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When the Mighty Fall: Lessons from Saul's Death
June 1, 2026 · 13 min
A pastoral reflection on Saul's fall, David's mourning, and the call to honor the Lord's anointed even amid failure.
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The Mystery of Saul's Death 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Today, we begin the second book of Samuel as we read chapters 1 and 2 of second Samuel verse 27 of chapter 1, how the mighty have fallen and the weapons0:21 of war perished. Now in the Hebrew Bible, first and second Samuel are 1 book. The division in our Bible provides a convenient transition point as Saul dies and the kingdom0:33 begins the transition to David. The book does not identify a specific, author. According to scholars, Nathan Gad, aided by material that had been compiled by Samuel,0:46 were were the authors of the book. Now the book covers the 40 years of David's reign as king. First in Judah for 7 and a half years and then over, all of Israel. Now we'll see in this0:57 book the good, the bad, and the ugly, frankly, about David. But in the end, we see him as a man after God's own heart. And the lord establishes a covenant with him, the Davidic covenant1:09 for an eternal throne upon which the king of kings and the lord of lords, Jesus Christ, will sit and reign. In chapter 1, David gets word of Saul's1:21 death along with news that Jonathan was also killed in the battle. Verse 1, chapter 1. Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and1:33 David had stayed 2 days in Ziklag. On the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was when he came to David that he fell to the ground and1:44 prostrated himself. And David said to him, where have you come from? So he said to him, I have escaped from the camp of Israel. Then David said to him, how did the matter go? Please tell me. And he answered, the people1:56 have fled from the battle. Many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan, his son, are dead also. So David said to the young man who told him, how do you know that2:08 Saul and Jonathan, his son, are dead? Then the young man who told him this said, as I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul leaning on his spear, and indeed the chariots and the horsemen2:20 followed hard after him. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me, and I answered, here I am. And he said to me, who are you? So I answered, I am an Amalekite. He said to me again, please stand over meDavid's Godly Mourning and Respect for Authority 2:31 and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me. So I stood over him and killed him because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown2:43 that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them here to my lord. Now this is very interesting. Who killed Saul? In the closing chapter of first2:55 Samuel, it records that Saul fell on his own sword. Here we have an Amalekite saying that he came across a mortally wounded Saul, who asked him to kill him, and he did, collecting3:07 Saul's crown and bracelet and bringing him to David expecting a reward. He didn't get a reward, as we read in the second half of the chapter. David had him executed for killing the Lord's3:19 anointed. So who killed Saul? Who is responsible for Saul's death? Well, Saul, but not how you might think. The young man may have very well been3:31 telling the truth because it it could fit with the events of the previous chapter. It is possible that Saul did not manage to kill himself, but only wounded himself further, and this Amalekite could have finished3:43 him off. So where did this Amalekite come from? Recall in first Samuel chapter 15. Alright? When Saul was instructed to attack the Amalekites and3:55 destroy them completely, he did not. He rejected the word of God, and as a result, God rejected him as king over Israel. This Amalekite alright. This4:07 is where Saul's responsible. This Amalekite who killed Saul was among those who were spared and possibly kept as a slave. Saul's disobedience was4:19 directly connected to his death. Look now at, David's reaction to the news, verse 11. Therefore, David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And4:30 they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan, his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword. Now I wanna stop here for a moment. LookDavid's Patience and Small Beginnings 4:43 at David, how he responds to the death of the man who had repeatedly tried to murder him. He mourns. He mourns. He doesn't rejoice. He mourns. Why? I4:54 mean, certainly, it was partly because it included Jonathan, but it was also because David could see beyond himself in his own interest. Later, we'll see and he5:06 kind of fails in this area. But for now, walking in humility before the lord, he sees the bigger picture beyond himself to the impact of the nation. He understands that regardless of5:18 Saul's issues, he was god's anointed leader and therefore could not be separated from the well-being of the nation. Now David recognized and respected the nation's leadership5:30 despite Saul's incompetence in corruption. David understood that disrespecting and disregarding the nation's recognized leadership ultimately imperiled the nation. It created lawlessness because5:41 it undermined authority and respect that the government needs to function. And and that leads to, as I said, lawlessness and then tyranny. This is why it's so important for us in5:53 this constitutional republic in which we live to be involved. Alright? We need to be involved. We can't be spectators. We gotta be participants. That means we need to vote, and we need to6:05 advocate and vote for godly individuals who know the lord and walk in his ways and uphold the rule of law. Alright. 