Respected 2 Samuel 1:22-27, 2:1-7 Lesson for June 2-3, 2018 By Charles Lyons

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1 Respected 2 Samuel 1:22-27, 2:1-7 Lesson for June 2-3, 2018 By Charles Lyons Introduction We begin our study of 2 Samuel with this lesson. This book opens with a simple statement of time reference. This is taking place after the death of Saul and when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, (reference 2 Samuel 1:1.) This lays the emotional foundation of our lesson. David, with his loyal soldiers, had literally been fighting in a land of refuge for survival. By that we mean he led his men in raids that were designed to gather resources to live and continue the fight. He was in hiding and he was violently attacking a brutal enemy to survive, the Amalekites, which others feared. In doing this he honed the skill of his soldiers, survived and waited for a better day. i In the midst of all of this David receives word of the death of Saul and of Saul s son and David s dearest friend Jonathan. Saul understood from God that he would not continue as king and he reasoned that David would be his replacement one day. Now make no mistake Saul s jealousy was outrageous and he would have killed David given a chance. ii Yet David had a holy respect for Saul and the position that he had as God s appointed leader, at that time, over Israel. David is in the midst of the pain of loss over both Saul and his dear friend Jonathan in our passage for today. We see the words from his heart as a man of passion and compassion as well as the words of a military leader when he describes the implications of this loss. His words in 2 Samuel 1:19 rings from his heart as he speaks of the loss of the, beauty of Israel. Then as a leader he describes how the message of their deaths should not be made known to their enemies as the encouragement this would bring to the enemies of Israel, 2 Samuel 1:20. As we look at the Scriptures in this lesson we will learn of the respect that David had and lived for Saul, Jonathan and most of all God. David s actions are far more relatable as we go through this lesson than you might at first connect. David had a dear friend he had lost. He had a leader he respected and disagreed with that had died. He also had to seek and find how and where, through all of this God would take him individually and as a leader of people. Consider this, have you ever lost to death a beloved friend? Have you had to deal with a change in leadership, someone you had conflict with who had died? How did you respond, what was the right response and how did your relationship with God as a Christian influence your response? I. David Leads In Sharing Grief 2 Samuel 1:22-27 It is possible sometimes to view those in high leadership positions to be void of true emotion. It is as though they do not experience the loss you and I feel. Yet, recently we saw George Bush experience the death of his beloved wife Barbara Bush and that loss was real and significant. People in high places can know and experience loss. The smallest apartment and the largest mansion share something. The sense of emptiness when someone you love has left. Of all the people of the land, David leads out in the grief process and respect that he had for both Saul and Jonathan.

2 (Vs 22) Testimony of courage and prowess of Saul and Jonathan. The reference to the blood of the slain refers to their life and the reference to the fat of the mighty refers to the best or greatest of the strongest adversary that Jonathan or Saul would face. In essence the verse implies that neither man would back off from facing a strong and worthy adversary. (Vs 23) Continues what amounts to a eulogy or memorial to the courage and passion of these two men that David greatly respected. David describes them as pleasant. The word in context describes their physical prowess. Note the continued comparison of the men to both eagles and lions. (Vs 24) David now draws attention to Saul as a man who brought great prosperity to the people under his rule. Note both the reference ornaments of gold and the luxury of scarlet. The scarlet colored or died fabric was a costly process. To have fabric this color is an indication of great wealth in that day. David gives Saul the credit for this prosperity. (Vs 25-27) Recall someone in your life that had been adversarial to you. Imagine how you felt during those inevitable conflicts. Now imagine you looking past those emotions and asking yourself, can you give an honest and sincere accounting of their best and strongest qualities? Could you find the words to demonstrate to others the honest respect you had for that individual despite the pressure you felt in your conflicts? Now consider the level of respect and even honest grief that David felt and demonstrated at the loss of Saul. He is able to refer to both Saul and Jonathan as though he felt equal loss. He expresses openly the great loss of this man who was more than a brother to him emotionally. Note that the reference to David s love for Jonathan being more wonderful than that of love for woman is neither sexual nor carnal. The Hebrew word implies that something in Jonathan s life separated him from others. It is as though Jonathan had distinguished himself in the life of David by something he had done that was exceptional. What could it be? Consider the times he stood with David even when it meant being in the path of the rage of his father Saul (1 Samuel 20:18-34.) II. David Leads In Seeking God 2 Samuel 2:1-3 When we are faced with incredible emotion one of the stress filled challenges is seeking sound counsel and not running ahead in the intensity of the moment. David s world was changing with the death of King Saul, his son Jonathan and of course, the enemies of Israel were ready to take advantage of the moment. (Vs 1) David needs to know what to do next and he turns to God. More specifically this would have taken place in harmony through Abiathar, the High-priest. Albert Barnes, the Biblical scholar describes it this way: Lesson for /3 Page 2

