How the Mighty Have Fallen

2 Samuel 1
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor

Big Idea: David shows us what it means to forgive and honor even those who oppose us.

I. David’s Leadership (vv. 1-16)
2 Samuel 1:1-16
1 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.’”

A. In battling the Philistine army, Saul’s sons are killed, and he is badly wounded. Rather than face abuse by the Philistines, Saul takes his own life. How did Saul get here? How did he fall so far? Put simply, he failed to obey God and then he refused to repent (cf. 1 Sam. 13:11-14; 1 Chr. 10:13-14). Sometimes seemingly small decisions have much larger consequences.
1 Samuel 13:11-14
11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

A. Upon returning from battle, Dave encounters an Amalekite who reports Saul’s death. Rather than rejoice, David mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan. Moreover, David executes the Amalekite who was clearly lying about his role in Saul’s death in the hopes of currying David’s favor and gaining a reward.

B. In David’s leadership we see:

1. David does not reward wrong-doing (vv. 14-16; cf. 2 Sam. 4:9-11; 1 Cor. 13:6) – David makes it clear that he will pursue justice and punish those who do wrong.
2 Samuel 4:9-11
9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10 when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?”

1 Corinthians 13:6
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

2. David does not rejoice over Saul’s death (vv. 11-12; cf. Prov. 24:17-18; Eze. 33:11) – David does not gloat over Saul’s death, rather he laments the loss of God’s anointed.
Proverbs 24:17-18
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,and turn away his anger from him.

Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

C. What David does do—that stands in contrast to Saul—is call out to God and rely on Him. From a young age David learned the importance of recognizing the battle belongs to the Lord (cf. 1 Sam. 17:36-37).
1 Samuel 17:36-37
36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

II. David’s Lament (vv. 17-27)
2 Sameul 1:17-27
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: 19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 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. 21 “You mountains of Gilboa,let there be no dew or rain upon you,nor fields of offerings!For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 22 “From the blood of the slain,from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back,and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 “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. 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25 “How the mighty have fallenin the midst of the battle!“Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary,surpassing the love of women. 27 “How the mighty have fallen,and the weapons of war perished!”

A. David examples maturity and wisdom in not speaking evil of Saul. Rather, David pays tribute to Saul and honors him as king.

B. In his lament we see David:

1. Respond with respect – Saul had his flaws, but David focuses on his strengths.

2. Respond with reverence – David shows respect not just to Saul, but to the office of king as well.

3. Respond with righteousness – David’s desire is to do what is right in God’s eyes.

4. Respond with heartbreak – David mourns not just the loss of a king, but the loss of his friend, Jonathan, as well.

C. Scripture reminds there is a time for all things under the sun, including grief (cf. Ec. 3:4). Mourning is a proper way to honor the life of those who have died and to work through our loss as well. Saul turned out to be unfit as king, but he was a brave soldier and David honors his life and service as king of Israel.
Ecclesiastes 3:4
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;