Where are you from?”
And he replied, “I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land.”
14“Why were you not afraid to kill the LORD’s anointed one?” David asked.
15Then David said to one of his men, “Kill him!” So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. 16“You have condemned yourself,” David said, “for you yourself confessed that you killed the LORD’s anointed one.”
David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan
17Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.*
19Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!
Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
20Don’t announce the news in Gath,
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice
and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
21O mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain.*
For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled;
the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.
22The bow of Jonathan was powerful,
and the sword of Saul did its mighty work.
They shed the blood of their enemies
and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
23How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!
They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles,
stronger than lions.
24O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.
25Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
26How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan!
Oh, how much I loved you!
And your love for me was deep,
deeper than the love of women!
27Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.