Week 25: 1 Samuel 26 – 2 Samuel 4 and Proverbs 17 – 22
Piper, my little girl has gone for a visit with my Mama, her “Nanny.” That has left my son, Peter here with us as an only child for the week. It is so special to have some one on one time with our boy. It is especially heart warming to hear him talk about how much he misses his little sister. Each day, he asks how many more days need to pass before she will come and laments about her absence. I have asked if he enjoys having a break from all of the sibling fighting, being tattle-told on and having to compromise with his sister. As I recall those realities of their relationship, it is as if he does not even remember that they exist. All he remembers is the good. How can that be?! Bickering and taunting and bugging one another are what dominate most of their time together. But, by the grace of God, that is not the lens through which he views his sister. He remembers and misses the joy of having his side kick around. He misses who she is and all that she brings to our house. It is precious!
This grace filled remembrance of all that is good in a person was demonstrated by David in our reading this week as he lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan:
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely…they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul…How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle!” 2 Samuel 1:23-25
From the heartfelt eulogy of David for Saul, one would never know that the man had spent the later part of his life hunting down David to kill him. It made sense that David would publicly grieve the death of Jonathan, his loyal and beloved friend. But Saul??? David’s response to the news of Saul’s death was absolutely astounding. The young man who came to David to inform him of his death even contrived a story to make it sound like he’d had a part in the death of David’s enemy. The fellow expected David to be elated, and perhaps to put him in a prominent position for his act of bravery. Was he ever misguided! On the contrary, David wept bitterly and commanded that the young man be killed for asserting himself against the LORD’s anointed king, Saul.
David was not just processing the loss of Saul and Jonathan for himself as he penned his lamentation. He wanted it to be taught to the people of Judah and thus remembered from generation to generation. David wanted Saul to be remembered as beloved, mighty and strong. He wanted the people to remember Saul for what he had done for them and all that he had provided for them. David honored Saul, the very man who had pursued his own life with violent jealousy and bitter revenge. How remarkable!
David did not take it upon himself to soil Saul’s reputation even though he had all the evidence he could ever need to expose Saul for all that he was. Even while Saul lived, two times over, David had the opportunity to prove his superiority over Saul by taking his life. But, he did not. Instead, David trusted God. He knew that God could and would deal with Saul as He saw fit, just as in the case with Nabal (1 Samuel 25:28). That is where David found his resolve; by trusting in God to do what only God could do.
David loved the LORD. He trusted the LORD. It did not make any sense from a natural perspective. David’s reactions and decisions did not line up with the wisdom of the world, but they were God’s heart. David demonstrated patterns and characteristics that God’s people could expect to see from an even better King, the perfect King to come, Jesus.
David’s attitude towards Saul was one of the qualities about him that confounded the militarily and politically wise. However, it was those very qualities that would cause all of Israel to eventually see that he was God’s anointed king. The same was the case with Jesus. The way He handled everyone He interacted with was absolute foolishness to those who were in positions of power. More often than not, He responded to situations in the exact opposite way than anyone with sense would have expected Him to. It was the stark contrast in His approach to everything that made the centurion look at Jesus, dead on the cross, and say, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54) None of it made sense, but it was God’s heart.
In closing, I offer one more observation that I heard in an interview with Nancy Guthrie and John Woodhouse. Mr. Woodhouse pointed out the significance of God instructing David to go to Hebron after he had finished grieving the death of Saul and Jonathan. David inquired of the LORD and followed His instructions to move to Hebron and settle. There, he was anointed by the men of Judah to be their king.
So, why Hebron? Hebron was the place that Abraham had purchased land for he and his family to be buried. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives through whom God had brought forth promised children were all buried there. Hebron was the place that Abraham and all of the promises that God had made to him were remembered. God told Abraham in Genesis 12 and 22 that He would bless Abraham and that his offspring would possess the gate of his enemies. God also promised him that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his offspring.
As David was anointed king in Hebron, God was reaffirming His promises. God was confirming that there would be One who would possess the gates the enemy for all time, just as David did for a short time. God was also confirming in Hebron that it would be through an anointed king, The Anointed King, that the entire world would be blessed, just as David brought peace and blessing to all of Israel for a season.
God’s promises are good and they are true. He guards them with His entire self. God is a promise maker and promise keeper. We can trust Him at His word. That is what faith is…trusting God to fulfill all of His promises. Remember God’s promises to you today and be filled with faith in His commitment to keep them!