CIII - II Samuel, Chapter 1

CIII  -  II Samuel

Author  -  Unknown
Main Subject - The Reign of David

The book of II Samuel can be divided into three sections:

1)  The early years of David's reign which tells of David establishing himself as a more than qualified leader, both military and Spiritual.  David's growth as a Godly man showed Israel how it should have been all along.

2)  The middle period which includes David's many military victories fo Israel and his fall to temptation.

3)  David's kingdom of Israel is complete and his leadersheip has been established and strengthened.  But now God must refocus David's heart.

II Samuel records the reign of tht man God chose, trained, equipped, and empowered to form and lead the nation Israel.  It is the descriptive account of his virtues and is triumphs, and also the unglossed account of his sins and the troubles they caused.  Consistently the pattern formed:  When David was led by God, his people were blessed by hes rule; when he ignored or was lured away from God's guidance, he and his people suffered.  And from this pattern emerges the truth that "Righteousness exalteth a nation:  but sin is a reproach to any people: (Prov. 14:34 KJV)  {I believe this great nation we live in now needs to learn this lesson, but more on that later.}

II Samuel, Chapter 1

This chapter begins where I Samuel left off.  David had returned to Ziklag after his defeat of the Amalekites.  David was surely concerned how the battle had gone between the huge Philistine army and Saul's much smaller and inferior army.  On the third day a messenger arrived from the battle.  He was an Amalekite who had been in the thick of the battle.  {This man's account of the facts is questionable, or at least highly embellished.  If he lied, he picked the wrong lie to tell.}  He reported to David that Saul and all three of his sons were killed in the battle.  He had Saul's crown with him to prove his story, and David was convinced.  David and all his men tore their clothes and mourned and wept and fasted the entire day for Saul, Jonathan, and all the Israelite soldiers.  {In those times, tearing ones clothes publicly was a sign of true mourning.  The Bible refers to it often.}  David then began to question the Amalekite further.  Turns out that he approached Saul as Saul was dieing, leaning on his spear.  Saul asked the Amalekite to kill him and he did.  That was how he ended up with Saul's crown.  This Amalekite seemed very boastful about taking the life of Saul, but after David had lamented so grievously, he gathered his thoughts and ordered the Amalekite be put to death for killing "the Lord's anointed".  {Although Saul was David's enemy, David still considered Saul as God's anointed.  He had always felt that no man, includeing himself, should ever lift a hand against the man that God chose to be king of Israel.  Also, let's not forget about Jonathan.  Jonathan was David's lifelong best friend and kindred spirit.  Losing a friend is no small thing for David or any of us.}

David, as shown also in the entire book of Psalms, was a gifted writer among his many other gifts.  In verses 17-27 of this chapter is the lament he wrote to eulogize Saul and Jonathan.  David goes so far as to order this eulogy to be distributed to all of Israel out of respect for these men.  {This is considered one of the most beautiful and moving eulogies ever written.  I believe one should read this eulogy as he would read one of the Psalms to get a flavor of David's heart and his sincerity. 
Please do that.  I hope you get as much out of it as I have.  It will give you further insight to this great man.}

Next post:  David is anointed King over Judah.  Israel is divided.