After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and he paid homage.
David said to him, "Where do you come from?" And he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel." 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."
David said to the young man who told him, "Do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David took hold of his clothes and he tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
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." And David said to him, "How is it you are not afraid to put to death the hand— to put— how is it that you are not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" Then David called on one of the young men and said to him, "Go, execute him." — I think that this is backwards. Sorry. Am I— am I on the— yes. Okay. Great.
Then David called to one of the young men and said to him, "Go, execute him." 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.'"
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. And he said:
"Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places. How the mighty have fallen! 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.
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. 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.
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.
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished."
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. You may be seated.
Well, good morning. Great to be with you. If you have your Bible, I encourage you to turn— encourage you to turn to our passage, as we didn't read everything, so it'd be good to be able to see it all in front of you. But let me pray for us as we come to God's word.
Our Father, we thank you that you have given us your word, that it is holy and perfect, and that it is useful for our instruction. We pray that the things that you teach us this morning, you would implant deeply in our hearts and minds, that we might live them out for your glory and your kingdom. In Christ's name. Amen.
I want you to hold this question in your mind as we begin, because