How does 2 Samuel 1:15 reflect David's respect for God's anointed king? Setting the Scene • Saul and Jonathan have fallen in battle. • An Amalekite arrives claiming he finished Saul off and presents the royal insignia to David (2 Samuel 1:1-13). • David grieves, tears his clothes, and questions the messenger (vv. 11-14). David’s Immediate Response—2 Samuel 1:15 “Then David summoned one of the young men and said, ‘Go, execute him!’ So he struck him down, and he died.” What This Reveals about David’s Respect for God’s Anointed • Recognition of divine appointment – David consistently viewed Saul as “the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:11). – Even though Saul had persecuted him, David refused to harm Saul personally (1 Samuel 26:9-11). • Zero tolerance for anyone who dishonors that appointment – The Amalekite thought he would earn favor by claiming to end Saul’s life, yet David treated the act as treason against God (2 Samuel 1:14,16). – David’s order—“execute him”—publicly reinforced the sacredness of the king’s office. • Submission to God’s timing – David had already been anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13), yet he waited years for God to remove Saul. – By punishing the Amalekite, David demonstrated that ascension to the throne must come by God’s hand, not human scheming (cf. Proverbs 20:22). • Consistency between belief and action – Earlier convictions (1 Samuel 24:6) now translate into decisive leadership. – Respect for God’s anointed was not situational; it guided David in both hideouts and palaces. Broader Scriptural Echoes • Romans 13:1—“There is no authority except from God,” underscoring why David honored even a hostile king. • Psalm 105:14-15—“Do not touch My anointed ones,” a principle David embodied long before it was recorded in the Psalms. • 1 Peter 2:17—“Honor the king,” reflecting a timeless call to respect God-ordained authority. Takeaway Truths • Reverence for God includes honoring the authorities He establishes. • Personal ambition must yield to divine timing and methods. • Consistent obedience—valuing what God values—marks a heart after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). |
    |