The number of biblical phrases found in our modern culture never ceases to amaze. The phrase “How the mighty have fallen!” is often found in our society when a known strength or power fails.
The account of Saul’s death in I Samuel 31 differs from the account we find here. We can confidently posit that Saul died of suicide and that the wayward Amalekite that tells David that he killed king Saul is seeking some sort of reward or recognition for having killed Saul. It was no secret that Saul and David were at odds, and the Amalekite’s fabrication is trying to capitalize on that.
The Amalekite is punished for his lies, David supposing that he is punishing him for the actual murder. Retribution is exacted on this unruly man for his falsehood. David orders his death and one of David’s young men strikes and kills him.
When David realizes that Saul and Jonathan are both dead, he pays respect to the first king of Israel. David also greatly laments the death of his very close friend Jonathan, whom he loved and cherished.
Much like the grieving will fast, David seeks a lack of blessing on the mountains in verse 21: “O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.” It is beautiful sentiment, but one that we might wander at in light of king Saul’s failures.
It is not clear whether David’s adulation of Saul was attributed to directly to his understanding of Saul’s character, the fact that Saul was God’s first anointed king of Israel, or another unknown reason. In any case, his sorrow and praise for the deceased king are authentic. It is important to note that David did not praise Saul’s goodness or his character. There was not much there to praise.
David’s praises of Jonathan are understandable; indeed the two men were very close friends, pledging their lives to one another. Here are some examples of their spoken pledges and admiration for one another:
- I Samuel 18:3: “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”
- I Samuel 20:42: “Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’ ”
- II Samuel 1:26: “You have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.”
David and Jonathan’s friendship transcended normal friendship and went into the bounds of brotherhood, wherein is absolute trust, protection, fidelity, and the willingness to die for one another. It must have been very difficult for Jonathan to see the evil in his father and betray him or the sake of David, as happened in I Samuel 19. But this aspect of Jonathan’s loyalty to David shows us how Jonathan was committed to goodness and righteousness over family relations. He could see the goodness in David and the lack of true godliness in his father, and this is a big part of what led to his loyalty to David.
What can we learn from David here? Perhaps it is that sometimes, even if someone is of a poor and selfish character, they are still deserving of respect in death, and not just because of the office that they held, but out of respect for the fact that they gave their life in the midst of the cause of defending the purpose of the Lord: in this case, defending the nation of Israel from the Amalekites.
The bigger lesson to learn from David here, beyond his praises of Jonathan and Saul, are that his laments are rooted in the fact that God’s people were defeated, and God’s chosen first king of Israel has perished. When God’s enemies triumph, it is a cause for lament and mourning. In a similar mindset for us, do we lament when God’s people suffer?
Monday Night Bible Study 