“How are the Mighty Fallen” 2/6/22 a.m. 2 Samuel 1:17-27
I don’t know where you all get your news. Most of us watch FOX news. In the OLD DAYS you watched ABC, CBS, NBC. As a kid I remember David Brinkley, Harry Reasoner, Roger Mudd, I used to laugh at his name, and of course, Walter Cronkite, the most trusted man in America. But today some of you all may watch, or may have watched in the past, CNN. Cable News Network. And this week the PRESIDENT of CNN RESIGNED in DISGRACE. Jeff Zucker. He was having an affair with a subordinate. A man who was supposed to be ONLY TELLING the NEWS had been HIDING the NEWS for years. And when it finally came out this last week he RESIGNED. And when I read this story this PHRASE FROM GOD’S WORD came to my mind. “How are the Mighty Fallen”
It is spoken 3 times in 2 Samuel 1. So let’s go ahead and read 2 Samuel 1, Verses 17-27
“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!”
So this was David’s Eulogy for King Saul and his son Jonathan. They had both been killed fighting the Philistines. And what a CONTRAST between two different people. A FATHER and SON. So let’s look at the words David spoke, “How are the nighty fallen” but before we do let’s go to the Lord in Prayer.
Brother _______, would you lead us?
I. The first time we see this phrase, “how are the mighty fallen!” is in Verse 19. Now this is after David has told us that this would be a POEM to be taught to the children. The Song of the Bow would be placed in the Book of Jasher. This Book was a Book of POETRY and SONGS. The Book of Jasher is also mentioned in Joshua 10:13. And so David begins to SING this song. A FUNERAL SONG. A SAD SONG. A song of DEFEAT. “The BEAUTY of ISRAEL is SLAIN.”
“How are the MIGHTY FALLEN.”
Let me say this. King Saul had fallen long before this day. He was a man BLESSED by God but he was a man who had turned his BACK on God.
In 1 Samuel 16, we see where Saul had become SO CORRUPT that GOD’S SPIRIT had left him. And in it’s place an Evil Spirit had come to LIVE. David is also ANOINTED KING in Chapter 16.
In 1 Samuel 17, we see where David kills Goliath and he is LOVED by all the people. Because of this Saul becomes very jealous.
In 1 Samuel 18, Saul tries to kill David TWICE while he plays the HARP for Saul.
In 1 Samuel 19, David became SO HATED by Saul that Verse 1 tells us, “And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.”
And so in Chapter 20, David has to leave the KINGDOM for fear of his life and He and Jonathan say their final goodbyes. What a HEARTBREAKING fall that Saul has gone through.
As I read this I can’t help but think, “How are the MIGHTY FALLEN.” I look at our world today. People that have so much potential. They have been blessed by God in extraordinary ways. TALENT, STRENGTH, ABILITY, BEAUTY and many more things but yet they SQUANDER those blessings.
ILLUS: I saw this last week where Miss U.S.A. 2019 took her own life. She was BEAUTIFUL and TALENTED but yet it seems she felt like she had nothing to live for. THAT IS SO SAD.
And as David MOURNS for Saul, we MOURN for those who have FALLEN. We MOURN for those who have made POOR CHOICES in their LIFE and pay a VERY HIGH PRICE for those choices. Oh how SAD it is to see so many young people DESTROY their own lives with DRUGS, ALCOHOL and IMMORAL LIFESTYLES. POOR CHOICES.
We MOURN for those WORLD LEADERS who have lead EVIL LIVES, they have done EVIL DEEDS, and now they FACE DEATH as ALL OF US WILL. The GRAVE is the EQUALIZER. We all take the same size HOLE.
You might ask, Why? Why do we MOURN for these? Because they will face the JUDGMENT of God for how they have LIVED their LIVES.
Proverbs 24, Verses 17 and 18 tells us, “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”
In Luke 1, Mary gives her PRAISE and HONOR to God and this is what she says in Verse 52.
“He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.”
That’s exactly what we see here in this passage. God’s WRATH was upon King Saul. He was an evil man. SO there’s NO NEED for our WRATH to be upon them. God is quite able to take care of them on His own. He doesn’t need our help. “Oh how are the MIGHTY FALLEN.”
