2 Samuel 1:17-27: a reflection

17David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 19“Your glory, Israel, was slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow didn’t turn back. Saul’s sword didn’t return empty. 23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 24You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you delicately in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 25How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle! Jonathan was slain on your high places. 26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 27How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

When David learns of the death of Saul and Jonathan, he composes a lament that grieves them both with generous sorrow. Saul had hunted David for years, sought his life, been his enemy; yet David does not gloat over his fall or speak ill of him. How the mighty have fallen! he cries, mourning Saul, honoring him, calling the daughters of Israel to weep for him. David grieved graciously even for the enemy who had wronged him, refusing to gloat over his fall, honoring him in death rather than triumphing over him. His grief was magnanimous, generous even toward the one who had been his enemy.

Notice David's gracious, generous grief even for his enemy. Saul had given David every reason to hate him, hunting him, seeking his life; when Saul fell, David might have gloated, might have rejoiced at the death of his enemy. But instead he grieved, honored Saul, mourned him, refusing to gloat over his fall. His grief was magnanimous, extending even to the enemy who had wronged him; he would not triumph over the fallen or speak ill of the dead. David's heart was generous even toward the one who had been his enemy; he grieved graciously rather than gloating. The magnanimity of grieving even for an enemy, honoring rather than triumphing over the fallen, marked David's lament.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to a gracious, generous heart even toward those who have wronged us, not gloating over their fall. When those who have wronged us, our enemies, our rivals, fall or suffer, our instinct can be to gloat, to rejoice at their downfall; but David grieved graciously even for Saul, who had hunted him, refusing to gloat over his fall. There is a magnanimity that grieves even for an enemy, that honors rather than triumphs over the fallen. Do not gloat over the fall of those who have wronged you; be magnanimous, gracious even toward them, as David grieved for Saul his enemy. Be magnanimous and gracious even toward those who have wronged you, not gloating over their fall but grieving graciously, as David lamented Saul who had hunted him, crying how the mighty have fallen; for there is a generous grace that grieves even for an enemy and honors rather than triumphs over the fallen, and we are called to such magnanimity rather than gloating over the downfall of those who have wronged us.

Lord, when David learns of the death of Saul and Jonathan, he composes a lament that grieves them both with generous sorrow. Saul had hunted David for years, sought his life, been his enemy; yet David does not gloat over his fall or speak ill of him. How the mighty have fallen! he cries, mourning Saul, honoring him, calling the daughters of Israel to weep for him. David grieved graciously even for the enemy who had wronged him, refusing to gloat over his fall. Show me David's gracious, generous grief even for his enemy. Saul had given David every reason to hate him; when Saul fell, David might have gloated, might have rejoiced at the death of his enemy. But instead he grieved, honored Saul, mourned him, refusing to gloat over his fall. His grief was magnanimous, extending even to the enemy who had wronged him; he would not triumph over the fallen. David's heart was generous even toward the one who had been his enemy. Take that to my heart, for I am called to a gracious, generous heart even toward those who have wronged me, not gloating over their fall. When those who have wronged me, my enemies, my rivals, fall or suffer, my instinct can be to gloat, to rejoice at their downfall; but David grieved graciously even for Saul, who had hunted him. There is a magnanimity that grieves even for an enemy. Keep me from gloating over the fall of those who have wronged me; help me be magnanimous, gracious even toward them, Lord, as David grieved for Saul his enemy, crying how the mighty have fallen, that I may honor rather than triumph over the fallen.