3 The death of Saul and Jonathan had entirely changed David s position, and therefore he needed Divine guidance how to act under the new circumstances in which he was placed. iii It is important to note that God does not simply direct David to, go over there somewhere. God s direction to David is very specific and when David follows up wanting more detail God specifies Hebron. What is our lesson? That we can feel as though we are in God s will or know that what we are doing is good and not bad. However, is knowing that we are doing well sufficient to continue on day by day without coming to God for continued detail? As believers, we should respect also the leadership of God sufficiently to get His ongoing daily input. Having a daily quiet time is not limited to understanding a Biblical passage better. It is not limited to memorizing a favorite verse. Praying and reading Scripture also provides us the opportunity to be fine-tuned on a daily bases to ensure we are walking and making decisions in harmony with God s perfect Will. The location of Hebron was a good location to operate from. It was well positioned in the mountains of Judah and allies were in the area. iv Verse 2 indicates that David does not travel alone. There is his family as well as the families of those soldiers that were loyal and traveling with him. This could easily overwhelm a city and make it seem more like an attack or an occupying force, which was not the case. His soldiers and their families would more likely be dispersed in the area which is safer and more accommodating. Consider the following from Biblical scholars, Spence and Excell: Hebron could scarcely find accommodation. Moreover they (David s men) had flocks and herds captured from the Amalekites, for which they needed pasturage. And therefore David dispersed them in the towns and villages of which Hebron was the capital, posting them in such manner as to render it easy for him to summon them together, while taking care that they did not injure his tribesmen, or dispossess them of their lands. v III. David Leads In Showing Grace 2 Samuel 2:4-7 In chapter 1 of 2 Samuel David has a man killed who had taken the life of Saul. The man had killed Saul at Saul s request, it was not done in anger, and it was in relation to the circumstances of the battle. Yet, David realized the man did not have the right to kill God s anointed leader even in that situation. With that in mind we can better appreciate the wording of verse 4. (Vs 4-5) David had already been anointed by Samuel, 1 Samuel 16:13. The anointing here in verse 4 became a more public presentation to the people of God s hand on David as King. Perhaps because of David s prior reaction to the man who had helped Saul to die, the people point out to David that it was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul. It is possible they may not have wanted to be associated with the event. Lesson for /3 Page 3

4 Conclusion However, this was clearly received by David as an act of kindness and respect by the people of Jabesh-gilead to the anointed King Saul, after his death. Note the expression in verse 5, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. (Vs 6-7) David s message to the people of Jabesh-gilead continues in verses 6 and 7. He speaks a blessing to them that Jehovah (LORD) which refers to the existing one the eternal aspect of God, would show lovingkindness and truth to them. In addition, this is more than what would be a modern day, God bless you. David places God s blessing on these people followed with his statement that he will also show them kindness as their king, specifically because of the kind act they showed in respecting the body of the previous king, Saul. David concludes this blessing and encouragement by formally announcing to the people of Jabesh-gilead with the death of their king, Saul, he is now the new anointed king. Consider, that as a child of God when you ask God to bless someone or speak a blessing you are asking God to bring goodness into their lives. The expression by a believer, God bless you, is not an idle expression. As we began the introduction to this lesson passage we identified three elements that David was dealing with which were: David had just lost a dear friend in the death of Jonathan He had a leader that he disagreed with and was threatened by who had died Where, through all of this, could God use him and lead he and the people So what about you and me today? Have you not at some point in your life faced a similar circumstance? Have you: Lost a dear friend to death? Dealt with someone who basically was an adversary? Faced the question, how do I respond as a Christian to this? Respect is a strong word that has a lot to say on these three issues. Do we respect God enough to trust that our friend or loved one is safe in Christ even in death? Do we respect God to protect us and work in the life of someone we may respect some aspect of, though they remain an adversary? Most importantly of all, amidst the pain of death, loss and conflict, do we trust God through the storm of all of this that He will carry us through the storms of life? David clearly respected Saul even in the conflict, he respected Jonathan s loyal friendship and he respected God sufficient to trust him while he was living in what amounted to exile. Consider something that is done frequently at a memorial service, a eulogy is given. We speak words of compassion and love concerning the person who has passed through death into eternity. Those words of respect have power and impact. Do they help the person who has departed? Do they have a profound therapeutic impact on the person who delivers it or perhaps those who hear it? Or perhaps this simple act of respect reminds us that in the time of the greatest hurt or pain we respect and trust God enough to know we do not Lesson for /3 Page 4

5 have to fear, not even death. We can, like David, seek what and where God would have us to do and where to go since we love and respect His judgement and His leading in our countless tomorrows. i H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Excell, The Pulpit Commentary Volume IV, (Peabody:Hendrickson Publishing Marketing, LLC, 2011), The Second Book of Samuel p.1 ii Why was Saul jealous of David?, iii Albert Barnes, Barnes Notes, Exodus to Esther, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005, II Samuel p.74. iv Ibid. v H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Excell, The Pulpit Commentary Volume IV, (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishing Marketing, LLC, 2011), The Second Book of Samuel p.35. Lesson for /3 Page 5