2 Samuel 6:1-23 - Heartfelt Undignified Worship

2 Samuel 6:1-23

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13:1–14; 15:25—16:3)

1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.

9 David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

David went to bring back the Ark of God’s covenant with His people from where it ended up after being captured and released by the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:1, 21, 7:1), resting at Kirjath Jearim for twenty years.  David led a spectacle of worship music but on the return trip Uzzah who should have known God’s word of warning not to touch the Ark, thought he would jeep it from falling when they hit a rough patch.  He was held immediately accountable for his sin by (Numbers 4:15) punishment of death, setting the shadowy stage for our own warning that sin results in the due and just penalty for disobedience to any of God’s word; only grace that takes our place on the cross of our curse (Galatians 3:13, Romans 6:23) under the sin inherited through Adam can keep us from the wages of our sin.  David was angry and afraid that this happened to Uzzah and kept the return of the Ark delayed for another three months.  When David heard of the blessings from God where it had remained for that short time, he found courage to try again and led another triumphant parade to bring the Ark to Jerusalem with sacrifices and exultant dancing and praise with accompaniment all along the way.  There was one who was angry with David’s display of joy in his dancing and leaping and whirling before the LORD, his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter.  She literally despised him in her heart.  She could not understand the joy in his worship style and judged him harshly for it.  Do we not sometimes do the same?  When David went to bless her and all his household, she berated him out loud by falsely and jealously accusing the king of shamelessly uncovering himself before other young women on the way into town.  David defended himself by telling her he was chosen king over her father by the LORD Himself, and he would continue to play music and be even more humanly and humbly undignified in future worship as well to please God and not man.  The young women he was accused by her of him flirting with would instead honor him for such true worship and not lust for him as her evil thoughts of a corrupt heart had insinuated.  The consequence of her hateful accusations was infertility for the rest of her life to keep her from having children to pass such judgmental suspicions on to.  David gave us an example of undignified and heartfelt worship that was done in a manner pleasing to God and not to the appearance and approval of manmade rules of propriety.  Certainly this does not allow us to take this too far by breaking other scriptural commands and principles of modesty, but the form of the music in our worship is not the focus; it is the way that we convey genuine heartfelt love and thanksgiving according to truth (John 7:24) that is honoring to Him. 

Samuel 5:1-25 - Expected Reign Fulfilled at Last

2 Samuel 5:1-25

David Reigns over All Israel (1 Chronicles 11:1–3)

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’” 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The Conquest of Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 11:4–9; 14:1–7)

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

8 Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated (1 Chronicles 14:8–17)

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

David became king over all God’s people at last!  This is a foreshadowing of the anointed Seed of David (2 Timothy 2:8, Romans 1:2-3, 4-5), the Messiah Christ, who would be King of kings and Lord of lords over all God’s people of all nations and not just the symbolic anointed one over Israel on earth.  All the tribes of Israel acknowledged David as the chosen and anointed one put over them as the LORD had promised, to shepherd God’s people Israel and rule over Israel as their king.  Our Lord Jesus Christ shepherds us now (John 10:11, 14, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:24-25) and into eternity because He is our Sovereign King and Lord and we who are His acknowledge Him as our King (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, 19:16) now and forevermore.  David ruled well as a man after God’s own heart, unlike Saul before him, and took Jerusalem to set up his kingdom there as his expected reign was fulfilled at last.  We likewise look forward in anticipation (Romans 8:23, Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 9:28) to the New Jerusalem to come down to earth (Revelation 21:1-2, 22-23) and dwell with our Lord face to face under His expected and long foretold reign at last!  Until then we fight the good fight of the gospel for the souls of men and women called by Him through our testimony of God’s forgiving grace in Jesus Christ.  As David conquered the enemy around him, we conquer the adversary set against the word of truth in His strength and mandate. 

