Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
In chapter 1, David received news that Saul and his sons were dead.
It was an Amalekite who brought the news to David … expecting a handsome reward.
He made a terrible error, though.
After being mortally wounded by Philistine arrows, Saul had fallen on his own sword and died.
The Amalekite had come upon Saul’s body in the field.
He took Saul’s royal armband and diadem and then decided to tell David that he himself had dispatched Saul.
The Amalekite would not be satisfied with a messengers reward … instead he thought that David would give him a greater reward for killing Saul.
So, he decided to lie to David.
BIG MISTAKE.
When he told David, he received a shock as David and his men stood up and rent their clothes as a sign of mourning.
And then that very evening, David had the Amalekite put to death for having dared to kill the Lord’s anointed.
So, the Amalekite’s plan had taken a terrible turn.
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As for David, he was broken hearted over the death of Saul and Jonathan.
And when we might expect David to perhaps have shown sorrow on the outside, but relief on the inside.
But David’s song which ended out the chapter revealed something very different.
David’s song does not mention Saul’s failings, but encourages a happy and proud remembrance of Saul.
Looking back, most of us see the life of Saul as a terrible tragedy … and, of course, it was.
But how interesting is it that in his lament, David eulogizes Saul as a hero?
I look back on the life of Saul and imagine that he probably was not saved.
Saul’s life was a tragedy … but did it end in tragedy?
But am I basing that on his works?
By works, none of us are saved.
Saul’s life was a tragedy … but did it end in permanent tragedy for Saul?
In his lament, David seemed to be looking at Saul through the filter of something or someone else.
David looked at Saul and saw not the man who had sinned so against him, he saw the anointed of the Lord.
I don’t understand it.
It’s as if his life ended well.
But I am reminded of the efficacy of God’s grace through His Son, Jesus Christ.
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Today, as we move into chapter 2, the focus of the text shifts to David.
While David mourned the death of Saul, it meant that he was no longer on the run.
And so, the death of Saul was the signal for David’s departure from Ziklag and the Philistines.
But the best way to proceed was not immediately clear to David.
Saul had held back a son from the battle with the Philistines … Ishbosheth.
The death of Saul was the signal for David’s departure from Ziklag and Philistine vassaldom, but the best way to proceed was far from obvious.
Saul had left sons and men of power over his army who were capable of asserting their authority, and who had the backing of those who had supported Saul.
In particular, they could count on the loyalty of Saul’s tribe, Benjamin.
The Philistines had their outposts as far north and east as Bethshean, and had established their military hold over Israel, driving a wedge between the northernmost tribes and the central area of Ephraim and Benjamin.
Israel’s territory east of Jordan was more or less intact, but the general picture was one of fragmentation and uncertainty in the absence of one commanding figure to establish a lead and unite the country.
There were also powerful men over the Israelite army who had survived the battle.
And they were not afraid to assert their authority
Both Ishbosheth and these men had the backing and support of many who had supported Saul.
In particular, they could count on the loyalty of Saul’s tribe, Benjamin.
The Philistines had their outposts as far north and east as Bethshean, and had established their military hold over Israel, driving a wedge between the northernmost tribes and the central area of Ephraim and Benjamin.
Israel’s territory east of Jordan was more or less intact, but the general picture was one of fragmentation and uncertainty in the absence of one commanding figure to establish a lead and unite the country.
In particular, they could count on the loyalty of Saul’s tribe, Benjamin.
The Philistines had their outposts as far north and east as Beth-Shean.
They had established a military hold over Israel.
And they had driven a wedge between the northernmost tribes and the central area of Ephraim and Benjamin.
Israel’s territory east of Jordan was more or less intact.
But overall, the Jewish people were fragmented and uncertain in the absence of one commanding figure to establish a lead and unite the country.
So, this is where we pick it up tonight with chapter 2.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for everyone here this evening.
Thank You that You know each of us by name and have caused us to walk with You.
Lord, we open up Your word desiring to hear from You ... not man's word or wisdom, but Your Words and Wisdom.
Please soften our hearts to receive from You.
v1-4
v1-4
David was Israel’s lawful king.
He had been living in Philistine territory only to avoid Saul.
But now he couldn’t remain in Ziklag since it was in enemy territory.
It is probable that, Achish, the Philistine king, thought that David was loyal to him.
David was Israel’s lawful king and couldn’t remain in Ziklag since it was in enemy territory.
It’s likely that Achish, the Philistine king, thought that David was still under his authority, but David knew that he must return to his own land and begin to reign over his own people.
David was in the habit of seeking the Lord’s will when he had to make decisions, either by having Abiathar the priest consult the ephod () or by asking Gad the prophet to pray to God for a word of wisdom ().
He had been thinking that David was loyal to him prior to this … was even going to take David into battle against Israel with him as his personal bodyguard.
This presented a moral problem for David, however, because David was loyal to Israel.
Remember that Achish’s military commanders, however, had not trusted David and his men to participate in the battle.
So, David had been sent back to Ziklag.
While Achish had agreed to send David back, there is no textual evidence to suggest that Achish had changed his mind about David.
But David knew that he must return to his own land and begin to reign over his own people.
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From chapter 23 through the end of 1 Samuel, we have seen David making inquiries of the Lord using the ephod under the guidance of Abiathar the priest.
It may also be that he asked Gad the prophet to pray to God for guidance as Gad had done in chapter 22.
From chapter 23 through the end of 1 Samuel, David is making oracular inquiries of the Lord by means of the ephod under the guidance of Abiathar the priest.
It is likely that is also what is happening here.
In an oracular inquiry a yes-no question was posed to the deity, and a binary mechanism was used to determine what the answer was.
The normative means laid out for this process in Exodus was the Urim and Thummim (which were kept in a pouch in the ephod).
Either one of those things … or perhaps both are what is happening here.
It’s a good sign of things to come … David was in the habit of seeking the Lord’s will.
David was in the habit of seeking the Lord’s will when he had to make decisions, either by having Abiathar the priest consult the ephod () or by asking Gad the prophet to pray to God for a word of wisdom ().
This was extremely important to David’s success as king.
With a few rare examples, David was faithful to make inquiries of the Lord.
Israel needed that kind of King … but not only one seeking the Lord’s will desiring for the Lord’s will to be done.
This was something that Saul was lacking.
He had sought the Lord on a number of issues, but was more interested in doing things his way than according to the command of God.
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David was from Judah, so it was logical that he go to live among his own people, but in which city should he reside?
It was 12 to 18 years before this (16 or 17 chapters ago) that David was anointed king over Israel.
And now finally, it looks like everything has come into place for the promise to be fulfilled.
But David doesn’t rush into it to seize it by force.
Instead, he carefully and patiently sought the Lord.
The promise was from God, so David knew God could fulfill it without his having to intervene.
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In verse 1, God gave David permission to return to Judah and told him to live in Hebron.
Hebron was located about 25 miles NE from Ziklag … about twenty miles south of Jerusalem.
The archaeological site of Hebron is about 12 acres and appears to have been occupied since about 1200 B.C.
It was a great location for a large population because there are more than 24 springs in the area and the topography helps with defense from enemies.
This move put David back with his own people but still under the shadow of the Philistines, so the ability to defend it was important.
Hebron would serve as David’s capital for 7 and 1/2 years, during which it was at it’s most prominent.
Hebron was also important in Jewish history before David.
Somewhere near the city was the tomb of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah.
The city was in the inheritance of Caleb, another important figure in Jewish history ().
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