THERE are two episodes in the life of David just before he ascended the throne, that are so full of gospel truth and warning that we would desire to dwell upon them a little.
The throne of Israel was David’s by God’s appointment (1 Sam. 16), and yet he was a stranger and rejected. In this he foreshadows our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though He might have ascended the throne, went as the holy Victim to Calvary’s cross, and was a Stranger in His own world, having not where to lay His head. Again, as in 1 Samuel 30, we find David on his way to execute vengeance upon the Amalekites, who had taken that which he held most precious, just as Christ will visit with judgment those who reject His claims, and despise the objects of His love, proving themselves His enemies.
But it is while David is on the way to wreak vengeance on his adversaries that we find a signal example of royal clemency in his meeting with the young Egyptian. Abandoned by his Amalekite master because of his sickness, left to perish in the desert when he no longer could serve that selfish purpose, what a picture of distress and helplessness does he present! And in this he graphically sets forth the state of the dying sinner’s last hours, with the claims of Christ and death before him. Satan, whom he has served in his life and health, now leaves him to die alone, and to sink into a hopeless, Christless grave. Oh! how many, with death staring them in the face, have felt the emptiness of all they have lived for, all unavailing to alleviate the gnawing of conscience in that solemn hour, and darkness and eternal death ahead. Oh! reader, may it never be yours to pass such moments, but now, before it be too late, “repent and believe the gospel,” and you will find it abundantly true as Christ has said, “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
But our chapter reminds us also of the exercise of a soul who finds that having sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), he has been brought in guilty before God, and that death has passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). Satan first seeks to prevent such from dwelling upon these things, and looking the issue straight in the face, or leaves him in the slough of despond in darkness and distress without a gleam of hope. Yet it is well to recall what one has truly said, that “Christ receives the devil’s castaways,” and this we find set forth in David and the Egyptian. Being brought to David, who had lately been so wronged by the company of whom he formed a part, the stranger tells him all the truth about himself. He conceals nothing. And from experiencing the generosity of David’s servants who gave him bread and water, figs and raisins, (so suggestive of God as Giver), he becomes acquainted with God’s rejected king; and from being an enemy forms part of those associated with David when he executes judgment on the Amalekites.
How eloquently this speaks of the grace of Christ, who, Himself rejected, bestows upon the poor guilty sinner who is brought to Him, and confesses his guilt, a frank pardon, a free forgiveness, and then enrolls him in the ranks of those who, having known and loved Him in the days of His rejection, will be owned by Him, and will share His triumphs in the day of His glory. May it be yours to bow to the Saviour now, dear reader, to know His blessed word, “Thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:55When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5); Col. 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)), though it mean to be rejected by the world. “If we suffer we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12)).
In 2 Samuel 1 another personage comes before David—an Amalekite. The intervening chapter shows us the flower of Israel, and Saul their king, with Jonathan his son, ignominiously defeated and slain on Mount Gilboa. How deeply does the heart of David feel this sorrow and shame.
And how beautiful is his lament in all truth and sincerity for the sad end of the one who had behaved so treacherously to him. But the Amalekite knew nothing of David’s feelings, and judging him by merely human nature, supposes that he will find pleasure in hearing of the overthrow of Saul. If additionally he can only present himself as the one who actually cleared away the barrier to David’s taking the kingdom, he thinks that a place of honor and favor must be his. It is quite clear from the recital of the facts of Saul’s death in 1 Samuel 31. that the Amalekite was not actually concerned in putting an end to Saul’s life. One cannot escape the conclusion that he came with a deliberate falsehood to David, and probably that he rifled the slain of their ornaments for his own advantage.
How different is the reception of the tidings from what he had supposed. Instead of joy and feasting and revelry, David ordered mourning and weeping and fasting. The young Amalekite is then brought before David again, and his mouth avowing the guilty deed, he is met with the solemn and searching question, “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand against the Lord’s anointed?” (vs. 14), and immediately by the king’s command he was slain.
Let us remark that although this Amalekite did not actually put an end to King Saul, he shows clearly by the part that he acts before David that he would have done it to secure his own advantage. And you, dear unsaved reader, may think that because you were not among those who cried, “Away with Him! Crucify Him! His blood be upon us and upon our children,” that therefore the guilt of the rejection and death of Christ is not yours. But you and I by nature have hearts that would have acted in an exactly similar manner had we been there at the time. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God (Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)). The voice of the husbandmen when the Son was sent, “This is the Heir; come, let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours” (Mark 12:77But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. (Mark 12:7)), would have been our voice; indeed all classes of Jew and Gentile were represented in condemning Christ. God has reversed this unholy sentence, and has raised Him from the dead. The resurrection is thus spoken of as an “assurance” that God will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:33Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (Acts 17:3)t).
Reader, the world is an Aceldama, a field of blood, to the eye of God. The voice of the blood of Christ we may well say crieth unto God from the ground. It now speaks to the repentant sinner who endorses God’s righteous act in raising Christ “better things than that of Abel,” for it speaks of eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12, 12:24). “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.” To refuse to listen will be to be brought before a greater than David, and from Him to hear those awful words, “Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee;” “Thy blood be upon thy head, for thy mouth hath testified against thee saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed” (Luke 19:2222And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: (Luke 19:22); 2 Sam. 1:1616And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed. (2 Samuel 1:16)).
F. L.