And folks, in this DAY and AGE that we live, there is MUCH EVIL in our world. There are CORRUPT LEADERS all around the world. There’s the OLD PROVERB, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” That means that whenever a person has power over other people or things, it makes him or her even more corrupt. That seems to be more true today than it has ever been. We have CORRUPT JUDGES. We have CORRUPT BUSINESS MEN and WOMEN. We have CORRUPTION at every level of society. But some day God will sit in JUDGMENT. Those who dealt in wickedness WILL NOT get away with their SINFULNESS. “Oh how the MIGHTY WILL FALL.”
II. And then in Verses 20 and 21, it tells us what an AWFUL THING it is when others HEAR that the MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN.
“Oh my, what a HORRIBLE THING it will be when the people of GATH hear about that the KING of ISRAEL is dead. How TERRIBLE it’s going to be when the people of ASKELON hear what has happened. There will be dancing in the streets.”
Gath and Askelon were the two major cities of the Philistines. The ENEMY of Israel. When they hear what has happened, it will cause them to REJOICE. It will EMPOWER THEM to FIGHT even harder.
Oh how are the MIGHTY fallen and given AMMUNITION to the enemies of God.
I’ve often thought about how many times CHRISTIAN PEOPLE have supplied the DEVIL with AMMUNITION.
ILLUS: Imagine if you will for a minute about some robbers who break into a house and take the homeowner captive. They tie him up and begin to search the house for valuables. But secretly the fellow is able to alert the police and they show up and surround the house. A big gun battle breaks out until one of the robbers runs out of bullets and tells the other guy. The other guy says, “I’m out too” So what do you think the homeowner does? He says, “Hey fellows, I’ve got some more bullets on top of the shelf over there. You’re welcome to them.”
Now I know that’s silly but too many times that’s what Christians do. “Oh how are the MIGHTY FALLEN and given ammunition to the DEVIL.”
A. Maybe it’s the PREACHER who has an AFFAIR with the church SECRETARY. How many churches have been destroyed by Infidelity.
B. Or the CHURCH MEMBER who takes advantage of someone in a BUSINESS DEAL.
C. Maybe it’s the fellow who can’t control his temper.
D. Or the AGGRESSIVE DRIVER who has to be in front. I’m preaching to ME!!! You know what it is? It’s SELFISHNESS!!!
E. Maybe it’s the MAN or LADY who just can’t help themselves. They just LOVE TO GOSSIP. “Bless their hearts.” You see, you can say anything you want about another person just so you end it with, “Bless their heart.” That makes it OK!!! NOT!!! All you’re doing is giving ammunition to the DEVIL. “How are the MIGHTY FALLEN.”
JOKE: Three preachers out in a boat on a fishing trip decided to confess their one major fault to each other. The first one confessed that he liked to take a little sip from the bottle every once in a while. The other two gasped. The second one had a problem with lusting. The other two couldn’t believe it. So the first two turned to the third one and looked at him. He said, “I don’t want to tell.” They said, “Well we did, you have to.” He said “No.” They said “Yes.” Back and forth until finally he agreed. He said, “Alright, I have a real problem with GOSSIPING and I can’t wait to get back to the dock!!!”
That’s a funny story but too many times we give AMMUNITION to the ENEMY. The Apostle Paul gives the church at Ephesus some good advice. He tells them in Ephesians 4:27-30,
“Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
“Oh how are the MIGHTY fallen who had SO MUCH POTENTIAL.”
“Oh how are the MIGHTY FALLEN” and given AMMUNITION to the DEVIL.
III. But look at this, “Oh how are the MIGHTY FALLEN in MIDST of the BATTLE.”
When I read this it brought tears to my eyes. 3000 years ago a Shepherd Boy who became a GREAT WARRIOR wrote these words. David, who became King David, cried out for his friend Jonathan. Look at Verses 25 and 26.
“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.”
We all know what a GREAT WARRIOR David was. But if you read 1 Samuel 14, you’ll see that Jonathan was also a Great Warrior. He was a RIGHTEOUS MAN of COUAGE. Even though he was the son of the king he didn’t let that stop him from joining the fight. And even though his father had such HATRED for David he didn’t let that get in the way of the LOVE and FRIENDSHIP that he had for David. So here David gives the Eulogy for Jonathan. This great warrior was killed in the high places of the land of Israel. He was killed in the mountains of Gilboa. They were high and in his own country, but that couldn’t protect him from his enemies.
