2 Samuel 1:1-5: a reflection

1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth and showed respect. 3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.” 4David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.” 5David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

News reaches David of the death of Saul and Jonathan in battle. Saul had been David's relentless enemy, hunting him for years, seeking his life; Jonathan had been his dearest friend. And as the account unfolds, David's response to the news is not triumph or relief at his enemy's death, but deep grief. He mourns Saul, the very man who had hunted him, as well as Jonathan his friend. He does not gloat over the fall of his enemy, but grieves.

Notice David's response to the death of his enemy Saul: not gloating, but grief. Saul had wronged David grievously, hunted him, sought his life; and now Saul was dead, David's persecutor gone. Many would have rejoiced at the death of such an enemy. But David grieved; he mourned even for Saul, the man who had wronged him, rather than gloating over his fall. He did not rejoice at the downfall of his enemy, but wept.

That response, of grief rather than gloating over the fall of an enemy, is a hard but worthy example. When those who have wronged us fall, suffer, or are brought low, the natural response is often satisfaction, even gloating; we can rejoice at the downfall of our enemies. But David grieved even for Saul, who had hunted him. It reflects a heart that does not delight in the ruin even of those who have wronged us. When one who has wronged you falls or suffers, do not gloat or rejoice at their downfall; grieve, as David grieved even for Saul. To rejoice at an enemy's ruin is not the way of a heart shaped by God; David wept even for the man who hunted him. Do not delight in the fall of those who have wronged you, but grieve, refusing to gloat over an enemy's downfall, as David refused, mourning even for Saul who had sought his life.

Lord, news reached David of the death of Saul and Jonathan in battle; Saul had been David's relentless enemy, hunting him for years, and Jonathan his dearest friend. And David's response to the news was not triumph or relief at his enemy's death, but deep grief; he mourned even Saul, the man who had hunted him, rather than gloating over his fall. Show me David's response to the death of his enemy: not gloating, but grief. Many would have rejoiced at the death of such an enemy; but David grieved, refusing to rejoice at the downfall of the one who had wronged him. Set that hard but worthy example before me. When those who have wronged me fall, suffer, or are brought low, the natural response is often satisfaction, even gloating; I can rejoice at the downfall of my enemies. But David grieved even for Saul. It reflects a heart that does not delight in the ruin even of those who have wronged us. When one who has wronged me falls or suffers, keep me from gloating or rejoicing at their downfall; help me grieve, as David grieved even for Saul. To rejoice at an enemy's ruin is not the way of a heart shaped by you; David wept even for the man who hunted him. Keep me from delighting in the fall of those who have wronged me, Lord, and help me refuse to gloat over an enemy's downfall, as David refused. Give me a heart that does not gloat over the fall of my enemies.