The Grands Letter (2 Sam/GLJ)

on April 22, 2023 5:47 am (CST)
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Dear Grands,

2 Samuel 1:1-16, Now it came about after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David remained two days in Ziklag.
2 On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3 Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
6 The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely.
7 “When he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’
8 “He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9 “Then he said to me, ‘Please stand beside me and kill me, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’
10 “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which 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 also did all the men who were with him.
12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
14 Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”
15 And David called one of the young men and said, “Go, cut him down.” So he struck him and he died.
16 David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’S anointed.'”

This is a long passage, but it seemed to me that we needed it all in order to get the background and meaning.

It was the custom of the Jews to weep and tear their clothes when a devastating occurrence had befallen them. We generally withdraw away from others when occurrences similar to this befall us. Moreover,
David wanted the full accounting of how it all came to pass. David was not only devastated at the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, he was concerned that Saul’s death came at the hand of an enemy.

At the same time, Saul ordered the young Amalekite to kill him. It seems to escape David’s notice that instant death was better than death by lingering. Remember too that David and Jonathan were very close companions in their youth; yet David said nothing about Jonathan’s death, only Saul’s.

The slaying of the young Amalekite, who thoughtfully brought the news to David, seems inappropriate. Yet, all of these queries fall in line with the customs of that day. David’s statement, “Your mouth has
testified against you…” seems quaint, too. Yet, I am fearful that many of us fall prey to testifying against ourselves in the same way.

We do testify negatively when we acknowledge being Christians, but fail to open our mouths on behalf of our LORD Jesus Christ! Perhaps we can extricate ourselves from such neglect by asking the LORD’s blessing upon a dear, elderly friend, who, as I write, is facing a situation of which she has no current knowledge. Please pray for Barbara.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

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