“How are the MIGHTY FALLEN.” SLAIN in the MIDST of the BATTLE. Fighting for the Right. Being a friend to David even though his father forbade it. Doing the RIGHT THING even when it was hard. Never QUITTING.
And I’ve known some GREAT MEN and WOMEN in my lifetime. Champions of the FAITH. I think that’s a HUGE BENEFIT of being raised in church. I AM SO BLESSED.
I got to see these SOLDIERS of the CROSS go up against the ENEMY and WIN.
I got to see some of the WOUNDS of the BATTLE but yet it never stopped them.
I got to see these Servants of God who NEVER QUIT fighting the BATTLE. Standing for the RIGHT and NOT BACKING down.
ILLUS: As I mentioned a week or two back, I’ve preached quite a few funerals and I’ve got to be with folks as they passed away. I think about the Obergs. Mable and Leroy. I’m telling you they were some of the finest people I’ve ever met. And I would go visit them as Mable grew weaker and weaker. Her heart was enlarged and the valves weren’t working right. But she never quit. She never retreated. She served God until her last breath. Leroy was the same way. After Mable passed he went on to live a little while longer but he yearned to go home. He fought the good fight and went on up to GLORY FIGHTING the FIGHT. They DIED in the MIDST of the BATTLE.
Brother Shade and Lorreine. Great servants of God who never quit. Both of them 99 when they died, still fighting the BATTLE.
All of these other folks that we’ve lost along the way. They have passed away still fighting the FIGHT and DYING while still fighting.
“How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!”
“Oh how are the MIGHTY fallen who had SO MUCH POTENTIAL.”
“Oh how are the MIGHTY FALLEN” and given AMMUNITION to the DEVIL. That’s really sad but check this out ...
“Oh how are the MIGHTY FALLEN in MIDST of the BATTLE.”
IV. Verse 27 “How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
I believe this last Verse is NOT talking about actual weapons that were lost. Remember this is POETIC. A EULOGY for King Saul and Jonathan. I don’t think David would have been too concerned about some SWORDS and SHIELDS that had been left behind on the BATTLEFIELD. I believe he was talking about the LOSS of King Saul and his son Jonathan? They were the ones who had LED the ARMY INTO BATTLE. They were the ones to MAKE WAR. They were WEAPONS of WAR!!! But now they were gone. Killed on the BATTLEFIELD. And I think the question the people were asking was WHAT NOW? Who will lead us? Who will RULE over the KINGDOM? Who will PROTECT US against the Philistines?
“How are the mighty fallen, and King Saul and his son Jonathan are perished!!!”
Listen, we know that God had a plan. He had already chose David to be the next King. He was the Lord’s anointed. There was really nothing to worry about. But the people didn’t know this. David didn’t know how it was all going to happen. You see, HINDSIGHT is 20/20. It’s easy for us to look at this and say, “Well, God took care of everything.” We know that in the next Chapter David is made king over Judah and Ishbosheth, was made king over the rest of the nation. But then a war broke out and the soldiers of David defeated the soldiers Ishbosheth and David ruled over the entire Kingdom of Israel. We know all of this but David and the people of Israel didn’t.
And I think all of us look around at what’s going on today and we have to ask the question, “What’s gonna happen to this country?” Where’s all of the CHAOS, MURDERS, RIOTS going to lead us to?
Where have all of the MORALS GONE TO?
We look at COVID. When is it going to end?
Will this country turn back to God? It has in the past.
And the BIG QUESTION we all ask? When will the church be RAPTURED out of here?
All of these questions. But remember, hindsights 20/20. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
But there are a few things that are clear. “Hey you old DEVIL, You thought you could become God. You thought you could defeat Him. You THOUGHT you could take everyone to HELL with you.” “But oh How are the MIGHTY FALLEN.” Revelation 20:10
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
You know, I don’t know what each of you is depending on for your salvation. Maybe everyone here today is trusting in Jesus. But if you’re not, I have to read to you the last Verse of Revelation 20. Because it’s not just the DEVIL who will be in the Lake of Fire. It’s all those whose names aren’t written in the Book of Life. Verse 15
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Is that you this morning?
Let’s Pray
