A Heart Like David (2 Samuel 1)

I still remember, as a kid, when Princess Diana died in a car crash. Anyone else? It was a big deal. Her death was mourned all around the world (Reports that 2.5 billion people watched her funeral). Which is just staggering to me. My American-born-and-raised mom loved Diana. She was devastated by her death.  

I remember wondering, “Why did people love her so much?” See, Diana embodied values people could relate to. She was authentic, compassionate, and used her position to care for ordinary people. She didn’t feel distant like the rest of the royal family, and people thought she used her influence for the good of others. 

Diana gives us a taste of what we want from our leaders: Someone who’s trustworthy, who cares about us, and who uses their influence for our good.  

And that longing for a leader who reflects good values points us to what we see in David. 

This morning we’re going to take a closer look at leadership and, in particular, what it means to have a heart like David. See, godly leaders not only know the heart of God. They live to serve God and call others to do the same. But before we jump into 2 Samuel… 

Let me quickly recap where we are in the story: Two important battles are happening at the same time, but the outcomes couldn’t be more different. 

While David and his men defeat the Amalekites, Saul and his men are defeated by the Philistines. 1 Samuel ends with Saul’s story in ruins: Israel is defeated, their land is taken, and Saul and Jonathan are killed. It’s hard to imagine a sadder ending to a life. But Saul’s death also means Israel’s about to undergo a leadership change.  

As 2 Samuel opens, David doesn’t know any of this. He’s about to learn of Saul’s death from an unexpected messenger. 

[2 Samuel 1:1] – After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.  

Three days after David’s victory over the Amalekites, some random guy from Saul’s camp shows up in Ziklag. He’s dressed like someone who’s been mourning, and the moment he sees David, he falls to the ground and starts bowing to him. Now, if you’re David, you’re like, What are we doing here? 

[v. 3] – David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And [the man] said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” Again, this is just some random guy. He’s not a high-ranking official or someone close to Saul. And this is the first time David’s heard that Israel’s been defeated. 

It’s not like David can hop on the internet and confirm the news. Prove it. [v. 5] – …“How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

Now, this guy’s put together a convincing story. And Saul’s crown seems to confirm the main point: Saul’s dead. I mean, how else would this guy have his crown? 

But when you read back through his story, several things just seem off. He’s making some big decisions for a guy that’s in no position to do so. For example, I’d wanna know:  

• You’re a young guy. How long have you been serving in Saul’s army? Have you seen a lot of men wounded in battle?  
• Are you a medic?  
• Who are you to decide that Saul’s injuries are past the point of saving? Did you even try?  

But more importantly, this guy’s story doesn’t work because it doesn’t match what the Bible says elsewhere. 1 Samuel 31 and 1 Chronicles 10 tell us that Saul was badly wounded and that he asked his armor-bearer to kill him. And when his armor-bearer refused, Saul killed himself. In fact, Saul’s armor-bearer killed himself only after he watched Saul die. David couldn’t know that, but we know this guy’s lying.  

Most likely, he was making his way through the fallen soldiers after the battle, and when he stumbled upon the bodies of Saul and Jonathan, he saw an opportunity for personal gain.  

He knew David had been anointed king, so he probably assumed David would be happy to hear Saul was dead. And if David thought this man had helped bring about the transition, maybe he’d reward him for it. And there’s a part of us that thinks: “That makes a lot of sense.”  

But that just highlights one of the enduring problems of the human heart. [Jeremiah 17:9] says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

Just think about what’s being formed in this guy’s heart and how easily we justify it. He must be thinking: (1) I was in the right place at the right time. My name’s gonna be etched in the history books. I’m gonna be the guy who ended the reign of Saul and handed the crown to David. There’s a great reward waiting for me. 

And I think, how many of us are tempted to do the same thing? How many of us are tempted to game the system and to cut corners just to get ahead?  

We embellish our CVs. We cheat a little on our exams. We tell small lies to make ourselves sound better than we are. And all for what? Is a little worldly gain really worth our integrity? In principle, we say no, but in practice we say, yeah!  

It’s no mistake that this guy’s name is not mentioned once. Not the ending he hoped for.  

(2) But the other part of his plan was assuming David would celebrate Saul’s death. And honestly, that makes sense too. David had plenty of reasons to be relieved, if not happy, to hear Saul was dead.  

David spent years running from Saul. Saul tried to spear him. He sent David out to the front lines to be slain by their enemies. He had to live in caves. He had to move his family far away. He was driven from worship. 

I mean, I get annoyed by all the motorbikes driving on the sidewalk. Would any of us really be surprised if David hated Saul?  

