2 Samuel 1:17-27 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 1:17-27. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Samuel 1:17-24 (NIV)
17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan,
18 and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):
19 “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
20 “Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.
21 “O mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings [of grain]. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul–no longer rubbed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
23 “Saul and Jonathan– in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24 “O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.
On verses 17-24: Saul had caused so much trouble for David personally. But notice that David did not treat Saul’s death as an occasion for rejoicing. Rather he led all of Israel in mourning for Saul and Jonathan. David even pens a lament (a song of mourning) for Saul and Jonathan and orders everyone in the nation to learn it (v18-19). When you read David’s lament for Saul, notice that David doesn’t mention a single bad thing about Saul. Rather, he speaks about Saul in only positive ways:
– David speaks of Saul’s strength and dignity. For example, five times in this lament David calls Saul “mighty”. He describes Saul as a gazelle on the heights, a powerful mountain buck who is now slain (v19).
– When David uses the word “gazelle” to describe Saul (v19), scholars say that this same word can also be translated to mean “glory”. In other words, David equates Saul’s passing with God’s glory leaving Israel.
– To protect Saul, he tells the people to keep the news of Saul’s death a secret from Saul’s enemies to keep them from gloating (v20).
– He curses the mountains of Gilboa where Saul was slain (v21), which apparently have remained barren to this day.
– He praises both Saul and Jonathan for their military prowess (v22).
– He praises both Saul and Jonathan for being beloved and admired leaders (v23).
– He praises Saul for the economic prosperity he brought to Israel (v24).
Despite all the pain and trouble Saul had caused David, David was still able to acknowledge the great things about Saul. David was doing what Philippians 4:8 tells us to do: to focus on whatever is good, true, right, pure, noble, excellent or praiseworthy in any situation. Why do that? It’s because when you only focus on what is wrong or on how much you’ve been hurt, you open the door to bitterness, vengeance and discontentment. But, when you focus on the good, “the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
2 Samuel 1:25-27 (NIV)
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!”
On verses 25-27: Here David shifts his focus to Jonathan, who was a friend to David like no other. David calls Jonathan “my brother…very dear to me” (v26). When David says that Jonathan’s love was “wonderful, more wonderful than that of women” (v26), this in all likelihood was not a reference to a homosexual relationship with Jonathan (which would have subjected David to execution according to the Jewish law), but rather a testimony of the selfless, humble, God-centered love that Jonathan had consistently shown David throughout their friendship.
Similarly, we too have a big brother who, like Jonathan, died on a hill and who consistently showed us a selfless, self-sacrificing, humble, God-centered love: His name is Jesus. The love Jesus gives is more wonderful than the love you will ever find from any other relationship. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
Jesus, thank You for showing me the most wonderful love I will ever know. May I focus on all that is good, true, noble, admirable and praiseworthy today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
