David Wept Over the Death Of Saul And Jonathan

Life can be very hard, while in this life. Trials can really be difficult upon us all. However, what is worse than all of this is when a loved one dies, especially when it is unexpected. This causes the people they knew and loved to mourn, for they were dear to their hearts and will be greatly missed. Even the hardest moments are when our father, mother, brother or sister, or best friend passes away. It is like a sword is piercing our hearts, because of what has just happened. Now, funerals are a very hard thing to bear, and the only thing that can bring us a glimmer of hope is if that person was saved, because of their faith in Christ. Then, do we know that they are in a better place now, where if this was not the case, it can make us grieve even more so. For we may have had the chance to witness the truths of Jesus and His salvation to them, but we didn’t act on it when we had the chance. This has happened to me and I deeply regret it, as I am sure you have as well. Now, when it came to David, he also lamented because of the loss of his once father in law, Saul, and his best friend, Jonathan. They were both killed in the war that took place with Israel and the Philistines. This grieved David deeply. And because this happened, the person that told him this news, he even acted out of anger and killed the messenger. He was upset that he carried out Saul’s wishes of ending his life after he had already fallen upon his own sword. This is what David said to the man, ¹“how wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.” (2 Samuel 1:14-15)

When people we love die by the hand of someone else, this can cause anyone to act out in anger. However, we are to control our anger by the hand of God and not cause harm to that person. Now, in the book of Psalm David repented of many things in his life, like this act of rage. Now, after this man, who told David the news had died, this is when David began to weep because of Saul and Jonathan. You can liken this to what we might say if we just got wind of a person we loved had suddenly died. He was thinking of all the best things in their lives. Not the bad, but all the good was brought up. This is a good example of how we should be thinking as well. It is too bad that it takes a person to pass on to the grave for people to start thinking this way, especially if it was a sibling that they had an issue with. Isn’t it better to just make amends with the person, while in this life? People do deserve to hear that they are forgiven. They also need to hear that we are sorry. This is also what God desires of all of His believers. We are to forgive every person their trespasses, or else God will not forgive ours. Jesus said, ²“for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14,15) If you are forgiving all people, while also telling others sorry, then your faith is alive in Christ. And you can be sure that when you repent of your sins and ask forgiveness, God will also forgive you. It is a better feeling we get inside when people pass on when we know that all the walls were mended in forgiveness. There are a lot fewer question marks at this point.

This is how David felt when Saul and Jonathan we now dead. It is written, ¹“and David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 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. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” (2 Samuel 1:17-27) These same feelings can be shared with everyone that has lost their loved ones because of war or any other conflict. So take this lesson and start forgiving others now, while there is still time.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that our hearts will be in the right place with You at all times. That we will not allow there to be any walls built up in our lives but allow You to tear them all down. And if it means that we ought to start showing more kindness towards others, put a spark inside of us, that we may do this. Every person in our lives deserves to hear that they are loved, that they are forgiven, that we are sorry for our actions, and how much we respect them because of all they do. Sure, it is fine to think of al the good things that people have done after a person dies, and this makes sense, but it makes more sense to start acting this way while that person still has breath. So Lord put inside of us a Spirit of forgiveness, kindness, compassion, longsuffering, gentleness, patience, and love. Shine down upon our lives Your light, that every person we encounter will have this same Spirit flow into their lives also. It is my desire that people will be touched by Your mighty hand each time that they have the opportunity to be around me. I don’t want it to ever be a hindrance upon people, but always a blessing. Just as You show us such love and respect that we don’t deserve, do I hope and pray that these same qualities will become a part of my everyday life and for all people that call themselves Christian. It is truly an honor to know You, Jesus. This is why I proclaim that I am Christian, for You are inside of me, guiding me by the hand. I am only strong because You have carried me forth in this life. I love You, Lord. Thank You for everything. All the praise and honor to Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

2 Samuel 1

¹2 Samuel 1 (KJV)
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?
15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
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.
21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Matthew 6

²Matthew 6 (KJV)
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.