It makes you wonder: How dangerous is the human heart? If our hearts are really as deceitful as the Bible warns, what guardrails are we putting in place to protect us from a life of destruction? And what seeds of besetting sins are already present in our hearts that we need to uproot?  

Maybe those besetting sins are seeds of anger and judgementalism. Or pornography and addiction. Cheating on your finances. Desire for approval. An inability to forgive others. 

We often think growth means adding something new. But sometimes growth comes through subtraction. Maybe the thing that’s going to bring the most joy into your life in this season isn’t something you add, but a sin you finally put to death by God’s grace. 

But let me warn you: One thing I’ve learned over the years is that it’s much easier to grow in folly than it is to mature in wisdom. And while we may have the best intentions to grow in healthy ways, we often underestimate the temptation to compromise.  

See, the condition of the heart is an underlying issue throughout this story. Which leads us to ask: What does a heart devoted to God look like?  

And this matters for any community that wants to live for God. The longer I spend in ministry, the more convinced I am that God’s people need mature, godly leaders. And I’m not saying that to prop up leaders. I’m saying it because Scripture shows us, and ministry has taught me, that the answer to bad leaders isn’t no leaders; it’s godly ones who depend on the Lord.  

And that’s especially relevant for a kingdom going through a leadership change. See, the Bible repeatedly connects the character of a leader with the direction of a people.^[1]  

When I think back to Saul’s leadership, he’s like the definition of what people mean when they say never meet your heroes. Saul sounds like a great King from a distance. But up close, we learn he’s most driven by fear and insecurity.  

But what about David? What kind of leader is David? And the best way to answer that is by looking at the quality of his character. See, David’s a man after God’s own heart. But what are the qualities of a heart devoted to God?  

Let me point out three qualities we see on display in how David responds to Saul’s death:  

1. A heart for God waits on God’s timing to accomplish His just plans.  

This is a heart posture of submission. David has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to wait on the Lord and trust His timing. One of the challenges of waiting on God is that you don’t get out in front of Him. Because if you do, you’re not following His lead, and that just doesn’t work. 

David has spent most of his time as the King-in-waiting on the run. Twice, he had the opportunity to kill Saul, but refused because he said that’s not up to me. That’s up to God.  

Now, David’s confronted with another test of whether or not he’s really submitted to God’s plan.  

See, this Amalekite was betting on David celebrating Saul’s death because it cleared the way for David to be King. But if David rewards him, it could look like David approved of Saul’s death and undermine his credibility. But when David learns of Saul’s death, the first thing he does is mourn.  

[v. 11] – David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.  

David doesn’t rejoice at Saul’s death at all. He’s devastated. And at first, you might think: Really? Is David actually that heartbroken over Saul? Yes, he is.  

David’s first thought wasn’t, “What does this mean for me?” His first thought was to grieve. And based on the Amalekite’s story, David thinks this guy’s stepped outside God’s plans by doing something he should not have done.  

So after mourning, David comes back and says, “Where’d you say you’re from again?” [v. 13] – …And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

David’s doing what any good King should do. He’s applying God’s good Law to the situation. [Lev. 24:22] – “You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God.”  

This guy may not be an Israelite by birth, but he’s lived among God’s people long enough to be held accountable to the same law. And according to his own story, he’s violated an important principle of God’s kingdom. [Ex. 22:28] says, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” Which the Amalekite has clearly done.  

So David says, “What were you thinking, touching the Lord’s Anointed like that? What you’ve done is an offense against God and a violation of the way He’s called us to live.” 

This would be like someone watching the Prime Minister get shot in the back and then saying they didn’t bother to call an ambulance because they thought he’d be dead before anyone got there. You did what? 

[v. 15] – Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

David’s response shows that a godly leader is motivated more by God’s will than human ambition. And this isn’t just about appearances. David doesn’t do this just to distance himself from someone’s bad decisions. He does this because he’s a man who’s learned to wait on God.  

Our staff team has spent a lot of time this year talking about waiting on God. And there’s a temptation for us to just force the issue to get our way because we get tired of asking God to do the same things and then waiting to see what He’ll do. But it’s been a reminder that God’s plans only happen when God makes them happen. So we wait on Him to move.  

Which reminds me of the importance of praying with expectation. It’s like my kids asking to go to the pool. They put on their swimsuits, grab their towels, and get ready. Then they wait for Sarah or me to take them. 

They know they can’t go unless one of us goes with them. That’s how we wait on God: We pray, we prepare, and we trust God to move in his perfect timing. We don’t want to do anything to overstep that process.  

