E-pistle for July 1, 2016
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation July 1, 2016
"How the mighty have fallen!"
(II Samuel 1:1-27)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. First and Second Samuel originally were one volume: "The Book of Samuel";
although Samuel wrote some of these historical events, most of the material
was recorded following his death in I Samuel 25:1.
2. When David returned from battle, he was met by an Amalekite who reported
that he had killed King Saul, at his request, vv. 1-10.
3. David mourned, then ordered the execution of the Amalekite for daring to
touch the Lord's anointed, vv. 11-16.
4. David composed a lamentation over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan; the
poem was to be sung in memory of these fallen leaders, vv. 17-27.
II. Meditation: on some spiritual implications seen in this chapter
1. King Saul's death was a suicide (I Samuel 31:4); the Amalekite lied to David
to earn a reward (see 4:10). This apparent contradiction is not an error in
Scripture, but a reporting of actual events including a pagan's lie.
2. David's action was consistent with his conviction against harming God's
anointed servants . . . which included even family members, II Samuel 4.
3. "How the mighty have fallen," (vv. 19, 25, 27) is a solemn reminder of the
brevity of life; death comes to all mankind, regardless of position.
4. David's love for this brother-in-law, Jonathan, is one of the best examples
of true friendship found in the Bible; their brotherly love was a pure
relationship without any evidence of homosexuality!
III. Revelation and Applications
1. The occasional tragedy of executing an innocent man should not become
grounds for eliminating capital punishment; the Amalekite was executed
a murder which he confessed to but did not commit. God's justice demands
the putting to death of a premeditated murderer as the only fitting punishment
for the taking of the life of an innocent victim.
2. David mourned the deaths of both Saul and Jonathan. It is appropriate to
give due respect and honor to dead leaders ("swifter than eagles; stronger than
lions," v. 23), in spite of the obvious fact that they were flawed human beings.
3. David referred to Saul's shield, "not anointed with oil," v. 21. Although
this alludes to the usual cleansing of a shield after a gory battle, it also is a
hint of the fact that God's anointed leader had lost his anointing . . . a
frightening possibility within today's Christian community.
4. David wrote of Jonathan: "Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the
love of women," v. 26. This mutual "love" between David and Jonathan was
the "phileo" love of the New Testament (John 21:15), meaning "to be fond of,
to care for affectionately, to cherish, to take pleasure in, and to have personal
attachment for." This type of love is second only to God's "agape" love as
described in I Corinthians 13.
a good minister is like . . .
(II Timothy 2:1-6, 11-13, 15, 19-21, 21-25)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what a good minister is like
1. A good minister is like a teacher/student . . . learning truth, passing it
on to the next generation. vv. 1-2.
2. A good minister is like a soldier . . .enduring hardships, untangled in
personal affairs of civilian life, pleasing his superior officer by loyalty,
dedication, and obedience, vv. 3-4.
3. A good minister is like an athlete . . . competing according to the rules,
keeping fit, training diligently, and exhibiting a will to win (positive spirit),
v. 5 (See I Corinthians 9:26).
4. A good minister is like a farmer . . . hardworking, diligent, expectant of
a future harvest, and living off the fruit of his labors, v. 6.
5. A good minister is like a workman . . . "not ashamed" – with holy pride
in craftsmanship and accomplishment, realizing that ability and talent
are gifts from God, v. 15.
6. A good minister is like a vessel . . . honorable, sanctified, clean, prepared,
and useful, vv. 19-21.
7. A good minister is like a servant (slave) . . . not quarrelsome but gentle,
able to instruct others, patient, and humble, vv. 24-25.
II. Meditation: on Paul's "faithful saying" (vv. 11-13)
(Four basic truths; perhaps a hymn of the early church)
1. If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
2. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
3. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
4. If we are faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny Himself.
III. Revelation: on running . . . fleeing and pursing (v. 22)
1. Flee (run away from) these things: harmful speech (vv. 16, 23), false
belief (vv. 17-18), moral impurity (v. 22), and bad attitudes (vv. 24-15).
2. Pursue (run toward) these things: righteousness, faith love and peace
with other believers (v. 22).
IV. Applications: as a Christian (minister), I need to . . .
1. Recognize and operate within the seven "roles" (above) which are included
in my calling as a minister . . . and all Christians are ministers!
2. Remain faithful to Christ and His work, because He always remains faithful
to me.
3. "Run away from" those ungodly things which are harmful, false, immoral,
and which produce attitudes.
4. "Run toward" (strive for; purpose) the Godly characteristics of righteousness,
faith, love, and peaceableness.
"Each person must live their life as a model for others."
--Rosa Parks
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