There are three modern expressions that are frequently used that come from the story of Saul’s death and David’s reaction to it.
(1) Fall on Your Sword.
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and thrust me through and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer was unwilling, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it (1 Samuel 31:4).
(2) How the mighty have fallen.
“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19)
(3) Don’t kill the messenger.
The phrase “don’t kill the messenger” comes from the first chapter of 2 Samuel. An Amalekite ran to David to tell him about Saul’s death. He claimed he killed Saul, instead of Saul falling on his own sword. Because of this, David had him executed.
David said to him, “Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come here and strike him down.” So he struck him down, and he died (2 Samuel 1:14-15).
Let’s examine each of these expressions to see how they’re used in everyday language today. We’ll also explore the spiritual meaning behind each one.
Fall on Your Sword
When things go wrong in an organization, leaders are encouraged to take responsibility. This is often called “falling on your sword.” They admit their mistakes and acknowledge their role in what happened. They take responsibility and then work to fix the situation.
Leaders who accept responsibility are often well-regarded by their employees and investors. Customers also appreciate an honest acknowledgment of mistakes that have been corrected by leadership.
On the other hand, when leaders involved in a company’s issues refuse to take responsibility, it can have a negative impact. Both customers and employees view such leadership as untrustworthy.
Taking responsibility for an organization’s errors requires humility. James promises that God will work in our lives, whether in a family, business, or organization.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you (James 4:10).
God will lift leaders who are humble enough to admit their mistakes.
How the Mighty Have Fallen
When I think of the mighty who have fallen, I remember when King Herod faced the people of Tyre and Sidon. They feared him and shouted to appease him, calling him the voice of God and not mortal. But God had something to say about this powerful and arrogant man.
And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died (Acts 12:23).
History is full of despots, dictators, and strongmen who believed they could act however they pleased. When we study the past, we see that although they were once powerful, their falls were great.
Don’t Kill the Messenger
One of the hardest things to do is give someone bad news. I’ve read stories about ministers during World War II. When they approached a house, people would get angry or upset because they knew bad news was coming.
David knew the young man was lying and had harmed someone God had chosen.
When we deliver bad news, it won’t lead to our death, but it can change our relationship with the person hearing it. The Bible teaches us to speak the truth with love (Ephesians 4:15), which can be very challenging.
Reflections
One benefit of reading the Bible is discovering phrases that are now common in everyday language. The three statements I mentioned in my article and our video today are examples. Without reading the Bible, we wouldn’t know their origins. Let’s keep reading.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 