David begins questioning the “defendant” from Saul’s camp: Jesus Christ will judge the “defendants” from the camp of the global culture.

2 Samuel 1:3-4

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Sitting on the defendant’s seat is figurative because either your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, or it is not. There will not be a court hearing to determine innocence or guilt, Jesus Christ already knows the ones who has His blood applied to their heart. They have already been pronounced innocent. The defendant in the verses of this post reveals to us some bad earthly behavior which leads to the sentence of eternal death in hell.

“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.” 2 Samuel 1:3-4

When the judgment of God comes to those of this world, we can imagine a couple questions which Jesus Christ might ask, “Where are you from?” and “How did the matter go?” Those sitting in the defendant’s seat would try to answer in a way which would put their location in a place apart from spiritual wickedness and to portray themselves as a victim. The intent is to be put in a favorable position with Jesus Christ. They would have to come up with some creative stories, plainly said, they would have to lie. Either way, the truth or the lie of those living against God would not set well with the Lord Jesus.

On the day of their judgment, those of this world would not want to say that they are from the camp of the global culture of the beast nor that they fled the battle against spiritual wickedness. However, they might think that it would be pleasing to Jesus Christ that they might have had something to do with being God’s instrument of bringing judgment and death to Israel. That was the web of lies told by the lying defendant whom David questioned. With every lie and half-truth, he was one step closer to the grave.

The spiritually wicked of this world comes against Israel, and they are the enemy of God. Because of the spiritual wickedness of the masses around the world, and Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ, God uses the masses of the global government of the beast to bring judgment to Israel on this earth. Jesus says this to us, “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7

The defendant who David questioned is exposed as a liar in verse 10. He is lying to separate himself from being part of the spiritual wickedness in Saul’s camp and to portray himself falsely in a favorable light in the eyes of David. The defendant lied when he said he was escaping the spiritual wickedness within Saul’s camp; he was running from the Philistines to save his own life. That was strike one for the lying defendant. Jesus Christ expects us to hold to His testimony in very difficult times. As the Lord Jesus says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25 Running from the spiritual battle leads to eternal death in hell, but remaining faithful to the Gospel of Christ leads to eternal life.

The defendant David questioned said that he and the people fled from the battle, and that many were dead. That was strike two for the defendant. David respects valiant soldiers who would have stood with Saul and Jonathan to the very end but would not respect those fleeing the battle. The last thing Jesus Christ wants to hear on the day of judgment is that the battle against spiritual wickedness was abandoned and that many people are dead to God as a result. We must never abandon Israel nor Jesus Christ.

The questioned defendant thought it would be pleasing to David to hear that David’s enemy Saul was dead. That was strike three, and he was out, as we see in the next verses. On the day of judgment, Jesus Christ doesn’t want to hear people rejoice and gloat over the death of Israel. The spiritually wicked enemies of Israel are the same enemies of God.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1