Breakfast Soap - Mourning Saul / Jonathan

S: Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

2 Samuel 1:11

O: I think it was customary to mourn the death of Israel's king, but I'm surprised that David even mourned Saul at all. After all, Saul tried to kill David on numerous occasions and not only that; when David was given the chance to kill Saul, David adamantly refused to lay a hand on Saul because he was the "Lord's anointed" and above all things-David did not want to mess with God's anointing no matter how much contempt Saul treated David with. I guess that sets apart David being the better man as we see the comparison between the two kings. Had I been in David's shoes, I would have easily rejoiced in the fact that one who wanted me dead was killed in battle-but yet again, David sought to please God, and not himself.

On the other hand, I find it to be very appropriate that David mourned his best friend, Jonathan-I imagine that that David must have been terribly burdened with his closest friend passing in battle. As the passage goes along, in verse 26 (middle of where David wrote his poem over Saul and Jonathan), David writes plainly "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women." That was some hardcore friendship, there-brotherhood that he counted greater than having a wife.

I think that the main part of this chunk of Scripture that spoke most to me was that David honored God-David may have truly felt remorse for Saul and maybe even pity, to the extent that he had fallen to such a dishonorable way of death (suicide, although David believed the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul, which I would guess to still be dishonorable). David was furious with the Amalekite and had him killed for killing the Lord's anointed-as it was taboo to kill an anointed king. What I admire most is that David honored God so deeply, of course; but I'm especially impressed because David held fast to that notion despite all the hardship Saul had put him through.

A: Things like 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you' come to mind when I think about the actions David took-He was definitely a foreshadowing of the coming King, and it was reflected in his character. As God looks favorably upon those who resemble...well, Himself, this mentality of reverence for God's people and long-suffering patience and mercy David demonstrates is definitely something I should strive for. There should never be a limit to what should be forgiven when someone sins against me (and vice versa) as we're all sinners. I admit that I would have had a grudge against Saul, but David held fast to obeying God and reconciled with Saul.

P: God, You are good. You have been patient and merciful with me-I confess that I am not wholeheartedly focused, but I come with the desire to remember that I'm made complete in Christ. Forgive me of my heart that can't seem to catch up-and my flesh that I which I wish I could suppress. However, You alone can mortify my sins, Holy Spirit-so press on in me. Like King David, would you cultivate a godly maturity in me-I could never forgive someone such as Saul on my own, but I know that by Your grace and example, there is no offense that is beyond the power of Your Son's blood. Would You make this day fruitful as I strive to spend it with You? In Christ, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria