After 7 years as king of the South, David becomes king of the North, too.

• David was 30 years old when he became king; and he reigned for 40 years, verse 4.
• Not everyone in the land submitted easily to his reign, verses 6-10.
• David took more wives and concubines, and fathered more sons and daughters, verse 13. Three wives weren’t enough? Is it any wonder, then, that his son Solomon had so many wives and concubines?
• When faced with a Philistine invasion, however, David sought God’s guidance, verse 19.
• The idols of the conquered Philistines were destroyed, not gathered and sold, verse 21.
• God’s battle plan for a second encounter with the Philistines was for David to wait until he heard the moving of the wind, verse 24. Christians should be waiting for the moving of the Spirit as well.
• In 2 Chronicles 12 we find a record of the number of men in David’s army. Note that some tribes had many soldiers (40,000) and some tribes had few soldiers (3,000). Remember, Gideon went into battle with only 300 men. Size doesn’t matter; strength from God does.

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Highlights of today’s reading:

1 Samuel 2

• David is recognized as king by Judah (the southern tribes), verses 1-7.
• David is rejected as king by Israel (the northern tribes), verses 8-10.
• What starts as a friendly competition between the armies from the North and the South turns into a bloodbath, leaving 20 dead from the north, and 360 dead from the south, verses 11-32.

1 Samuel 3

• There was a long war between the two territories; but David grew stronger and stronger, and had time to have many children, verses 1-6.
• Meanwhile, Abner, the military leader from the north, fell out of favor with his king and was accused of sexual indiscretions. He then turned his support towards David, verses 7-21.
• When Joab, the military leader from the south, learned that Abner was in town, he arranged a meeting and assassinated Abner for having killed Joab’s brother, verses 22-27.
• Joab immediately fell out of favor with his king, verses 28-39.

1 Samuel 4

• Ishbosheth, Saul’s son who had been made king of the north, was assassinated in his home by two of David’s men who acted without orders or approval from David, verses 1-9.
• David ordered their immediate execution, verses 10-12.

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Why did Saul die?

Yesterday we discussed the how of Saul’s death. Although an Amalekite took credit for Saul’s death, and lost his life for the lie (2 Samuel 1:14-16), we are sure that Saul ended his life himself (1 Samuel 31:3-5).

As for the reason why Saul died, there is equal certainty (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Actually the reason is two-fold: he disobeyed God by not keeping God’s commandments, and he disbelieved God and looked to a psychic for help rather than looking to God.

If failure to obey God and failure to consult God were reasons for Saul’s death, why are you still alive?

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This chapter’s account of the death of Saul brings one topic to mind: euthanasia.

Saul, wounded by enemy arrows and fearing torture, asks his armor bearer to make death come swiftly.

This death wish is rejected by the loyal servant; and Saul takes his own life (1 Samuel 31:3-4), followed by the servant’s suicide.

Yes, Saul was definitely dying.

Yes, a lingering death would be painful.

Would it have been merciful for the armor bearer to assist Saul in his death?

Would you have assisted Saul in his death?

Modern proponents like to speak of “quality of life,” and justify euthanasia when the prospects of attaining such (however they define it) are minimal. Given the widespread belief that the earth is burning up and the world’s economy is collapsing, one wonders whether anyone will ever attain “quality of life.” Maybe we should just pass the tainted kool-aid?

Do you have the right to end your own life?

What does God have to say about the matter?

Surely, if Christians are not to grieve as do they who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13), we ought not to live or die as they who have no hope. The believer never gives up or declares, “It’s hopeless.”

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