2 Samuel 1:14
So David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"
So David asked him,

David confronted the Amalekite on the basis of his own testimony. Saul and Jonathan had fallen in Israel’s defeat by the Philistines, and the Amalekite apparently expected David to reward him for removing David’s rival. Instead, David saw the reported act as an offense against the God who had appointed Saul.

1Sa 30:13-15 “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite.”…
2Sa 4:9-12 As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life…

“Why were you not afraid

David expected the fear of the LORD to restrain anyone from harming Israel’s king. Saul’s disobedience and hostility toward David did not cancel God’s original anointing or give David’s supporters authority to seize the kingdom by violence.

1Sa 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him…
1Sa 24:10 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes…

to lift your hand

The Amalekite claimed to have acted deliberately against a helpless king. His account contradicted the record that Saul took his own life after being wounded in battle, suggesting that he invented the account in hope of gaining David’s favor. David nevertheless judged him according to his confession.

1Sa 24:6 So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid…
1Sa 26:11 But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand…

to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

Saul had been anointed by Samuel as Israel’s first king. David had twice refused opportunities to kill Saul because he would not take by force what God had promised to give in His time. David’s reverence for the LORD’s anointed upheld God’s authority over Israel’s throne and pointed forward to the greater honor due to Jesus Christ, God’s ultimate Anointed King—the Messiah, meaning “Anointed One.”

Psa 105:15 “Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”
1Ch 16:22 ‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The second king of Israel, known for his heart after God and his complex life of triumphs and failures. In this passage, he is responding to the news of King Saul's death.

2. The Amalekite
A young man who claimed to have killed Saul, expecting a reward from David. His actions and words are central to the unfolding of this account.

3. Saul
The first king of Israel, anointed by God but later rejected due to disobedience. His death marks a significant transition in Israel's history.

4. The LORD’s Anointed
A term used to describe someone chosen by God for a specific purpose, in this case, King Saul. It underscores the sacredness of God's chosen leaders.

5. Mount Gilboa
The location where Saul and his sons died in battle against the Philistines, setting the stage for the events in this chapter.
Teaching Points
Respect for God’s Anointed
David’s reaction highlights the importance of respecting those whom God has placed in positions of authority, even when they are flawed.

The Fear of the Lord
The Amalekite’s lack of fear in killing Saul contrasts with David’s reverence for God’s anointed, teaching us about the importance of fearing God in our actions.

Integrity in Leadership
David’s consistent respect for Saul, despite Saul’s pursuit of him, demonstrates integrity and faithfulness to God’s principles.

God’s Sovereignty in Leadership
Recognizing that God appoints leaders, and our role is to respect and pray for them, trusting in God’s ultimate plan.

Consequences of Disobedience
The Amalekite’s fate serves as a warning about the consequences of taking matters into our own hands and acting against God’s will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David’s response to the Amalekite reflect his understanding of God’s authority and anointing?

2. In what ways can we show respect for those in authority over us, even when we disagree with them?

3. How does the concept of "the LORD’s anointed" apply to our lives today, particularly in the context of church leadership?

4. What can we learn from David’s example about handling conflicts with those who oppose us?

5. How do the principles in 2 Samuel 1:14 challenge us to examine our own actions and attitudes towards God’s appointed leaders?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 24:6
David previously spared Saul's life, demonstrating his respect for the LORD's anointed, which provides context for his reaction in 2 Samuel 1:14.

1 Chronicles 16:22
This verse reiterates the principle of not harming the LORD's anointed, emphasizing the sacredness of God's chosen leaders.

Romans 13:1
This New Testament passage speaks to respecting authorities, as they are established by God, echoing the respect David shows for Saul.
A Weighty QuestionG. Wood 2 Samuel 1:14
The Amalekite MessengerC. Ness.2 Samuel 1:2-16
The Man Who Professed to have Slain SaulR. Young, M. A.2 Samuel 1:2-16
Tidings from GilboaJ. A. Miller.2 Samuel 1:2-16
Capital PunishmentD. Fraser 2 Samuel 1:13-16
People
Amalekites, David, Jasher, Jonathan, Saul
Places
Ashkelon, Gath, Gilboa, Mount Gilboa, Ziklag
Topics
Afraid, Anointed, David, Death, Destroy, Fear, Forth, Holy, Lift, Lord's, Marked, Oil, Stretch, Stretching, Wast
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Samuel 1:14-15

     8471   respect, for human beings

2 Samuel 1:14-16

     5572   sword
     7318   blood, symbol of guilt

Library
The History of the Psalter
[Sidenote: Nature of the Psalter] Corresponding to the book of Proverbs, itself a select library containing Israel's best gnomic literature, is the Psalter, the compendium of the nation's lyrical songs and hymns and prayers. It is the record of the soul experiences of the race. Its language is that of the heart, and its thoughts of common interest to worshipful humanity. It reflects almost every phase of religious feeling: penitence, doubt, remorse, confession, fear, faith, hope, adoration, and
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Christ Crowned, the Fact
"When God sought a King for His people of old, He went to the fields to find him; A shepherd was he, with his crook and his lute And a following flock behind him. "O love of the sheep, O joy of the lute, And the sling and the stone for battle; A shepherd was King, the giant was naught, And the enemy driven like cattle. "When God looked to tell of His good will to men, And the Shepherd-King's son whom He gave them; To shepherds, made meek a-caring for sheep, He told of a Christ sent to save them.
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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