David was a poet. He lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan in Gilboa. Saul was his king, the Lord's Anointed and Jonathan his bosom friend.
An Amalekite young man came and reported the death of Saul. He brought with him the crown and amulet of Saul. He made up the story, saying that Saul requested him to kill him because Saul was mortally wounded and did not want to be insulted by the approaching Philistines. According to the First Book of Samuel, Saul was mortally wounded and told his arm-bearer to finish off his life. The arm-bearer dared not. So, Saul fell upon his own sword and died (1 Samuel 31:4). The arm-bearer followed suit to kill himself.
According to the First Book of Samuel, the Philistines arrived and found the bodies of Saul and his three sons. They cut off the head of Saul to pass around among the people! It was gruesome. But it was a war!
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan (1 Samuel 31:9-10).
The greedy Amalekite wanted to claim some rewards from David. But he was wrong. Twice David spared Saul because Saul was the Lord's Anointed. Now this greedy man claimed to have killed the Lord's Anointed. He deserved to die. David called one of the young man to kill him (2 Samuel 1:15).
And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed (2 Samuel 1:16).
An Amalekite young man came and reported the death of Saul. He brought with him the crown and amulet of Saul. He made up the story, saying that Saul requested him to kill him because Saul was mortally wounded and did not want to be insulted by the approaching Philistines. According to the First Book of Samuel, Saul was mortally wounded and told his arm-bearer to finish off his life. The arm-bearer dared not. So, Saul fell upon his own sword and died (1 Samuel 31:4). The arm-bearer followed suit to kill himself.
According to the First Book of Samuel, the Philistines arrived and found the bodies of Saul and his three sons. They cut off the head of Saul to pass around among the people! It was gruesome. But it was a war!
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan (1 Samuel 31:9-10).
The greedy Amalekite wanted to claim some rewards from David. But he was wrong. Twice David spared Saul because Saul was the Lord's Anointed. Now this greedy man claimed to have killed the Lord's Anointed. He deserved to die. David called one of the young man to kill him (2 Samuel 1:15).
And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed (2 Samuel 1:16).
I do not share David's sentiment. What I can do is to copy his lamentation below. Meditate on it.
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high places.
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.
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (2 Samuel 1:19-27, KJV)
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high places.
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.
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (2 Samuel 1:19-27, KJV)
Dear Lord, the human drama is fascinating. Allow me to play my role well, however insignificant it is. Amen.
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