Articles, Bible Questions and Discipleship Guides

One of the ways to discern what a leader’s priorities are is to watch what they do first when they assume a position of power. That’s why people carefully study the “first 100 days” of a new American presidency. They believe that whatever a president does first reflects what is most important to them. 

The biblical author did not need 100 days to communicate King David's priorities; David’s character and priorities emerge in the first 100 hours of his reign. 

As we dive into the narrative of 2 Samuel, we’re given four responses and actions from David after he learns that King Saul has tragically died. 

FIERCE JUSTICE 

News of Saul’s death is brought to David at his camp in Ziklag by an Amalekite man who claims to have witnessed Saul’s death. The evidence of his claim is the royal crown of Saul, which he reveals to David. When David asks this man how he witnessed Saul’s death, the Amalekite declares that he was ordered by Saul to quickly kill him— to spare his corpse any indignities by the enemy—and so he did. 

This man is claiming to have put Saul out of his misery, for Saul was indeed fatally wounded, but he was actually lying to David. The true account from 1 Samuel 31 tells us that Saul committed suicide by falling on his own sword as the battle turned against him. The Amalekite is lying in hopes of being rewarded by David. After all, he’s put to death David’s royal enemy. 

David’s response was surprising, not only to the Amalekite, but to the assembled crowd. “Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him … Then David called one of the young men and said, ‘Go, execute [the Amalekite].’ And he struck him down so that he died ” (2 Samuel 1:11, 15). 

David clearly believed that this man was telling the truth and ordered him to be executed as a punishment for laying his hand against the Lord’s anointed—something David had numerous chances to do himself, but refrained. 

By taking this action, David executes justice based on this man’s false confession and communicates to the nation that he had nothing to do with the death of Saul. This strategically stops the rumor mill before it can even start. 

GRACIOUS GRIEF 

“And David lamented … over Saul and Jonathan” (2 Samuel 1:17). 

This, too, would have been a surprise to those who had followed David for the past few years, running for their lives from the murderous King Saul. How can David now lament over the death of his enemy? 

David chooses to remember Saul in the most generous terms and expresses his deep sorrow at the death of his best friend and brother-in-law, Jonathan. 

“Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! … Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; … You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, …I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan” (2 Samuel 1:19, 23-24, 26). 

This lament serves many purposes beyond just a genuine expression of grief by someone who knew both Saul and Jonathan well. It also sets Israel’s remembrance of King Saul in the most gracious terms. Self-centered leaders quickly seek to vilify and denigrate their predecessors upon assuming power; but godly leaders create unity by choosing graciousness. 

SUBMISSIVE PRAYER 

Next, and most importantly, David immediately asks God for specific guidance. “After this David inquired of the LORD, ‘Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?’” (2 Samuel 2:1). 

Just because he has assumed power does not mean David thinks he is capable of functioning without God’s leading. He’s learned the lesson from his past mistake of trying to do things his own way.

He now sets a standard that Israel’s new king will govern in submission to the will of God. The new king of Israel will diligently seek the wisdom of God before making leadership decisions. This is godly leadership on display. 

COMPASSIONATE DIPLOMACY 

At this critical moment in Israel’s history, David is crowned King of Judah. The unification of Israel will not take place for many more years, as we will see in the next article, but now, for the first time in his life, David is not just anointed, he is crowned. 

What is his first official act? To demonstrate compassionate diplomacy in his realm. 

When David discovers that the men of Jabesh-Gilead bravely rescued Saul’s corpse from enemy soldiers, burying him with the respect due his office, David sends them this message: “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 2:5-6). 

The men of Jabesh-Gilead paid tribute to their former king, and they may have been fearful that David would punish them for their loyalty and honor bestowed on King Saul. But they had nothing to fear. Instead of jealous retaliation, David secures a key alliance with this important region in Israel. And once again, he demonstrates that his reign will be marked by graciousness, not grievances. 

In our next article, we’ll discover that David’s graciousness did not eliminate problems in his new kingdom. It might have been simpler for him to eradicate all support of King Saul from the land. 

Instead, David models the kind of leadership that puts the good of the people ahead of the ambition of the leader. This is the kind of leadership we have from our own Savior, the Son of David, who sacrificed His personal satisfaction for our personal salvation.