When your enemy falls

Important things to know in this chapter

1. Saul has chased David and sought to kill him in many occasions

1 Samuel 19:10 KJV 1900

And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

We may also have people in our lives who just make our lives miserable

We may even treat these people as our enemies

Worst is when these people are even believers as well

2. David got fed up and lived with the enemies

1 Samuel 27:1–4 KJV 1900

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife. And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

This is a wrong move by David. He has been living a life of faith and the Lord has saved him from every one of Saul’s plan

In fact, the Lord has been blessing David with people that are going to be a blessing in his life

David’s decision is one born out of fear or definitely his own wisdom

3. The Philistines finally got Saul and defeated his army

1 Samuel 31:1 KJV 1900

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Saul knew this was coming. He has been disobedient and he knew that the Lord will remove him from the throne one way or another

In fact, the Lord already gave the throne to David but Saul was just too stubborn and stayed as the king

1 Samuel 15:26 KJV 1900

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

4. Saul and his three sons died, including Jonathan.

1 Samuel 31:2–5 KJV 1900

And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

We will look at David’s attitude upon learning about the death of Saul and Jonathan

5. The news of Saul’s death

2 Samuel 1:1–4 KJV 1900

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

David knew there was a battle going on and wanted to know what happened

6. The Amalekite’s story

2 Samuel 1:5–10 KJV 1900

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

There are two seemingly contradicting accounts of Saul’s death

Saul took his own life

An Amalekite killed him out of mercy

This Amalekite might just be the first one to find Saul’s body and then took crown and bracelet

Saul may have been unsuccessful in his attempt and asked this man to kill him

If the latter is true, this Amalekite only exists because of Saul’s disobedience

What would be your attitude upon learning about the fall of someone who has been a thorn in your life?

David would normally be sad for Jonathan’s death

We would expect David to rejoice upon hearing of Saul’s death

He can return to Israel, he can now take over the kingdom

I. David was sorrowful

2 Samuel 1:11–12 KJV 1900

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

Surprised? would this be your response too?

This would not normally be our response but the Bible tells us not to rejoice when our enemies fall

Proverbs 24:17 KJV 1900

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

That’s why forgiveness is important in a believer’s life

This is especially the case when our ‘enemy’ is also a believer

We will not be rejoicing when the enemies of the cross will be cast into the lake of fire during the Great White Throne Judgment

What can we see from David’s response?

a. Our reaction to the failures of others reveal the depth of our relationship with God

David had no bitterness towards Saul. He only had forgiveness in his heart

This kind of attitude will only result if you have a close walk with God

b. When we see someone fall, we should restore them if possible, considering our own weaknesses (Gal. 6:1)

Galatians 6:1 KJV 1900

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Not everyone wants to be helped. Pray for those who don’t

Maybe even the Amalekite was surprised by this response of David

He certainly was thinking positively and not expecting what was about to happen

II. David didn’t lose his principles and convictions

2 Samuel 1:13–16 KJV 1900

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

David had two chances to kill Saul and yet he didn’t because he knew that would be wrong

1 Samuel 24:6 KJV 1900

And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

1 Samuel 26:9–10 KJV 1900

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

We often lose our Biblical convictions when there are people who irritate us or when we are angry with others. When we are set for revenge

Whenever we decide to do something out of fear, anger, vengeance, that is when we decide out of the will of God

David already made one wrong decision out of fear but this time, he knew what to do

III. David kept his heart from bitterness

1 Samuel 1:17–27 KJV 1900

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

There is no mark of bitterness in the heart of David

his song includes worry that the enemy will rejoice upon God’s people’s defeat

We see that he is concerned about the glory of God here

His song included instructing others to lament as well. Teaching them this great attitude

Bitterness has robbed us of joy

Bitterness has robbed us of God’s blessings

Bitterness has robbed us of spiritual growth

Bitterness should hot have a place in you hearts

Let’s learn to forgive

Let’s move on for the Lord

Ephesians 4:31 KJV 1900

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Can we do this? Has someone wronged us?

Maybe it’s time to forgive

It is time to move on