Love, Grief, Honor

I started in Genesis again in January.

Beginnings.

I'm in 2 Samuel.  The time of the judges ending and beginning of the  kings.

I'm reading over a familiar passage now.  David's lament for Saul and Jonathan.

David speaking after being told that Saul and Jonathan have died in battle.

"The beauty of Israel is slain upon the 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.  You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neithter 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........."

Wait!

Did David say that Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives?

Yes, Jonathan was.  He was David's best friend.  And knew that the Lord had taken the kingdom away from his father, Saul, and given it to David.  And Jonathan still loved David.  He risked his life for David.  He swore an oath to David.

But Saul was lovely and pleasant?

Really Lord?

 The previous chapters tell me that Saul was not pleasant.  At least to David.   He hunted David to kill him.  He threw spears at David in the palace.  He put impossible demands on David to keep a promise of his daughter in marriage.  Saul made David an outlaw.

And yet throughout the narrative of Saul's kingship, David is always honoring him as God's anointed.  David fights the Philistines for Saul, He sings to Saul when Saul is morose and melancholy.  He encourages Saul, is obedient to his demands on David.  David will not let his men kill Saul when the opportunity presents itself.  He always honored Saul as God's anointed.

It's amazing.

We live in an inhospitable world.  Either nature, accidents, illnesses, famines, wars, abuse, anger, difficult relationships at work, home or community put a stress on our ability to live the way the Lord intended.

David, though by no means perfect, gives us a window into love, grief, and honor.

Unconditionally.