This day with God, we are reading 2 Samuel 1. Today’s passage gives us good ideas for what to say and how to handle situations in which someone has done us wrong. Remember about the relationship between David and Saul as David had been on the run from Saul who wanted to kill David for years.

In today’s passage, a second version of Saul’s death is given. In the first version recorded in 1 Samuel 31:1-13, Saul was wounded and near death. He wanted his armor-bearer to kill him but he would not so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

In today’s version, the story is told by a young Amalekite man. In this version, Saul was near death leaning on his sword when he saw the young Amalekite man. Saul requested the young man kill him so he did.

It seems that David believed the young Amalekite man was not truthful with what really happened. Perhaps the young man wanted to take credit for killing Saul who had been trying to kill David for years. The young Amalekite man underestimated the respect that David still had for Saul because David and his men were shaken by Saul’s death.

They mourned and wept showing genuine sorrow over the loss of their king. Then David had the young Amalekite man put to death for killing Saul. David chose to not hate Saul but showed respect to the king. He chose to look at all the good Saul had done by writing a poem and putting it to music.

The Bible gives good ideas in how to handle our relationships with others. Rather than being angry with those who have caused much distress in our life, we need to let it go and hand it over to God. A good strategy is to pray first, ask for God’s help, and then say what needs to be said.

This Day with You God, help us to say positive things about others. Tearing others down is a problem that begins in the heart. We pray for discipline in what we say even during times of anger. We pray that we give everyone the respect they deserve by allowing them to have the freedom to choose, to respond, and to change. In Jesus name … Amen.