2 Samuel 4:1-12 - Wicked Murderers of the Righteous

2 Samuel 4:1-12

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

1 When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled. 2 Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin, 3 because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)

4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

5 Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon. 6 And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7 For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain. 8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”

9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity, 10 when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?” 12 So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

There were two sons of Saul still alive when David became king over Judah, Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth.  The one took over as king over Israel and warred against David and Judah, while the lame one sought no throne or power.  Both were sons of a king chosen by the LORD, however, and so David honored God by not murdering them; unfortunately, two men who were captains of  the son’s troops took matters into their own hands and murdered Ishbosheth as he lay in his bed and then bragged to David as they brought his head to them.  David reminded them of Saul’s royal calling by God that extended to his children counted as righteous, even if they did unrighteous acts.  The only reward those murderers would receive for taking God’s vengeance into their own hands was holding those loves accountable for the others.  He had them killed and hanged for all to see as a warning of taking vengeance into their own hands and then David buried the head of Ishbosheth that had been put on unrighteous display as a ceremonial honor.  We likewise cannot take justice into our own hands and be executioners of supposed righteousness when none of us are righteous except as counted (Romans 4:3, 6:11, James 2:23) to be in the righteousness of Christ.  Hating our enemies is akin to murder and denies the value they have as the work of God’s hand.  He alone is able and worthy in righteousness to judge the wicked and the dead (Ecclesiastes 3:17) and show mercy to any and all He calls.  May we then not be murderers of anyone who may become righteous in Him, but submit to the Right Judge who will settle all in the end.

Samuel 3:22-39 - Vengeance is Not Ours

2 Samuel 3:22-39

Joab Murders Abner

22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? 25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

David’s Mourning for Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin. 32 So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:

“Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound
Nor your feet put into fetters;
As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.”
Then all the people wept over him again.

35 And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

Though Abner had defected to Judah’s side under king David, Joab assumed it was a ruse of peace to gain battle intelligence from David’s camp.  He did not know the backstory of deceit from Saul’s son Ishbosheth and how Abner realized that David would be king because the LORD had decreed it.  In a rash impulse, Joab lured Abner to the gate and stabbed him in the stomach as revenge for Asahel (2 Samuel 2:22, 23, 30) his brother at Gibeon in the battle.  His quest for vengeance had prevented a powerful ally from joining David’s army, and David put the onus upon Joab and his house as a curse for the murder of Abner.  They mourned for Abner afterwards because of his manner of death by the vengeful deceit of Joab.  Only then as David mourned this senseless death did the people understand that David had forgiven and accepted Abner’s defection from the house of Saul and heard the vengeance of the LORD would deal with those responsible for this cowardly murder.  When we take vengeance into our own hands (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30-31), we are saying God cannot deal justice as we blindly seek it ourselves, not knowing the full backstory or the intents of the hearts (1 Chronicles 28:9, Jeremiah 17:10) of those we think need to be held accountable.  May we be more like David and Abner and not like Joab to seek our own vengeance when we do not even know the whole story nor are we in the place of God to not show mercy and forgiveness in grace as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:37) by Him. 

2 Samuel 3:1-21 - Joining Forces for God’s Rule

2 Samuel 3:1-21

1 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons of David

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; 4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins Forces with David

6 Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 9 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the LORD has sworn to him— 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”

13 And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’” 19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

After the demise of king Saul and the coronation of David over Judah and consequent rebellion of Israel against him, the long war raged on between the house of Saul and the house of David.  David as God’s anointed chosen king grew ever stronger over time as those remnants of Saul grew weaker and lesser.  Abner, the old general of Saul, was offended by Ishbosheth the son of Saul who chastised him for being intimate with one of Saul’s concubines.  This tipped him over the edge after supporting king Ishbosheth who took over the place of Saul and he defected to Judah to serve king David.  Abner vowed to help David become ruler over all the people of both Israel and Judah as he reminded Ishbosheth that the LORD had promised.  Abner would help “transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah” as the LORD had said and he would help come to pass.   He got away with saying these things to Saul’s son because he was overpoweringly fearful to Ishbosheth.  Abner then made a covenant with David that day to lend his hand to help bring all Israel to David’s rule.  David agreed with one stipulated condition, that the king bring David’s wife Michal who had been promised but given to another by treacherous Saul.  He brought her to Abner who sent her on to David as agreed.  Then Abner went further to speak to the elders of Israel urging them to all make David their king as they had previously said with the reminder of the promise of the LORD to use David to subdue their enemies and set them free.  This is a foreshadowing of the seed of David, the Anointed King Jesus, who would set His people free (Luke 4:18, Romans 6:17-18, 22-23, 2 Timothy 2:26) from the adversary of their immortal souls in bondage to sin (Luke 4:18, John 8:31-32, Romans 6:6, Hebrews 2:14-15, Galatians 5:1) because of his deception in Eden’s Garden.  We likewise join our forces in allegiance with the Anointed King for God’s rule over we the people of the Lord, and testify to the gospel of peace with God (Romans 5:1) under His lordship of our lives as citizens of the kingdom (Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21) of God. 

