2 Samuel 1:17-27 Rising Above Our Personal Agenda for Common Good
2 Samuel 1:17-27
17 Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan, 18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.
19 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
20 Don’t announce the news in Gath, don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
21 O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.
22 The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work. They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.
23 How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold.
25 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
26 How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women!
27 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.
Background
Powerful, evocative, and generous is David’s praise of Saul, which reflects David’s righteous spirit and magnanimous character. Indeed, he is one who is able to put aside his personal feuds and in the interest of the nation usher in a proper closure for the fallen king. Today’s passage reveals the kind of man that God will use; one who is able to rise above his personal agenda and fight alongside his contenders for the sake of the kingdom.
Observation
Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! – The battle of Gilboa is one dark piece of history that David wants forgotten. It is time for mourning, the regret, the sorrow, the heaviness, the pride and joy of Israel, her mighty heroes are no more. David would rather give up on the throne than to have Israel’s mighty heroes wiped out in a single battle. It is not hard to imagine that David’s heart died together with Israel’s heroes on that day. It crushes him to recount the heroes’ demise as the memories of them still lives on. Thus, he forbids the news of Israel’s defeat to be mentioned on foreign ground, as it will only amplify the grief back home: Don’t announce the news in Gath, don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon.
O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you – David exclaimed as if the mountains of Gilboa is responsible for Israel’s defeat and has a curse laid upon it. The mountain range must be cursed because it is where an abrupt end was brought upon Israel’s heroes: mighty heroes was defiled, and where Saul’s shield will no longer be anointed for war: the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil.
The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work – David gives special tribute to Saul and Jonathan with the purpose of immortalizing their valor and dignity in the minds of every Israelite. They are almost lifted to the stature of invincibility: They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes… They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. Jonathan is loyal to Saul, and Saul remains a father to Jonathan despite their irreconcilable rift. Their deaths in battle testify to their undying loyalty: They were together in life and in death. David immortalizes the good that Saul has brought to Israel: O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold.
How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! – This reveals what is in David, the deepest regret and sorrow; the lost of a soul mate, the dream of ever ruling together and fighting alongside each other. Even as David repeatedly apostrophizes the death of the heroes, he can never quite find closure: Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.
Truth
- A man of God must look pass personal feuds and conduct himself in the best interest of the whole. David lost everything overnight and became an enemy of the state because Saul was insecure in his position as king. Even though Saul admitted finding no fault in David, he relentlessly hunted him to kill him. Despite the treachery of Saul, David remains fiercely respectful of Saul and reveres him as God’s anointed. David even goes to the extent of immortalizing Saul’s valor and his good works in a song despite his self-serving and oppressive ways.
Even though we may have personal clashes and differences with fellow workers, but we must rise above the pettiness of personal rifts and stand united for the interests of the whole. A man of God will be pressed to decide between personal justice and the interests of the whole. If he is able fight alongside with his contender despite the unresolved feuds or conflicts of interest, he will be mightly used by God for the sake of the kingdom. A man of God, in the quest for the Kingdom’s interest must remain unperturbed by his personal issues.
- It is far better to accentuate the valore of our leaders than to hub on their blunders. At a personal level, we could gripe and grieve over the hurts caused by our leaders. But at an organizational/community level, it will do far more good to accentuate their valore as it will inspire the people towards a brighter future. Although to some extent, recounting their blunders do constrain future leaders from making similar mistakes. However, the closing tribute must resound in thanksgiving leading to greater aspirations. All of us are leaders at some level though imperfect as we are, nonetheless, no one wants to be remembered for their blunders.
Our national leaders likewise have gone through the process of nation building and have navigated unchartered waters in stride. Some mistakes were made and some blunders could have been avoided. By apostrophizing their courage and commitment without hubbing on their blunders (through social media), we inspire the next level of leaders to aspire to greater heights without the baggage of the previous generation.
Applications
- Do you sometimes make decisions based on your personal welfare at the expense of the whole? Are you willing to let the stronger person lead rather than contend for the same role because it presents greater personal benefits?
- Are you able to lift up someone whom you perceive as imperfect so that carmaradorie and unity may be maintained within the community? Perhaps, it is time to enlarge the horizon of your paradigm and work for the good of the whole.
Dear Lord, give me a heart that is willing to submit to our leaders even though imperfect as they are. Help me to work and fight alongside with them in unity despite of personal differences. Help me to apostrophize their valore and achievements so that the next generation may be primed to confront the challenges of their day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.