2 Samuel - Chapter 1

Julie Callio discusses the beginning of the fifth book of history in the Christian Bible, 1st Samuel. She explains that it covers the birth, life, and death of the prophet Samuel, as well as the anointing ministry and death of the first king of Israel, Saul. After Saul's death, 2nd Samuel focuses on the rise of David as the second king. Julie discusses the events in chapter 1, where David lived among the Philistines and his encounter with an Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul. She analyzes the Amalekite's story and shares her thoughts on whether he is lying or telling the truth. Julie also highlights the significance of a lament written by David in honor of Saul and Jonathan's death. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of mourning and music in times of grief. I am Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at vab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we are starting the fifth book of history in the Christian Bible. Due to size, 1st and 2nd Samuel are two separate books, but in the Hebrew Bible they are one and it's just called Samuel. 1st Samuel covers the birth, life, and death of the prophet Samuel, as well as the anointing ministry and death of the first king of all Israel, Saul. Now that Saul is dead, 2nd Samuel covers the rise of David as the second king. Chapter 1 continues from chapter 31 of 1st Samuel, David lived in Ziklag among the Philistines like a double agent. He moved there so Saul would not pursue him any longer to kill him. But David was still loyal to Israel and to King Saul. David also became the right hand man of Akish, son of Maok, king of Gath, the Philistine. 1st Samuel ended with the drama of the Philistines getting ready for battle against Saul in Israel. At first David was going to fight with them, but the other commanders of the Philistines did not trust David, so he was sent back to Ziklag. When David arrived there, he found their town had been ransacked and burned by the Amalekites. All their women and children were taken. David and his men went after them and destroyed them and brought back not only their families and goods, but all the other plunder that the Amalekites took from other towns in Judah and Philistia. Chapter 1 verse 1 says, After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. What is important about this sentence is that it is clear that David had nothing to do with King Saul's death. While he was fighting the Amalekites, the Philistines were fighting Saul and his men. They were in opposite directions. In 1st Samuel chapter 31 we learn that Saul was critically wounded by an arrow. He knew he was dying and asked his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword so the Philistines would not torture him. But the armor-bearer would not kill the Lord's anointed. Saul took his own sword and fell on it. Verses 5 and 6 say, When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with them. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. Now in 2nd Samuel chapter 1 we learn of an Amalekite who approached David in Ziklag on the third day. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. He fell on the ground and paid homage to David and told him he had escaped from the Israelite camp. He told him the Israelites fled and Saul and Jonathan were dead. David asked him how he knew and he said in verses 6 and 7, I happened to be on Mount Gilboa and there was Saul leaning on his spear with the chariots and riders almost upon him. When he turned around and saw me he called out to me and I said, What can I do? Well the unnamed Amalekite then said that Saul asked him to kill him and the Amalekite confessed to killing the Lord's anointed. He also explained that he took the king's crown and band on his arm and brought them to David my Lord. There are two thoughts about this story, either he is lying or telling the truth. There are theologians who are on both sides and some say it just doesn't matter. Last year I could go either way but this year I lean more toward the Amalekite lying about killing King Saul. The main reason is because I would think that the armor bearer took his job seriously and would not have killed himself until he believed Saul was dead. If that is the case then the Amalekite came upon Saul after they both were dead and then he took the crown and the armband from Saul. Also in chapter 31 it is the narrator telling us the story. Here in chapter 1 it is the Amalekite who is telling his story and people have a way of embellishing if they think it will benefit themselves. Either way Saul and Jonathan are dead. At this news David and his men tore their clothes, mourned, wept and fasted until evening for Saul, Jonathan and the house of Israel. Now keep in mind that David had just come from killing Amalekites because they had raided their town, burned it and took their family and stuff. Also remember that in Exodus chapter 17 verses 15 and 16 the Amalekites attacked the Israelites when they were weak and tired after they came across from Egypt. And then in Deuteronomy chapter 25 verses 17 and 19 with Moses' last words to that second generation of Israelites they were to blot out the Amalekites after they had settled in the land because they had no fear of God. Then in 1 Samuel 15 God commanded King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites because they were wicked people. But Saul only partially fulfilled this command and that was what caused the kingdom to be torn from Saul and given to another, David. David did what Saul did not do. Now David is faced with another Amalekite. David asked him in verse 14, why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? The author did not tell us the response of this Amalekite. What we can assume is that this man thought he would be rewarded greatly with bringing David Saul's crown and armband and what he did not perceive was that this act would bring his death. David commanded one of his men to strike him down and David said to him, your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said I killed the Lord's anointed. Words have consequences. This act of putting Saul's killer to death would also help people to know that David had nothing to do with Saul's death. Today we are not reading a psalm with this story because it has a psalm within the chapter. Verses 17 and 18 tell us that this psalm is entitled Lament of the bow. We are also told this lament was written in a book which we no longer have called the book of Jasher. It's also mentioned in Joshua chapter 10 verse 13. This may have been a book of songs or stories with regards to military acts of Israel. It is unclear if David wrote it in one day or if it took time but he ordered the men of Judah to learn it. This book of sorrow or lament is a special type called Hebrew dirge poetry. In other words it's for a funeral and its meter or the way that it is sung reflects that intent. Just a few things about the song before I read it. There is a phrase that is repeated three times beginning middle and end. How the mighty have fallen. When words or phrases are repeated in Hebrew literature it is a way of emphasis. It starts with that and then it moves to how the people of Gath the Philistines would rejoice if they heard of their death. It then moves to the mountain of Geboa where Saul and Jonathan died and how they should not have comfort of dew. The song then moves to how loved Saul and Jonathan were and how they brought great things to Israel. Then the key phrase comes again with a reflection on David's best friend Jonathan and how he cherished his friendship. If you remember in first Samuel chapter 23 Jonathan had come to David who was hiding from Saul. His presence helped David find strength in God verse 16 and Jonathan said that he knew David would be king and Jonathan would be second to David but this would not pan out. One thing Robert D. Bergen said in his commentary with regards to the phrase your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of a woman. A man's wife was his partner in procreation and parenting but not necessarily his best friend, confidant or social peer. For David Jonathan was the peer, friend and confidant that no wife could ever have been in that society and his ultimate death left a gapping hole in David's soul. I want to add to that and say I believe this to be true of David but I do not think that this was the way God intended it to be because in the New Testament we see that the idea of marriage is two people becoming one like Jesus and his bride not David and his multiple wives. The end of the song carries the repeated phrase how the mighty have fallen, the weapons of war have perished. These weapons of war were Saul and his amazing son Jonathan. Now the lament of the bow verses 19-27 of 2 Samuel chapter 1. Your glory O Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen. Tell it not in gas, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dune or rain, nor fields that yield offerings of grain, for there the shield of the mighty have defiled. The shield of Saul no longer rubbed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back. The sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied. Saul and Jonathan in life they were loved and gracious and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. How the mighty have fallen in battle. Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of a woman. How the mighty have fallen, the weapons of war have perished. You know ladies it wasn't until after 9-11 when our country was weeping that we realized we don't have many songs to help us in our grief. When COVID hit there were a few songs we could sing. One of my professors said he found himself wanting to sing good old hymns during that national and worldly pandemic. This song was not just a song for David but for his nation. Mourning is a God given gift and music helps and touches our heart like nothing else. If you find this to be a time of mourning in your life, I'd like to encourage you to not resist it but lean into it as the Lord may bring healing to your heart. Usually the process takes a good year with each holiday the absence is noticed and there are a range of feelings that come with it but the Lord is with you through it if you let him. Until next time and thanks so much for listening.