2 Samuel 1:1 says, 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; After Saul’s death, David had returned to Ziklag and stayed there for two days. David. who now certainly could claim the kingship of Israel, was still hiding out with the Philistines. As Christians, we do not need to be hiding out with those who are not while our fellow believers are fighting against Satan and his forces today. Verse two adds, 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. On the third day after Saul's death, a young man, as he is later referred to as being, came to David from Israel. He was in bad shape, and fell to the ground in in honor before David. If people who are in bad shape come to us for help, they shouldn't have to come as though we are some how better than them. As followers of Christ, we are all equal spiritually and should all be willing to help our fellow believers without them feeling inferior to us or our feeling superior to them. Verse three continues, And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. When David asked the young man where he was from, he said he had escaped out of Israel. David knew the Philistines were going to war with Israel, had even offered to go with them, and was evidently not very concerned about the people of Israel. He was more interested in protecting himself. We know that many of our fellow Christians are at war with the world today and we are many times unconcerned because we are safe and that is our priority. Even then, we at times may aid the enemy more than we do our fellow Christians. Verse four states, 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 asked the young man how the war was going. He told David the people had fled and many were dead, including Saul and his son Jonathan. David may have been hiding from Saul, but Jonathan and he had made a covenant to protect one another. If we run from our enemies, our fellow believers may fall even if our enemies do while we are safely sitting out the battle. Verse five adds, And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? David asked the young man how he knew Saul and Jonathan were dead. If someone comes to us with news today, we should always ask how they know that it is true. Verse six continues, 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. He told David that as he happened upon Gilboa, that Saul leaned on his spear and the chariots of the Philistines were hard after him. Saul could have been a great king had he been obedient to God, but he wasn't and in the end, when he was standing by his own strength and power, they failed him. We can be great in the battle against evil today as long as we stand under God's power, but if we attempt to stand by our own while we are out of fellowship with God, we will ultimately fall. Verse seven says, And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. The young man said Saul called him over and he went to him and told him he was there. If people are calling on us when they are in trouble today, the first thing we must do is acknowledge that we hear them. I believe that too often we are deaf to the cries for help from those around us because we fear that it will upset our peaceful life. Verse eight adds, And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. Verse nine continues, 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. The young man said Saul asked him who he was and he told him, and Saul then asked him to finish killing him because he was in anguish because he was still alive. I personally don't believe that we should ever be in such anguish that we want to end our life. Verse ten concludes, 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. The young man said he did as Saul asked because he was sure that Saul could not survive his injuries. He said he then took the crown and bracelet from Saul and brought them to David. I certainly don't believe that we should ever decide that someone is so bad off that we should kill them. Still, if they are in a hopeless situation, we may be called on to decide whether to continue to attempt to keep them existing, even when there is no hope of improvement or quality of life.
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