David's Lament For Saul And Jonathan Series

Scripture

The Book of Second Samuel opens with David hearing of Saul’s death. The Philistine army defeated the army of Israel on Mount Gilboa. Among the dead were Saul and three of his sons, including Jonathan. An Amalekite came to David with the news of Saul’s death. David was in the Philistine town of Ziklag when he received the terrible news of Israel’s defeat and the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. The Amalekite lied to David, saying that Saul, knowing that he was mortally wounded, had asked him to kill him. The Amalekite probably thought that David would reward him for his action. Instead, David ordered the execution of the Amalekite. David and all the men with him mourned and wept and fasted for Saul and Jonathan and for the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Philistines. Then David lamented for Saul and Jonathan.

Let’s read about David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel 1:17-27:

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:

19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath,

publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

21 “You mountains of Gilboa,

let there be no dew or rain upon you,

nor fields of offerings!

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

the shield of Saul, not 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, beloved and lovely!

In life and in death they were not divided;

they were swifter than eagles;

they were stronger than lions.

24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,

who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 “How the mighty have fallen

in the midst of the battle!

“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;

very pleasant have you been to me;

your love to me was extraordinary,

surpassing the love of women.

27 “How the mighty have fallen,

and the weapons of war perished!” (2 Samuel 1:17-27)

Introduction

On March 24, 1991, one of the oldest and largest Redwoods in California crashed to the ground. People called the tree the Dyerville Giant, and it lies where it fell. When it stood, the tree was 362 feet tall (the height of a 30-story building). Its diameter was 17 feet. Its circumference was 52 feet. Experts estimate its weight at over one million pounds and its age at nearly 2,000 years. When the tree hit the ground, a person living a mile away said that it sounded like a train wreck. Vibrations were felt 10 miles away.

Saul’s death was momentous. His kingship had come to a crashing end. The end of an era had come. News of his death vibrated throughout Israel and Philistia.

It was right that Saul’s death be acknowledged. To signify the importance of Saul’s death, none other than David, who came to be known as “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1), wrote a national lament for Saul.

Lesson

Second Samuel 1:17-27 gives us a written lament for someone who has died.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Lament for the Loss to a Nation (1:17-18)

2. Lament for the Loss of Mighty Leaders (1:19-24)

3. Lament for the Loss of a Dear Friend (1:25-27)

I. Lament for the Loss to a Nation (1:17-18)

First, note the lament for the loss to a nation.

The author of Second Samuel writes in verses 17-18 of chapter 1, “And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.” Note four points regarding this lament for the loss to a nation.

First, this was David’s lament. We read in verse 17a, “And David lamented with this lamentation….” When we first hear that a loved one has died, we express grief in our emotions, such as sadness, heartache, tears, and so on. A lament, however, is a written expression of grief. This lament by David is in fact the first lament in Scripture. It was not merely a personal and private expression of his grief, but it was a public expression of grief.

Second, the focus of this lament was Saul and Jonathan. Verse 17b says, “And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son.” While the people of God had suffered a national defeat at the hands of the Philistines, and many thousands of Israelites had been killed, the focus of this lament was on Saul and Jonathan. Saul’s reign as king started well, and there were some positive aspects of his reign. David highlights these in his lament.