08 November, 2020

II Samuel 1:19-27—“… how are the mighty fallen! …”

 

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 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 wast 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! (II Sam. 1:17-27).

  

Q. “Regarding David’s elegy to Saul and Jonathan in 2 Samuel 1:22-26, surely David wouldn’t say those things about Saul if Saul was a reprobate? Wouldn’t he rather have rejoiced that a reprobate wicked man, such as Saul was, had gone? Doesn’t his great sorrow and sadness over Saul imply that Saul was one of God's elect, though greatly influenced and ruined by sin throughout his life? ... Even the Holy Spirit recorded this lament of David in Scripture ... so surely it must mean something about Saul, from a deeper spiritual point of view ...?”

  


(I)


David says nothing about godliness in Saul. He speaks of him as the dead leader in Israel, the Lord's anointed, his father-in-law and one who had (in his earlier days) helped David. (AS, 08/11/2020)

  

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(II)

 

More to come! (DV)

 

 


 

 

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