2 Samuel 1

Saul was dead. We understood this from the end of First Samuel. There were more facts about his death that had not been revealed in that earlier volume. More than that, we did not know how we were to feel about the death of the first king of Israel. The opening of Second Samuel brings us aid on both of these matters.

First, if the word of a new messenger to David was reliable, though Saul had attempted to kill himself, he barely survived that attempt. His armor bearer cast himself on his own sword assuming that the king was gone, but the life of the king remained in him for a brief while longer.

The Amalekite man who brought the news to David of Saul's demise testified to David that he had found Saul leaning on his own weapon, powerless to end his life. He lingered on in his misery. Saul asked him to kill him, and he followed the king's instruction.

Two times while Saul was pursuing David, the son of Jesse had opportunities to take the life of the man who was trying to destroy him. In both cases David's men who accompanied him urged him to kill Saul. Both times he refused to stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed.

But now, by his own testimony, an Amalekite had taken Saul's life. God's wrath was against the Amalekites. Saul's refusal to obey the Lord's instruction to destroy them brought great trouble on Saul. Now this young man had raised his hand against the king of Israel. If he imagined that David would be pleased by this news he could not have been more mistaken. His decision to listen to the voice of the dying king and to put him out of his misery would cost him his own life. These were the details that we were missing in the account of Saul's death at the end of the prior book. We see again the love of the true king from whom will come the Messiah. David loved the Lord and he loved the Lord's anointed. He would not permit an enemy of the Lord's people to take action against the king of Israel without serious consequences.

But now the more pressing question for us as we contemplate the loss of Saul and Jonathan. What are we to feel about the death of Saul. David, the man who would soon be the king of Israel, led Israel in mourning for the loss of Saul and Jonathan. His lament for these great men was recorded even for our consideration. Saul had been his mortal enemy, but he was the king in Israel, and David honored him. His death was a great loss for the Lord's people. Did Saul have great faults? The Scriptures tell us plainly that he did. But in the kingdom of God we can mourn the death of a great man, even though his life was so severely marred by the stains of depravity. If there was hope for Saul, this vexed king, there can be hope for all of those who belong to the Messiah.

“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.” Will we be like David, and look beyond the king's faults to a better and more honorable end? Will we be able to see him together with his holy son Jonathan in both life and death?

“How the mighty have fallen!”

There is particular mention in David's sad song of the great love shared between Jonathan and himself. There was something more in the love between these two warriors than in the love of a man and a woman. Here were two brothers in the Lord, separated by the weapons of the enemy. This was a sad day in Israel.

How many sad days have there been throughout the history of God's Old Testament nation and His New Testament church? How many tears have rightly been shed at the death of valiant men who have given their lives for the Lord? If we wished to follow the ways of those who have a critical spirit, we could find fault with all of them. We will have occasion in the history of the kings of Israel and Judah to admit plainly that certain men who held that title were not good men. So be it. But for now, let us join David in mourning not only for Jonathan, but also for his weaker father, Saul. May he rest in peace. May the blood of Christ that is the only hope of even the most righteous man or woman in the Lord's service cover over his sins, for even he called upon the Name of the Lord.