2 Samuel 2:1-32 - Wars and Fighting Within

2 Samuel 2:1-32

David Anointed King of Judah

1 It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”

And the LORD said to him, “Go up.”
David said, “Where shall I go up?”
And He said, “To Hebron.”

2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4 Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now may the LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ishbosheth Made King of Israel

8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Israel and Judah at War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.”

And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. 17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?”
He answered, “I am.”

21 And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.

24 Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. 25 Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”

27 And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” 28 So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. 29 Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.

30 So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. 32 Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

David sought direction from the LORD where to set down roots, asking if it was to be somewhere in Judah.  God told him to go to Hebron there.  It was about 20 miles south of Jerusalem and 20 miles (30 km) north of Beersheba where Abraham built an altar to the LORD (Genesis 13:18, 21:33, 35:27) in his journey to the promised land.  There the men of Hebron crowned David, the man who would be king as Saul’s replacement by God’s will and word of promise, as their king at last over the house of Judah.  David’s first official act was to reward the men of Jabesh Gilead who buried Saul in honor as the anointed leader before he went astray from the LORD.  He told them to find strength and be valiant for their honorable service in this matter for God’s people as the successor anointed by Gods to rule in Judah, where he continued to reign for seven and a half years.  Peace was short lived as Abner and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, met with Joab and the servants of David, and violence ensued between them in an attempt to put Saul’s heir back on the throne in opposition to God’s command for David to reign instead.  This skirmish began a long war between the split kingdoms of Israel and Judah as the rebellion against God’s king and command incited further bloodshed.  This conflict of wars and fighting within the people of the Lord is still seen by the pursuit of personal power and control in the church still among God’s people as doctrine divides into personal attacks instead of seeking to all fall as one body (Ephesians 4:12-13, 15-16) under the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only head of the Church and King of all kings ruling us all (1 Timothy 6:15-16).  No political or denominational power or national authority is higher than Him.  Whose rule do we submit to?  Do we divide the people of our Lord against God’s authority for territorial control of our own desires (James 4:1-2) like Israel and Judah of old, or do we seek to unite (Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 4:3) under His rule in spirit and truth as our Lord and Savior-King? 

2 Samuel 1:17-27 - How the Mighty have Fallen!

2 Samuel 1:17-27

The Song of the Bow

17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18 and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:

19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon—
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 “O mountains of Gilboa,
Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22 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.

23 “Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their death they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.

24 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
Your love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.

27 “How the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”

David mourned the death of Jonathan his best friend and Saul the chosen but fallen king of the king by composing this song, The Song of the Bow (1 Samuel 31:3) in remembrance of the king’s demise by an enemy archer.  He taught Israel to sing this song to recall the calling of God and the end brought to the mighty who had fallen in battle and had it written in the Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13) for posterity.  This non-canonical Hebrew book was not part of scripture, but a historical collection of poems and accounts of Israel's formation and heroes to remember that is long since lost.  This poem is also preserved here in scripture for us to see and read for ourselves.  It begins with an epitaph to these beautiful lost leaders as, “How the mighty have fallen!”  It was to be told and sung only among God’s people, not to the enemy who had slaughtered Saul and Jonathan to keep the enemy from gloating over their victory as if a lasting triumph.  It praised the bravery of these two who fought for God’s people to the death describing their efforts as the bow that did not relent and the sword that did not miss its mark on the enemy.  It praised their strength and unity in the fight as swift and mighty.  It called for God’s people to mourn their loss of the one who ruled over them to provide good things.  David lamented the loss of his best friend whose friendship was deeper than even a woman’s affection as a united concern for God’s people and rule as only such best friends of camaraderie experience in battle.  They were a pair and band of brothers and David missed Jonathan terribly because they were to rule Israel together with David as king and Jonathan as his right hand man.  The lament ends with the lingering thought of the mighty who had fallen and the weapons of war that led to their loss destroyed in the end.  How the mighty fall in fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Revelation 14:13) even now for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the seed and branch of David who is our Messiah and King!  Those tortured, drowned, and burned at the stake for their testimony fought this fight well for us to remember and honor them also who fell as mighty in faith and faithfulness to the end with the reward (Hebrews 11:13, 37-38) in sight as many before them did in anticipation of the heavenly kingdom (Hebrews 11:16) to come through the Christ seen to come as the chosen and Anointed King of kings after the example of David. 

