#443 High Places

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16 And 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.

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 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.

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! 2 Samuel 1 KJV

David has had more than one opportunity to kill Saul, but he refuses to touch God's anointed. Now comes news back from the battle, and David is home from his own battle, saving his house from those Saul let live. The man bears proof in his hands of Saul's state, he hopes to gain favor now from the next in line, and so he spins a tale that in his mind makes him a hero, but whether true in it's details or not, it becomes his indictment. David's reaction is not what he expected, he rents his clothes, he weeps, as men should grieve over sin, because it's common to all men. He, who made himself my enemy, now sleeps, he who carried himself against God in his pride, he who God made king is dead by the hands of those he spared. Notice, he pleaded with Saul in life, rebuked him by his own actions and peaceful words, was broken over Saul's sin on his behalf, and here in his death he mourns. This is your chance, son of Jesse, take the throne, throw yourself off the temple and the angels will catch you. What did Jesus teach us, I only do what I see the Father doing. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. David already received the promise and the anointing; he need not rush or make his own way, only trust and do what God said. Take the time of your waiting and the time of peace, in the eye of the hurricane, read and pray. When the wind is not so loud speak softly in your heart, so that you are later prepared to raise your voice above the storm. This is not the celebration out the bottom of the mount, let there be no golden calf, instead repent and be saved for the kingdom is at hand. Fasting and mourning his predecessor, David comes out of this at even, slow to speak was he, but now fast and determined in his wrath. "How were you not afraid to touch the Lord's anointed?" He directed one of his men to execute the witness, and some may cry, don't kill the messenger, he only said what he saw. Shouldn't David be happy? No, he must rectify the things that the past administration did wrong, and hold up that which was good. The man's blood is upon his own head, for he claimed to have killed God's anointed, whether by the word of the king or if all a lie, he claimed to have raised his hand against God, for Saul and all else belongs to Him. 

He also bid them teach the children the use of the bow, for this is how it is recorded that the mighty have fallen. The jackal above only swept in upon the meat of another's kill, he was a scavenger. Learn the bow, prepare the army, he is now employing the role of government, fix the breaches, provide for the common defense. The sling was great against goliath, it held it's place in high regard, for God will often make use of the foolish and the base to confound the strong and the wise, but now learn the bow, we are able to have it so protect yourselves and your country accordingly. 

The beauty of Israel is slain, those who God has lifted up are now fallen, and those we thought much of are pierced through, should we not lament? He calls them mighty and does not raise any argument against the dead, but is still fixed upon the honor of truth, "do not brag about it in Gath", he laments what they shall say against the God of Israel. 

Let there be no dew upon the mountain, take away the glory of the grasses, the fruit, say to this fig tree you are cursed, for a tree is known by it's fruit. David would have this be a place of sorrow, of desolation, not of honor. How could God's anointed, His chosen people come to such a place?

Remember the good things they had done. The sword of Saul had often gone out on behalf of Israel, the bow of Jonathan had brought down many. They were beautiful, God had made them both swift and mighty, strong before Israel. 

Don't be so fickle now, your protector and provider is dead, the cause of your peace is gone, your champion has fallen. Don't aim for the sun in your heart, thinking that you are not like Icarus, that somehow you would bear the weight of the crown and not melt in the heat of praise, the flattery of broken records. 

Oh how I cried some chapters back, that I had never had a friend like Jonathan, but now I mourn that I have never been a friend like Jonathan. His love was better than the crown. His love was pure in not despising the crown or whence it came. His love was better than a woman's for it was not born of passion, could not be confused for lust, the beauty of his head was his heart, that he feared God and loved him who God had chosen. This should be your rival, are you not understanding of earthly things? How has he become the friend of your soul? For those that say, well Jonathan was not brave enough or strong enough to the throne, this is he who chased a thousand. "Behold I stand at the door and knock." If you can't see it I am going to help you understand at least the why. You must be born again. God, please let me reflect the heart and light of Your Son in my friendships, my marriage, my going out and coming in, let me be a true friend that answers with what you have said, and loves unconditionally. You have the thrown of my heart, do not let me think otherwise. 

 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:


These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3: 14-22