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The Beginning of the End
After the first shock of the terrible news wore off, David’s
thoughts returned to the stranger who had brought the news and
the crime of which, according to his own statement, he was guilty.
“Where are you from?” And he answered, “‘I am the son of an
alien, an Amalekite.’ So David said to him, ‘How was it you were
not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?’”
Twice David had refused to lift his hand against him who had been
consecrated by the command of God to rule over Israel. Yet the
Amalekite had accused himself of a crime worthy of death. David
said, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has
testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”
David’s grief at the death of Saul was sincere and deep, revealing
the generosity of a noble nature. He did not rejoice in the fall of
his enemy. The barrier that had kept him from taking the throne of
Israel was removed, but this did not bring him joy. Now he thought
of nothing in Saul’s history except that he was noble and kingly. The
name of Saul was linked with that of Jonathan, whose friendship
had been so true and unselfish.
The song in which David expressed the feelings of his heart
became a treasure to his nation and to the people of God in all future
ages. See
2 Samuel 1:19-27
.
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