TELL IT NOT IN GATH

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               TELL IT NOT IN GATH

II Samuel 1:20 Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of
Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of
the uncircumcised triumph. 

The setting of this lamentation of David is the time when King Saul had been
defeated in battle with the Philistines, and had asked his armour bearer to
kill him.  The armour bearer refuse, so Saul fell on his own sword and killed
himself.  A young Amalekite had siezed the opportunity to "make Brownie
points" with David by telling him that HE had killed the King.  It backfired--
David had the Amalekite killed for taking the life of the Lord's Anointed.

There is something here that doesn't "add up" to the natural way of thinking.
Saul had become a bitter enemy of David, and had actively tried to kill him.
Saul had, otherwise, terribly "botched" his performance in the Kingly Office.
He should have quietly stepped aside and let someone else have a "shot" at
it-- to see if they could do any better.

David had, earlier, been given ample opportunity to kill Saul.  His men had
urged him to do it.  One thing caused David to resist the opportunity and the
urging.  

Saul had been duly installed as King some 40 years prior to this time.  His
swearing in had included an anointing with oil in the Name of the Lord.  This
could, perhaps, be likened to the Oath of Office with the hand on the Bible
which is practiced today.

David wouldn't touch that situation with a "ten foot pole", so he quietly cut
off the skirt of Saul's garment.  This served as a gesture of humiliation, and
also as a "calling card" to say, "Basher's been here."

But, to otherwise "touch" the Lord's Anointed-- "Not on your life."  In spite
of the fact that Sauls "command" was terribly flawed, and his personal life
was in shambles, David honored the forty-year-old "Anointing" which had not
yet been removed by the Lord.  (The oil BELONGED TO THE LORD.)  (see Exodus
30:33-38)

Exodus 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy
people. 

When Saul's body was discovered by the Philistines, they-- I Samuel 31:9 And
they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of
the Philistines round about, to publish [it in] the house of their idols, and
among the people. 

But David's plea was, "Don't tell family (National, State or Church) secrets
or affairs out on the streets or public places.  The vernacular is:  "Don't
hang out the dirty wash."  It's bad enough that WE have to look at it.  Let's
not put it on display for others to see.

"TELL IT NOT IN GATH."

 
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