Bible Studies
David Made King Over Judah (2 Sam. 1:1-10)
Series: Studies in Second SamuelIntroduction:
1. The Book of First Samuel is designed to call attention to what happens when men choose their own way. Israel had demanded a king. They were given Saul, a man who met their qualifications. He was rebellious and insubordinate, like the nation who wanted him. His reign is summarized in the final chapter of First Samuel as follows: “Thus Saul died, with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men, on that day together.” 2. The Israelites fled and the Philistines came and lived in their cities. 3. Second Samuel is designed to follow the history of the king after God’s own heart, who would do His will and whose kingdom would be established forever (1 Sam. 13:14). 4. We become a part of that kingdom when, like David, we submit our will to God’s, thus allowing Him to reign in our lives. 5. It is a kingdom of justice and righteousness and equity and peace. Blessings innumerable are supplied by the sacrifices of the King and thus our submission to Him is voluntary and His blessing gladly received. 6. At the close of this lesson you will be invited to become a citizen of that kingdom. We hope that you will give serious consideration to that invitation for God has been planning for you for thousands of years. This is your spiritual heritage. 7. Second Samuel chapters 1-5 establish David as the new king. The section naturally divides itself into two parts.a. Part one (1-2) focuses on David becoming king over Judah.
b. Part two (3-5) focuses on David becoming king over all Israel.
8. In this lesson attention will be given to chapters 1 and 2.Discussion:
I. An Amalekite brought the symbols of crown and amulet to David effectively communicating the transition from Saul to David (2 Sam. 1:1-10).A. The first question that perplexes us is what do we do with the two accounts?
1. First Samuel 31 has Saul mortally wounded and falling on his own sword to end his life.
2. Second Samuel 1 carries the report of this Amalekite “finishing him off.”
B. Some have attempted to harmonize the two accounts (ex. Josephus). Any attempt at harmonizing the two accounts assumes that both of them are true and factual.
C. Another alternative is that the Amalekite is not telling the truth, but looking for an advantage with David the new king.
1. David has just defeated the Amalekites after they had destroyed Ziklag and taken the people captive including David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail.
2. It is now the third day since this happened. It is not a good time for an Amalekite to wander into David’s camp.
3. But this Amalekite has a story to tell.
a. First, Saul and Jonathan are dead. You would think that this would be welcome information for David a claimant for the throne.
b. Besides that the Amalekite reports that he was the very one who killed Saul at Saul’s request no less.
c. In addition he has brought David the crown and bracelet of the king.
D. The Amalekite was probably shocked at David’s response.
1. Instead of rejoicing David tears his clothes, fasts, weeps and mourns.
2. Realize that what the Amalekite told him may have been all the information David had at the time. He acts on the assumption that what the Amalekite has said is the truth.
3. David asked, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” David had on two previous occasions refused to kill Saul because he was God’s anointed.
4. On the basis of the Amalekite’s own testimony he was executed for killing Saul.
E. While we will never know the details of what happened 1 Chron. 10:1-10 follows the account in 1 Sam. 31. And later when the sons of Rimmon killed Ishbosheth, Saul’s descendent and king over Israel, David reminded them of the Amalekite who “thought he was bringing good news” but was executed. The sons of Rimmon thought they were bringing good news, but they too were executed.
F. They expected David to be like the kings of other nations—overjoyed that his rivals had been killed. But such is not the character of a man after God’s own heart.
1. Instead he is grieved.
2. Such is the nature of the kingdom (Matt. 5:38-48; Rom. 12:14-21). All hatred, all maliciousness, slander, abusive speech, murder, bitterness, anger must be put aside and instead be replaced by kindness, with tender-heartedness, and forgiveness (Eph. 4:31-32).
3. Such is the nature of the King (1 Pet. 2:21-25).
4. Without His graciousness we would die for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24).
II. David’s song of grief for Saul and Jonathan (1:27-27).A. The dominant theme of our culture seems to be moving to silence all serious loss, to deny grief, to mute its impact upon us.
1. We have moved from the deceased being kept at home and grieved there to professional funeral homes. Multiple days of mourning have been shorted to a more “hurried” approach. Are we in a hurry to “get this over with”?
2. We are moving from “funerals” to “end of life celebrations.”
3. We want to distance ourselves from the reality of death. Some numb themselves to the pain with drugs and alcohol in a “party” for the deceased.
4. Will such an approach leave us numb and unable to cope or to care? Are we moving death to the margins of our existence? Are such ideological moves diminishing our humanness? Has evolutionary philosophy so diminished us that we are little more than a body to be disposed of?
B. David grieved.
1. His song is a model for how to process grief.
2. He honored Saul and Jonathan as “mighty” men (19).
3. He abhorred those that would rejoice (20).
4. He called on the mountains to grieve (21).
5. He reflected on their lives (22-23). Grief is processed by remembering.
6. He called on Israel, who had been blessed by Saul and Jonathan, to weep (24-25). There is help in sharing our grief and in recognizing how people have contributed to our well-being.
7. He reflected on his personal loss (26).
C. David honored the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul (2:4b-7b).
III. David was anointed king over the house of Judah in Hebron (2:1-4a, 7c).A. Note the character qualities that have been highlighted in the text about David.
1. First he was a man who listened to the Lord.
a. Saul had refused to listen to the Lord and so the kingdom was torn away from him.
b. David had trusted in the Lord from his youth.
1) He said he had been delivered by the Lord from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear and would be delivered from the Philistine giant, Goliath.
2) He demonstrated the lovingkindness of the Lord.
a. To Saul. Even though Saul sought his life even though given multiple opportunities refused to slay the Lord’s anointed.
b. To Jonathan and Mephibosheth (1 Sam. 20:14; 2 Sam. 9).
c. Even here he inquires of the Lord before going to Hebron.
2. He was a man who was a deliverer.
a. Delivered the people of Ziklag from the Amalekites.
b. Maintained loyalty to God and the people.
c. Gave spoils from the battle to the villages of the Judahites.
3. Controlled himself when tempted to take revenge on Nabal and instead allowed God to take control in that situation (1 Sam. 25).
4. Executed justice against those who would slay the Lord’s anointed (2 Sam. 1, 4).
5. Did not rejoice in the death of his rivals, but grieved.
6. He showed goodness. He encouraged. He blessed (2 Sam. 2:5-7).
B. Such are marks of good leadership. You will do well to pattern yourself after them.
C. David ruled in Hebron over the house of Judah 7 years and 6 months.
Conclusion:
1. David, the man after God’s own heart, was the prototype of the future King, the “Lord’s anointed” (Messiah). 2. David was God’s representative. His kingdom was the prototype of the Messiah’s kingdom. 3. Would you be a citizen in that kingdom?
