“Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, ‘How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathon died?’ The young man reporting to him said, ‘I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning on his spear, while the chariots and the horsemen drew close to him. When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered,” Here sir.” And he said to me, “Who are you?” I answered him, “I am an Amalekite.” He said to me, “Come, stand over me and kill me; for convulsions have seized me, and yet life still lingers.” So I stood over him, and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. 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.’ ….. David said to him, ‘Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?’ Then David called one of the young men and said, ‘Come here and strike him down.’ So he struck him down and he died. 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.”’” 2 Samuel 1:5-10, 14-16
This Amalekite mercenary’s report concerning the details of Saul’s death appears to be false given what we read in 1 Samuel 31 about the death of Saul. “So Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell upon his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together on the same day.” 1 Samuel 31:4d-6 It seems this man is attempting to gain favor with David by taking credit for killing Saul. It’s a perfect plan, there are no witnesses, at least not close by to confirm or deny his story. Too bad for him, David gives him all the credit, allows self-testimony to be the only testimony, David believes his story and has the man killed for killing the LORD’s anointed and appointed king. Who among us is willing to take credit for, or attempt to profit from something that has happened, that is in fact true (Saul was dead) but we had nothing to do with what happened? The thing, the event, the task that happened might not be a bad thing, might be a good act that helped another out. But when I say, ”I did this”, or “I did that”, “It was my idea”, when in fact, what was accomplished was done by several, “we did it”, and “it was _’s idea” , is a much more accurate report. What’s the harm? Whatever it was did get done, right? Am I, are you willing to die over something like this? Maybe you won’t die, but get fired from your job, lose respect of your friends and family…… “be put to death” comes in many forms in this world. Those who love God first, and love others are not mercenary, they live in, receive and share God’s grace, not hoard it for themselves.