1 final note on, this look at David's question to6:17 the Amalekite, verse 14. So David said to him, how was it that you were not afraid to put your hand to destroy the lord's anointed? Then David called 1 of his young men and said, go near and execute him, and he struck6:28 him so that he died. So David said to him, your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you saying, I have killed the lord's anointed. Now recall the6:40 narrative in first Samuel chapter 31 regarding Saul's armor bearer. Let me read it. Verse 4. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised6:53 men come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore, Saul took a sword and fell on it. So why was the7:04 armor bearer afraid? Well, he did not want to be the 1 to kill the Lord's anointed leader even though no 1 else was around to see it, and the king even asked for7:16 it. Chapter 2 reveals more about David's character. Verse 1, it happened after this that David inquired of the Lord saying, shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said, go up.Civil War Begins and Closing Prayer 7:28 David said, where shall I go up? And he said to Hebron. David inquired of the Lord. David had been anointed king. He knew he would be king, but he also needed and recognized7:41 that it needed to be in the timing of the Lord. He sought the Lord's direction. He didn't make it happen. Verse 4, then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told7:52 David saying the men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul. Now here is something else to take note of. David accepted the small limited opportunity to be king8:04 over Judah, just 1 tribe. We don't see David complaining. Say, hey. Hey. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I I was a I was anointed king. I want the same gig as Saul had. He didn't say that. As we see in8:16 verse 11, David was king over Judah for 7 and a half years before becoming king over all of Israel. Here's the message for us. Do not despise small beginnings.8:27 This is preparing him for success, being able to start with the small. This is a a a promotion principle of scripture. If you're faithful in the small things, you have opportunities8:39 to do opportunity to do bigger things. So do not despise small beginnings. Verse 5. So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead and said to them, you are blessed of the lord for you have shown this kindness to8:51 your lord to Saul and have buried him. Now I'm sure this was a a genuine expression of gratitude, but it was also a very politically wise move. Now juxtapose that to the unwise9:03 and selfish move of Abner, Saul's military commander. Look at verse 8. But Abner, the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbaoth, the son of Saul, and brought him over9:15 to Mahanaim and made him king over Gilead, over the Azurites, over Jazreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.9:27 Ishbaath, Saul's son, was 40 years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned 2 years. Only the house of Judah followed David. Now it's very telling. People were not9:39 clamoring for, 1 of Saul's sons to replace him. It was Abner. Alright? Abner took the initiative. He was the commander of the army. Now when I see when I read this, I had to9:51 wonder, how did he survive the battle? If the king died and the king's sons died in the battle, how did the commander of the army survive? I think Abner, to me,10:03 we're gonna read more about him here in a moment, but I I think he wanted to retain power and influence. He was 1 that was very hungry for power. What a contrast with David. Now this chapter contains more. It's10:15 a the civil war starts between the house of David and the house of Saul. You have Abner and Joab, who is David's commander. They face off in a deadly contest. Ab Abner being10:26 trailed by Joab's brother, Hazael, told him back off, but, Asahel didn't. Verse 22. So Abner said again10:38 to Asahel, turn aside from following me. He's running behind him and chasing him. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab? However, he refused to turn aside.10:50 Therefore, Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear so that the spear came out his back, and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell11:01 down and died, stood still. Alright. This sets the stage what we're gonna read in chapter 3, Joab's murder of Abner, which by the way should have been aCivil War Begins and Closing Prayer 11:13 warning to David about his military leader. Father, we thank you for your word. And as we begin the second book of, Samuel11:24 and we look at the reign of David, lord, and the principles, and we and we we know that he is described as a man after your own heart even though he was a a a man who displayed many fallen,11:39 characteristics of human nature. And, lord, we thank you for your grace. And, lord, we pray that our eyes would be open spiritually that we might learn from the holy11:51 spirit as we journey through this book and continue on our journey through the word. We thank you, and we praise you, and we, ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright.12:03 Thanks for joining me this morning. Have a great day. And until next time, keep standing on the word.12:10 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day,12:22 you can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 The Mystery of Saul's Death2:31 David's Godly Mourning and Respect for Authority4:40 David's Patience and Small Beginnings7:20 Civil War Begins and Closing Prayer11:11 Civil War Begins and Closing Prayer
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