
1 Samuel 31 - 2 Samuel 1 | The Unlikely Ending
2 Samuel 1:1-16
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”
Questions to Consider
How should the people of God respond when those who have hurt us fall?
How can we mourn like a king?
What breaks your heart?
What breaks the heart of Jesus?
Justice is a reflection of God’s holy and righteous standard, grounded in His perfect character.
Revenge is an act of retaliation, often rooted in pride and motivated by the satisfaction of “getting even.”
Reflection question: How should the people of God respond when those who have hurt us fall?
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. (1 Samuel 1:1, ESV)
“And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. David said to him, ‘Where do you come from?’ And he said to him, ‘I have escaped from the camp of Israel.’ And David said to him, ‘How did it go? Tell me.’ And he answered, ‘The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.’” (2 Samuel 1:2-4, ESV)
“Then David said to the young man who told him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?’ And the young man who told him said, ‘By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. And 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?” I answered him, “I am an Amalekite.” And he said to me, “Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.” So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.’” (2 Samuel 1:5-10, ESV)
How to Mourn Like a King
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. (2 Samuel 1:11-12, ESV)
- David’s Grief is Personal
“The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.” (2 Samuel 1:22b-23, ESV)
What if Grief is An Act of Worship?
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book. - Psalm 56:8, NLT
2. David’s Grief is Communal
“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19, ESV).
3. David’s Grief is Holy
“Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.” (2 Samuel 1:20, ESV)
Reflection Question: What breaks your heart?
Does my heart break for my own hurt or for the sin that is hurting this world?
A Life of Rebellion
And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’” (2 Samuel 1:13-16, ESV)
A Life of Rebellion Looks Like…
When we refuse to submit to what God is doing in our lives
When we chase after idols, believing they can satisfy
When we cling to selfish ambition
When we resist God’s discipline
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the full convergence of justice, mercy, and grace
In Justice: “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
In Mercy: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)
In Grace: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Will you submit to Jesus as King?
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15, ESV)
COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS
Read 2 Samuel 1:1-16
• How do you respond when you hear about the brokenness or failures of others? Is your response shaped more by a sense of justice, revenge, or something else?
• How does your understanding of God’s grace in your own life shape the way you respond to others’ mistakes or sins? Are there specific areas where you struggle to extend grace?
A People Who Mourn
Big Thought: David’s response to the death of Saul is the heart of a man who understands his role in God’s story.
• When you experience hurt caused by others, do you consider what this might mean for your role in God’s story?
• How do we mourn personal losses in light of God’s sovereignty?
• Do you mourn for the pain of your community? Of our world?
• How can we make sure our responses are aligned with God’s heart—responding in a way that brings healing, restoration, and hope rather than retreating or becoming numb to it?
A King Who Grieves
Read or Summarize John 11:17-36
Jesus mourns at the tomb of Lazarus, not simply because of the death of His friend, but because of the deeper sorrow caused by sin and the brokenness it has brought into the world. When Jesus sees the weeping of those around Him, He is deeply moved in spirit and troubled (John 11:33). His grief reflects His heart for a creation marred by sin and death
• Jesus grieves over the consequences of sin and death from a place of perfect righteousness. How does understanding Jesus’ perfect grief shape the way we should approach grieving sin and injustice in our own lives?
• Jesus’ grief does not stop at mourning; it moves to action on the cross where his sacrifice offered justice, mercy and grace. How can we reflect the heart of the gospel when we encounter the brokenness of the world? How can we move from mourning to offering hope, just as Jesus did?
Conclude your time by reading Revelation 21:3-4 together.
Pray in hope, knowing that God will one day right every wrong and dry every tear in the presence of His glory!