2 Samuel 1

Verses 1-4, “Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. And David said to him, 'Where have you come from?' So he said to him, 'I have escaped from the camp of Israel.' Then David said to him, 'How did the matter go? Please tell me.”?' And he answered, 'The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.' ”

The man coming from Saul's camp had his clothes torn and dust on his head, so David probably assumed that the news was not going to be good. He reported that Saul and Jonathan were dead, and that the remaining Israelites had fled. We know from 1 Samuel 31 that they died on Mount Gilboa, which meant that the pursuit of David was finally over. Saul, who was once small in his own eyes, chose to die in his stubbornness and pride, unwilling to repent and yield to God.

Verses 5-12, “So David said to the young man who told him, 'How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?' Then the young man who told him said, 'As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, “Here I am.” And he said to me, “Who are you?” So I answered him, “I am an Amalekite.” He said to me again, “Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.” So I stood over 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 bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my Lord.' Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

The Amalekite reports that he participated in the killing of Saul as an act of mercy, but taking the crown and bracelet would appear to contradict his claim. It seems more likely that he would use these items to get favor from David as an afterthought, but soon found out that David had no pleasure in Saul’s death. The sad thing is, if Saul would have utterly destroyed the Amalekites as God told him to do, there would not have been an attack on Israel from them, or this man to end Saul's life. We may think that we can get away with disobeying or even partially obeying God (which is still disobedience), but there are consequences for our choices to obey our flesh over God. There will always be an end to our self deception, even if we mistake God's patience as His acceptance.

Verses 13-16, “Then David said to the young man who told him, 'Where are you from?' And he answered, 'I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.' So David said to him, 'How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?' Then David called one of the young men and said, 'Go near, and execute him!' And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, 'Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, “I have killed the Lord ’s anointed.” ' ”

Regardless of the person in authority, David respected the position Saul had over God's people. He mourned the losses with Israel and did not celebrate the death of Saul. Often when we get personally offended by other believers, our hearts secretly hope for bad to come upon them, but this is wickedness in our heart. Hebrews 12:14‭-‬15, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled...”  Forgiveness is necessary in order to keep our hearts from becoming defiled. Only then can we move on and let God take care of His own.