Rise and Fall: The Rightful, Rejected King
2 Samuel 1:1 – 2:12
February 18, 2024
Jay Haugh
Discouragement led to disobedience.
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. —1 Samuel 30:6 ESV
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. —2 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.” —2 Samuel 1:2-3 ESV
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 1:4 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
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. —2 Samuel 1:11 ESV
David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 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 1:14-16 ESV
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!” —2 Samuel 1:17-19 ESV
David’s refusal highlights Saul’s flaws.
We lament over fallen servants and sin, not celebrate.
“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 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.” —2 Samuel 1:25-26 ESV
David pursues God in prayer.
After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” —2 Samuel 2:1 ESV
David will not rule over the unwilling.
After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. —2 Samuel 2:1-3 ESV
The rejected, anointed king is ruling.
And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. —2 Samuel 2:4 ESV
Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag… —1 Chronicles 12:1 ESV
When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” —2 Samuel 2:4 ESV
David exalts God and honors their loyalty.
When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing.” —2 Samuel 2:4-5 ESV
Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. —2 Samuel 2:10-11 ESV
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Memory Verse: 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV
How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Read 2 Samuel 1
Imagine yourself in David’s position. How would you be feeling after losing your closest friend? Share your emotions and thoughts openly. David expresses his grief through a passionate lament. What healthy ways do you find to express grief and loss in your own life?
In your own life, what are you currently grieving? It could be the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a dream, or a stage of life. How can we grow through our experiences with grief, turning them into opportunities for a deeper connection with God, ourselves, and others?
An Amalekite comes to David and lies to him, telling him that he put Saul out of his misery. Have you ever told a lie to make yourself look good or to draw attention to yourself in some way? How did that situation resolve? Did the lie make the situation better or worse?
Reflecting on Saul’s demise and David’s response, how do we often react to the downfall of others, especially those in positions of authority or leadership? What does David do that is unexpected? Who is someone you do not see eye-to-eye with? How can David’s response give us a fresh perspective on those with whom we struggle?
Jonathan was a close friend of David, and their relationship was very special. Outside of your spouse, do you have a close Christian friend (some might refer to this as an accountability partner)? Is this concept something that interests you? What does it take to cultivate a relationship like this?
Read 2 Samuel 2:1-12
Abner does not have the authority to make Saul’s son king, but he does it anyway for the sake of self-preservation. How can the fear of losing something we have, drive us to do things we shouldn’t? Have you ever struggled with finding your identity in your power, position, or possessions?
Engage the Scriptures by taking a look at the tribal boundaries of Israel. What tribe is David ruling? How would you feel if you were promised a whole pie but only received one slice? What can we learn from David and his response?
The men from Jabesh-gilead do not belong to the tribe of Judah, where David is king. Despite this, he still shows favor to them. When have you been shown kindness unexpectedly? What opportunities do we have to show Christ-like love and compassion in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and families?