Now, in case you’re still wondering if David’s really grieving the loss of Saul, in the second part of the chapter, he writes this beautiful eulogy for Saul and Jonathan. And it just shows that David understands the moment. 

At a time when the nation’s lost its leader, they need stability. So David gives them a path toward healing. He says [v. 18] his lament…should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. The whole thing’s about 10 verses long and can be broken into three stanzas. Each stanza begins with the phrase, “How the mighty have fallen.” Let me read some of it to you: 

[v. 19] – “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!     How the mighty have fallen!… [21] “You mountains of Gilboa,     let there be no dew or rain upon you,     nor fields of offerings!

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,     the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

David mourns Saul and Jonathan’s deaths and the impact that has on the nation. God had given Israel many victories through these leaders, but now they’ve fallen on the hills for all to see. 

There’s a wordplay in [v. 19] where glory could also mean gazelle. IOW – you have this graceful animal that swiftly roams the land. But now his beauty lies dead on the hillside. It’s a tragic sight. How could this happen? 

[23] “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!     In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles;    they were stronger than lions.

24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,     who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,     who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

A second heart quality David depicts through his lament is one of mercy.  

2. A heart for God reflects God’s mercy to others.

See, one of the most surprising things I find in David’s lament is not just the positive things he says about Saul, but also the absence of any critique. Where’s the vengeance and anger? Sure, memorialize the man, but let’s also be honest about him. 

If this lament were all you ever knew about the life of Saul, you would say he served his God and his people well. But for those who knew him, you’re like, “Well…”  

According to David, Saul and Jonathan were mighty warriors, and God’s people benefited greatly from their protection and military success. 

But again: Is David for real? Does he actually mean what we wrote? As far as I can tell, there was no ChatGPT back then, but ChatGPT couldn’t produce something so human anyway.  

But I do know this: It’s really hard to fake praise when you’ve allowed the fruit of bitterness to grow in your heart. Bitterness is resentment we hold onto because of a wrong someone’s done to us. 

Somebody once said, “Bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.”^[2] Someone wrongs you, and the more you want their bad, the worse things are for you. 

Now, all things considered, David had plenty of reasons to let his heart grow bitter toward Saul. And lots of time to vent about it. I’m sure there were plenty of times when what Saul had done to David: 

• Made him doubt his identity and question his calling. 
• Made him want to take action to defend his reputation. 
• Made him angry and want to give in to the temptation of wrathful vengeance.  

We got glimpses of some of those tendencies. Remember what he was ready to do to Nabal? But you also learn a lot about a person by what comes out of them in moments of great despair.  

And for David, what he leads the way in is praise and love for the fallen. To a person who had done great harm to him, he shows incredible mercy. 

There’s something deep in the human heart that says, “You hurt me, I hurt you.” But really, we mean, “You hit me, I’m gonna hit you back harder.” But that’s not how David treats Saul, and it’s not how Jesus treats us. Remember, the way the leader goes, so go the people.  

And Jesus establishes a different Kingdom; one that’s rooted in mercy. Mercy, not vengeance, is the way to lasting peace.  

Jesus says one of the defining marks of his kingdom is that we love those who mistreat us. He says in [Luke 6:35] – love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father ismerciful.

Enemy love isn’t just something David modeled. It reflects the heart of the Father and is a principle Jesus builds his Kingdom on. Now maybe you’re skeptical about that. You think: That sounds great as an ideal, but how do I even begin to live that out in my life? And I would say the best place to start is by looking at the gospel.  

See, enemy love is at the heart of the gospel. [Romans 5:8] says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

While we were still God’s enemies, Jesus came and laid down his life for us. You see Jesus live this out in Luke 23. He’s being beaten, mocked, and shamed. People are hurling insults at him, and what does he do? On the Cross, he prays for them. [Luke 23:34], “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Who does that? Who praises the fallen leader that doesn’t deserve it? Who prays for the people killing you?  

The person whose heart’s been shaped by mercy. See, that’s the kind of heart Jesus wants formed in his disciples. We have compassion for those who wrong us because we remember how we once treated God and how He’s responded to us in Christ.  

And I mean that whether you grew up in a Christian family or not. Listen, if you sidestep your own need for mercy, then no wonder you struggle to show mercy to others. So let God work that truth into your heart. Then go seek out that brother or sister you need to show mercy to. 

One more quality this eulogy reveals about the heart of David… 

3. A heart for God is primarily concerned for God’s glory.

David had the most to gain from Saul’s fall, but David doesn’t respond that way at all. And even though Saul’s death affects him personally, David’s first concern is what this means for God. 

