“David Mourned for Saul”

Tuesday, June 07, 2022

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 1

“…the young man said, “The people fled from the battle… Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” (2 Samuel 1.4)

Saul personally assaulted David, made secret plots against him and even amassed an army to take David out. David spent years on the run because of Saul’s erratic behavior. But now Saul was dead. How do you think David responded?

“Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan…” (2 Samuel 1.11-12a)

Nearly everyone would have understood David celebrating the death of Saul. “FINALLY, he got what was coming… I can have some peace… I can be the leader God called me to be!” But instead, David mourned the death of Saul. Not once does David defame or slander Saul. Rather he honored Saul as the one God had anointed.

How many would do this today? Much of the modern narrative justifies retribution for a wrong done. Even in our own lives, we feel justified in giving people what they deserve, especially when they've done us wrong. But we see a much different attitude modeled and taught in scripture, especially from Jesus.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5.44-45)

David’s sorrow for Saul’s death models a Christ-like attitude towards authority and our enemies. David reminds us that we honor God by honoring leaders, regardless of how we feel about the person in office. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13.1-2). Our opinion of the person or their political leaning should never precede the honor we show leaders. If David refused to kill Saul out of respect for God (1 Samuel 26.11), we should take heed how we think about and behave towards our leaders. We cannot honor God if we do not honor authority.

Furthermore, the actions of others will not justify our ungodly behavior. In fact, godliness is often displayed when others are behaving badly. Much of the wrong suffered by David foreshadowed the suffering of the Christ. Several psalms David penned during this tumultuous time of life are Messianic as they depict the suffering Jesus would endure (For example, Psalm 22, 69). David’s attitude gives us a glimpse into the very heart of God who “was despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53.3); pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquity (53.5); he was oppressed and afflicted (53.7). Yet, how did Christ respond to his injustice? “He opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53.7). While this is a high calling, it is the calling of God that we can and must practice. 

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, let the LORD see it and be displeased…” (Proverbs 24.17-18a)

Share