Why Did David Shoot the Messenger? Part 1

Base Scripture: 2 Samuel 1 (NKJV)

You ever heard that saying “don’t shoot the messenger?” Well I think David was one of the earliest people recorded to have done just that. When I first read this passage, I had a hard time understanding David’s actions. It seemed unnecessary and without more context, it would seem brutal. But as always, I get to thinking about who David was, who God said David was, his character, his actions, his success.

So, I asked myself “why did David kill the messenger?”

Who is the messenger? In reading the passage, one word kept jumping out at me: Amalekite. I remembered that the Amalekites along with other “-ites” had feuds with Israel, so I looked into Israel’s history with the Amalekites. Let me tell you, these people were evil. In Deuteronomy, it’s mentioned that the Amalekites would attack the Israelites (mainly women and children) that were lingering behind while they were making their way to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 25:17, NKJV). These are also the ones that attacked Ziklag, the town David was residing in with his followers. While he was away in battle with his army, the Amalekites invaded and took the women and children (1 Samuel 30, NKJV).

These people were so evil in the sight of the Lord, that God commanded King Saul to annihilate every single Amalekite. However, Saul decided to keep King Agag of the Amalekites alive (1 Samuel 15, NKJV). As a result, Haman (a descendant or King Agag) would eventually attempt to exterminate all of the Jews using the king’s orders (Esther 3:8-10, NKJV).

These are the Amalekites.

The messenger that brought David the news of King Saul and Jonathan’s deaths was an Amalekite. So I said to myself, okay these people are bad news obviously, and only alive because of a dead king’s disobedience. But then I started thinking about how the messenger brought David the crown and bracelets of the king. Surely this guy isn’t so bad, he could have kept the treasure for himself. God has shown himself to be merciful on numerous accounts, so what did this guy do to warrant death? So I read and reread the New King James Version, and my goodness I couldn’t figure it out.

Side note: when I first started reading the Word of God consistently for myself I started out in the New Living Translation (NLT), which I highly recommend if you have a hard time understanding the Word of God. But I couldn’t understand why people would use the KJV. All those “thous” and “haths” had me all kinds of confused. The NLT basically provides the “essence” of what is being said and it was perfect for me starting out. But Eventually, I began reading the NLT with the New King James (NKJV) as a supplement because I wanted to get an exact translation. Later, I would only read the NKJV and begin using a Strong’s Concordance to understand the Hebrew or Greek words. Now, I’ve found myself transitioning into using the King James Version (KJV) and all of the confusion that came with the “thous” and “haths” has become a thing of the past. The deeper I went into the Word of God the more the Spirit expanded my mind to understanding the writing. That’s for anyone who has a hard time understanding the Bible; it won’t always be hard. Start with a version you understand (I recommend NLT or NIV) and the deeper you go, you may find yourself reading NKJV or KJV.

SO I decided to read the King James Version and that’s when it all came together. The messenger literally claims that he “just so happened” to be on Mt. Gilboa (2 Samuel 1:6, NKJV). [Insert side eye here] He “just so happened” to be on a mountain where an epic battle had just taken place? Given his people’s history, it would more have seemed he was looking to plunder what was left behind. Remember the Amalekites attacked the Israelites who were lagging behind the group, they attacked the women and children left behind in Ziklag as David and his army were out to battle…

The Amalekites have a history of taking what is left behind.

The Amalekite messenger CLAIMS he was on Mt. Gilboa, for unknown reasons, and comes across a very much alive, but injured King Saul. Saul tells the Amalekite to kill him because he’s still alive despite his attempt to end his life. Now if Saul were dying, then he wouldn’t need the Amalekite to kill him (sounds redundant) or at the most, he’d say that he wants a quicker death. The KJV puts this all in perspective. Saul, although injured, wasn’t dying but as he put it, had “whole life.” However, the messenger describes how he goes ahead to kill Saul because the messenger “believed” he was going to die from his injuries anyway.

So what’s the problem with this?

It implies that the Amalekite didn’t attempt to save Saul, but simply took Saul’s fate into his own hands and finished what Saul failed at. Which is deep because Saul was ordered to kill all of the Amalekites. If Saul had obeyed completely, then what he was supposed to kill wouldn’t have been able to come back and kill him.

Selah on that for a second.

BUT WAIT, there’s more! I wanted to put emphasis on the fact that the Amalekite CLAIMED all of this, because if you go to the previous chapter, the account of Saul’s death is quite different. In 1 Samuel 31 (NKJV), Saul is severely injured by arrows. He tells his armor bearer to kill him because he doesn’t want the philistines to do it. The armor bearer refuses because of his reverence, so Saul stabbed himself. In turn, the armor bearer saw that Saul was dead and then he killed himself as well (1 Samuel 31:1-6, NKJV). So which is the truth? I personally think this account is actually what happened considering that this account is given from a 3rd person point of view (I highly doubt the writer is mistaken), and the other account is given from someone who isn’t exactly trustworthy.

But to be honest, it actually doesn’t matter.

The Amalekite’s eagerness to kill or claim that he killed the king that probably killed his family and friends, was a demonstration of blatant irreverence for God and His people. This Amalekite probably knew the history of the Israelites and as such he knew their God, but obviously didn’t understand the Israelite’s history, nor their God. David and the armorbearer knew not to kill the king. If the Amalekite actually understood the Israelites relationship with God, he wouldn’t have dared make the claim to take King Saul out (allegedly), then have the audacity to bring the crown to David. Perhaps this is why David said, “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, KJV)

If you’ve read the previous chapters, we know David has an issue with killing “the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24 & 1 Samuel 26: 9-11, NKJV) David had two good opportunities to kill Saul; once while he was going potty in a cave and another while he was sleeping in his tent. Both times, Saul was completely vulnerable, but David insisted that neither he nor his people would touch the “Lord’s anointed.”

David had a deep reverence for the Lord.

But here this Amalekite comes and claims to have killed the Lord’s anointed without hesitation. This is what David takes such issue with. This is why God tells Saul to eliminate these people. They have no fear of the Lord and if they have no fear of the Lord, then they most certainly won’t have fear of His people. And worse, they try to take you out when you’re vulnerable! Attacking those lagging behind, waiting until the army was gone to ransack David’s town, killing an injured king...these people will hit you when you’re already weak and laying on the ground...literally.

At least the Philistines would meet the Israelites in battle head on. You could say the same for the Hittites and Moabites. But these Amalekites, they were not to be trusted, they fought dirty because of their irreverence. They would continue to do horrible things to try to destroy God’s people.

It’s hard to admit, but it made sense to shoot the messenger. He wasn’t only the bearer of bad news, he allegedly caused it. And so, he has to go. So I patted myself on the back for the Spirit giving insight and bringing scriptures to my remembrance. But I knew there was a personal reason God had me read it. All of this was able to transpire because Saul didn’t fully obey the Lord’s command. What he failed to kill ended up killing him. And He asked me…

“What am I failing to destroy in my life that may end up destroying me?”

Be Sure to Read Part 2!

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Photo credit: https://www.lifehouse.network/dont-shoot-the-messenger/

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