BIG IDEA:
TRAGIC SETBACKS TO GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROGRAM SHOULD BE OCCASION NOT FOR OPPORTUNISTIC SELF-ADVANCEMENT BUT FOR MOURNFUL LAMENT ON THE PART OF SUBMISSIVE LOYALISTS
INTRODUCTION:
When it comes to God’s kingdom program for this earth – how much skin do we have in the game? Does it matter to us whether the testimony of the church is honoring Jesus Christ … or whether God’s name is being dishonored because of the failures of His people? Is it all about us and how we are impacted and what opportunities and honor we experience … or is it all about God’s glory and the advancement of His agenda? What are some hits that the church of Jesus Christ has taken in recent days?? (every time there is some type of moral failure of a public Christian leader) – should not be a lot of political jockeying for position in the church like there is in every corporation and bureaucracy
I. (:1-10) OPPORTUNISTIC DECEIVERS SEEK TO ADVANCE THEIR OWN CAUSE WITHOUT REGARD FOR GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROGRAM –
THE TWISTED ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF SAUL AND JONATHAN
A. (:1) Setting: Tragic death of Saul and Providential Victory of David
“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.”
1. David had been close to being stoned – 1 Sam. 30:6
His slaughter of the Amalekites was an amazing reversal of fortune
2. Saul and his sons had died and been totally humiliated – 1 Sam. 31
Unsettled time of transition and upheaval; people jockeying for political position;
Tremendous contrast between the fortunes of David and Solomon at end of 1 Sam
B. (:2-3) Credentials of a Credible Reporter
Many examples recently of reporting that has not been credible – deceptive; plagiarism; self-serving; pursuing political agenda; etc. – Errors have been exposes and big name reporters have been ruined
1. Valuable Timeliness – Timely Reporting – providing the scoop
“And it happened on the third day”
2. Verifiable Source — Eyewitness Account
“that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul”
3. Vestiges of Mourning – Emotional Empathy for the Situation
“with his clothes torn and dust on his head”
4. Veneration for Authority – Show of Submission and Respect for Superior
“And it came about when he came to David that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.”
5. Vetting by David – Front Line Account of what transpired
“Then David said to him, ‘From where do you come?’ And he said to him, ‘I have escaped from the camp of Israel.’”
C. (:4-10) Checking Out the Details – 2 Key Questions from David
1. What Happened?
“How did things go? Please tell me.”
a. In General for the Nation as a whole — Israel Routed
“The people have fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead.”
b. Specifically with respect to God’s Appointed Leadership
“and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also”
2. Is Your Information Reliable? – Convincing Fabrication
“How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
a. Painting Opportunism as Providential Orchestration
“By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa”
b. Presenting Himself as a Humble Hero
1) Available (cf. account of Samuel – “Send me”)
“Here I am”
2) Humble (unlikely hero)
“I am an Amalekite”
remember David just got done slaying this evil group of marauders; maybe this had been one of the ring leaders who had escaped .. maybe he was just a mercenary who had joined forces with Saul
Interesting that Saul had been commanded to totally destroy this group of people, but he had failed to fully obey (1 Sam. 15).
3) Obedient Tool in Necessary Mercy Killing
“So I stood beside him and killed him because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen.”
c. Proving His Story with Physical Evidence
“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.”
Ryrie: The Amalekite’s story is at variance with the record of 1 Sam. 31:3-6 and is clearly a fabrication. He apparently sought recognition or reward for claiming to have killed Saul (who in reality committed suicide). As a mercenary or looter, he came across Saul’s body and took the king’s crown and bracelet to substantiate his fabrication.
II. (:11-16) SUBMISSIVE LOYALISTS REACT WITH RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION TO ANY VIOLATION OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN PROGRAM – THE EXECUTION COMMANDED BY DAVID
A. (:11-12) Emotional Mourning for Defeat of God’s People
1. Physical Sign of Mourning
“Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them”
Incredible display of respect for Saul and love for Jonathan and love for all of the people of Israel – especially in light of how Saul had treated him in 1 Sam —
– incident of ducking the spear
– forced to flee and hide
– pursued relentlessly by the jealous and insecure king
Not treating this as relief
2. Unified Scope of Mourning
“ and so also did all the men who were with him”
Impact of David’s leadership – able to get his men to follow his lead
3. Component Aspects of Mourning
“They mourned and wept and fasted”
4. Duration of Mourning
“until evening”
5. Significance of this Mourning – Tied to Tragic Defeat of God’s People
“for the people of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”
B. (:13-14) Revisiting the Credentials and Questioning the Motivation of the Reporter
1. (:13) Revisiting His Credentials – Suspicion Arising
“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.’”
2. (:14) Questioning His Motivation – Righteous Indignation Building
“Then David said to him, ‘How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?’”
No good answer provided here; David the best example of not taking matters into his own hands; not resorting to expediency to accomplish what he might have thought were legitimate ends
Humility of David – did not see everything through how it affected him; did not treat Saul with disdain; still treated him with respect
C. (:15-16) Execution Commanded and Justified
1. (:15) Execution Commanded – Justice Exacted
“And David called one of the young men and said, ‘Go, cut him down.’ So he struck him and he died.’”
2. (:16) Execution Justified – Self Incrimination
“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.’”
No excuse for killing the Lord’s anointed
Who is the Lord’s anointed today?
III. (:17-27) GRIEVING COMRADES LAMENT THE TRAGIC LOSS OF THE KINGLY LINE OF SAUL AND JONATHAN – THE SONG OF THE BOW
A. (:17-18) Introduction and Propagation of Lament
“Then David chanted with this lament over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.”
B. (:19) Theme / Refrain – The Glory of the Lord has taken a huge hit
“Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen!”
C. (:20) Gloating of Enemies
“Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.”
D. (:21) Curse on Fateful Setting for Saul’s Demise
“O mountains of Gilboa,
Let not dew or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings;
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.”
E. (:22-23) Praise for Saul and Jonathan
1. (:22) Battle Tested and Productive
“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.”
2. (:23) Praised in Death as in Life
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.”
F. (:24) Praise for Prosperity of Reign of Saul
“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.”
G. (25a) Refrain Repeated
“How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!”
H. (:25b-26)
“Jonathan is slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me.
Your love to me was more wonderful Than the love of women.”
I. (:27) Closing Refrain
“How have the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”