2 Samuel 1-3

The young Amalekite who brought David the news of Saul’s death was also the person who ended Saul’s life.  But he felt that he had good reason; Saul was about to die anyway (1:10).  The problem he faced was that the timing of Saul’s death  was not going to be convenient.  So the Amalekite euthanized Israel’s first king.  This young man assessed the situation.  The Philistines were approaching that location.  Saul was mortally wounded.  The young man knew that David was to be Israel’s next king.  And the point that sealed the deal was that it was Saul’s wish to die at that time.  Saul didn’t want to be disgraced by the Philistines.  Those arguments sound very familiar to statements made in modern times by the euthanasia movement.  But David saw the young man’s actions for what they were; the selfish desires of a selfish king and young man both of whom ignored the value that God places on human life; life made in his image.  David called it murder and carried out God’s sentence for murders.

Stuart