1. How did Saul die?

How was this different than the Amalekites story? Saul saw that he was injured and he took his own sword and fell on it and killed himself. He did this after the armor bearer refused to kill the king. The Amalekite says that he just so happened to be right there in the fighting and claimed that Saul asked him to kill him. The Amalekite claimed to kill Saul and brought David his crown and armband.

2. Why did the Amalekite lie to David? What did David do in response?

The Amalekite most likely thought that he would get a reward for apparently killing the enemy of David. He thought David would give him a prize for bringing good news to David; David’s enemy was dead. David did the opposite of what the Amalekite expected. David ordered to have the Amalekite executed because he claimed to have killed the king.

3. Why would David have made a lament song for Saul and Jonathan? What does this teach us about David?

David was truly sorry and grieved that Saul and Jonathan were dead. David grieved both his best friend and his enemies. David was a man after God’s own heart. This is just like Jesus when Jesus wept for Lazarus (John 11), and Jesus asked for God to forgive his enemies, those who put him on the cross.

4. After Saul’s death, who made David king? How does this still show that David is still trusting in God’s timing and God’s way for him to become king?

The people of Judah made David king. Part of the people of Israel recognized David as King, but not all yet. David was trusting that God would exalt him over the whole nation when it was God’s timing. Like Jesus, David waits for his God to exalt him in God’s timing and in God’s way.