2 Samuel 1:1-16 - Guilty of Killing God’s Anointed

2 Samuel 1:1-16

The Report of Saul’s Death

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?”
So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 Then David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.”
And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and 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 Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 Now 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?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ 10 So I stood over 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 bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Therefore David took hold of his own 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, for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 Then 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 So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. 16 So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

This aftermath of the defeat of Israel under Saul by the Amalekites left David in Ziklag for a few days.  There an Amalekite man came to them from the battle from Saul’s camp, disheveled and exhausted to report on what he saw.  This surviving messenger told David of the massive defeat with men running away for their lives, as well as the death of Saul and Jonathan.  David asked how he knew the king and his son were dead in the midst of such chaos and the man gave the account of his meeting them on the battlefield with Saul pierced with his own spear but still barely alive.  Saul had begged him to finish him off in his mortal wound and suffering and the man did so.  He then took the crown and arm band of the king and came to David with them.  David and his men mourned Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths and then David asked the man who he was and where he was from.  When he heard that he was a foreigner, of the enemy, David asked how he dared to kill the LORD’s anointed.  Then he had him executed for this, telling him that his blood was on his own head for this presumptuous act.  Imagine how much more the religious leaders of the Jews must have felt as they killed the Lord’s Anointed, Jesus the Christ!   Yet God showed mercy and forgiveness to those who crucified our Lord and those who stood by when they repented (Acts 2:38-39) and turned to believe and receive the Anointed by faith as they were cut to the heart (Zechariah 12:10, Acts 2:36-37) by the sword of the truth piercing them.  Those who rejected this word of truth (Acts 7:51-52, 54, 60) suffered the eternal consequences of remaining under the wrath of God (John 3:18, 36) on their sins, however, unless they later were convicted (Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10) of their sin, God’s righteousness in Christ, and the judgment to come (John 16:8) for all still rejecting Him before dying (Hebrews 9:27-28) and facing the Lord on that final day.  Like the Amalekite messenger who took matters into his own hands to kill the anointed of God, so will we all answer for the sin of Adam demonstrated in the murder of the Anointed on the cross of our curse along with those who were there, unless we likewise repent (Mark 1:15, Romans 6:23, Acts 2:38, 3:19) and find reconciliation with His forgiveness of mercy in this gospel of grace in which we stand (Romans 5:2) for eternity.  We are all guilty of killing the Anointed as children of the first Adam like the Jews who justified their actions while standing at the foot of the cross, yet we can find reconciliation in the second Adam (Romans 5:14, 15, 17, 18-19) who is our Lord of grace.  This is the gospel bringing peace with God in His Anointed One, His Son. 

1 Samuel 31:1-13 - The True and False King

1 Samuel 31:1-13

The Tragic End of Saul and His Sons (1 Chronicles 10:1–14)

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.”

But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.

7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. 10 Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

11 Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

The end of a regime marked with disobedience and rejection of God came as king Saul died in a battle lost by Israel under his reign.  His disobedience had led the LORD to leave him and became His enemy as he fought against the anointed of God, the real king David given by the divine hand for having a heart after God.  This final battle was of defeat under Saul’s rule as the Philistines had routed Israel and had them on the run, killing Saul’s sons to include Jonathan who was David’s closest friend, and left Saul dying on the battlefield.  He tried getting his own armorbearer to finish him off, but that man wisely refused to do that to the one in rule over the nation and so Saul fell on his own sword as we say.  The enemy then cut off the king’s head and hung it in victory for all to see in the idol temple.  The bodies of Saul and his sons were recovered by the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead and cremated, burying their bones in Jabesh and fasting for a week afterwards in memorial.  The end of Saul was the result of his turning away from God and His will to do things his own way instead, a stark warning to us all not to turn from the Lord, but from sin and towards Him, the definition of real repentance leading to redemption in Christ of the lineage of David as the promised Branch (Isaiah 11:1-2, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15, 16) of righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 3:9, 2 Peter 1:1) who is the Anointed Son of God Himself.  Certain victory over the adversary is in Christ alone by grace and faith alone through repentance and following the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16) who rules forever in the heavens as the one chosen by the Father to rule in righteousness and not picked by men according to earthly reasons such as appearance like Saul was.  The Lord puts kings in place and removes them (Daniel 2:21, 4:17, Romans 13:1) at His command and not our own.  There are true and false kings.  The Son of God, the earthly branch of God’s chosen and anointed David and the heavenly Branch of God’s righteousness is out true Anointed and victorious king, not a faulty one of our own choosing like Saul destined to fall and fail.