Again, [v. 19] says, “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!  20 Tell it not in Gath,     publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,     lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 “You mountains of Gilboa,     let there be no dew or rain upon you,     nor fields of offerings!

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,     the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

David mourns what Saul and Jonathan’s deaths mean for God’s reputation among the nations. He imagines them, along with Israel’s fallen soldiers, lying on the hillsides, and thinks about what this says about God. 

Israel’s victories displayed God’s power in the world. So their defeat would make it look like God had failed. David says, “Don’t let our enemies hear about this. Don’t let them celebrate. Don’t bless the land where Your might men have fallen.” 

David’s concern for God’s glory outweighs any thought of his own glory. And that’s how it should be. But what does it mean to live for God’s glory today? 

And it really comes down to this: Am I living to serve myself and build the life I want, or am I living to serve God and the future He’s promised? 

And if you’re not sure, ask yourself:  

• What has Jesus commanded me to do? 
• And what future has He promised me in Christ?  

That’s why we continue to preach the gospel, seek the lost, and make disciples. As we live on mission together, we pray for God’s Spirit to form Christ’s character in us.  

What does it mean to live for the glory of God?   

A. We seek to know, love, and obey God above all else. If you call yourself a follower of Jesus, your life’s about exalting the name of Jesus. If that’s a priority for you, what commitments will you make to put God first in your life?   

Have you ever heard the joke about the guy whose alarm went off Sunday morning, but he didn’t want to wake up, so he hit snooze? The guy’s wife comes in and says, “You gotta wake up, it’s time for church.” But the guy says, “I don’t want to go this week.” The wife insists, “You have to.” And he says, “Why?” “Because you’re the pastor.” I think Christians can treat gathering for worship that way. I do it out of obligation, but not for joy.  

But one of the best commitments I’ve made since following Jesus is regularly gathering with God’s people for worship. It was at the top of my priorities list when I moved away for university. It was one of the first commitments Sarah and I made in our married life. 

For the last 20+ years, few things have done more to shape my identity, remind me of God’s glory, and teach me about God’s heart for the lost than gathering with His Church.  

You may not be able to come every week, but if you minimize God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s worship, then don’t be surprised when your concern for God’s glory diminishes too.  

• We make our relationships about serving, not getting. Living for God’s glory in my relationships means I’m not asking, “What can I get out of this?” but “How can I serve you?” 

How I spend my time, how I speak to others, and how I serve those inside and outside the church either displays God’s glory or diminishes it. That should matter more to me than my comfort or reputation. 

• We steward everything for God’s purposes instead of mine. Everything I have belongs to God, including my time, talent, and treasure. Saul acted like he was the owner of God’s gifts, so he used his position for personal gain. But David sought God’s will whether he was on the throne or waiting for it.  

How are you stewarding God’s resources for God’s glory? 

• We faithfully speak the truth in love. Living for God’s glory means speaking God’s truth and showing His goodness through our words and actions. His truth shapes how we live and compels us to share our faith with others. 

David shows us what a heart devoted to God looks like. But he also models godly leadership; something Israel desperately needed. 

This is a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, and David plays a critical role in their path forward. David’s response will help push people toward a shared identity centered on God’s glory. By leading them in mourning, he brings stability and a path toward healing. And his leadership will give them renewed hope and purpose around their calling as God’s people.

See, a godly leader not only knows the heart of God. They live to serve God and call others to do the same.  

But as great as David is, he can’t fix the mess we’ve created. In the weeks ahead, we’ll see that the problems facing David are too great for any human leader. He can point people to God, but he can’t heal them of their sin.  

See, the fundamental problem of the human heart is that it’s sick with sin. Which means we reject God’s good rule in ways we don’t even fully understand. And as much as we need godly leaders to point us toward God, no human leader can reconcile us to Him. Only Jesus can. 

Maybe that’s where you are this morning. Your life feels like a mess. You’re carrying hurt from a past season or a broken relationship; you’re overwhelmed at work; or wondering if God even cares. 

But here’s what I know: God’s timing is perfect, His ways are good, He has a heart of mercy, and He’s glorified when sinners repent and are changed by Him.  

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¹ Works Consulted:  

1 & 2 Samuel – Vannoy; 1 & 2 Samuel – Long; “New Beginnings” – Greear; “David and Saul” – Tripp 

^[1] E.g., 1 Kings 14:16; You see this often in the books of 1 & 2 Kings. How the leader stewards his influence often shapes the direction of the people. 

^[2] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/starve-bitterness/