2 Samuel 1

2 Samuel 1

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - 2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. It was very lovely and pleasant of David to say so. He had no hesitation, of course, in saying this of his beloved Jonathan, every memory of whom was very pleasant, like a sweet strain of music, or the scent of the spring breeze; but he might have been excused for omitting Saul from the graceful and generous epithets he heaped on the kindred soul of his friend. But death had obliterated the sad, dark memories of recent days, and had transported the Psalmist across the dream of years to Saul as he was when he was first introduced to him. All that could be said in praise of the first Hebrew king was crowded into these glowing lines-the courage, martial prowess, swiftness to aid those who required help, his pleasantness and courtesy in address. This is the love of God, which He breathes into the hearts of His children. They become perfect in love, as He is. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It is Godlike for His children to love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and pray for all who despitefully use and persecute them. Is such love ours? Do we forbear from thinking evil? Do we look on the virtues more often than the failures of our friends? Do we cast the mantle of forgiveness over the injuries done to us, and dwell tenderly on the excellences of our foes? Such is the love which never fails, but endures when faith has turned to fruition, and hope has realized its dreams. We need most of all a baptism of love. A piece of clay will become fragrant if placed in contiguity to attar of roses. Let us lie where John did, on the bosom of incarnate love, till we begin to love as he. 2 Samuel 1:24 "O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. Jdg 5:30 Ps 68:12 Pr 31:21 Isa 3:16-26 Jer 2:32 1Ti 2:9,10 1Pe 3:3-5 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ADVANCES IN ISRAEL UNDER SAUL O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel - Israel's economy and "per capita" income apparently flourished under King Saul. Don Anderson - David speaks about their clothing, which he had made possible for them. Since Saul emphasized the external, clothes were so important to him. 2 Samuel 1:25 "How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. How: 2Sa 1:19,27 La 5:16, Jdg 5:18 1Sa 14:13-15 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S PERSONAL LAMENT AND LAUDING OF JONATHAN How have the mighty (gibbor; Lxx = dunatos - possessing power) fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places - David repeats fallen - 2Sa 1:19, 27, here referring specifically to Jonathan. 2 Samuel 1:26 "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was more wonderful Than the love of women. love: 1Sa 18:1-4 1Sa 19:2 1Sa 20:17,41 1Sa 23:16 2 Samuel 1:26 Friendship 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Samuel 18:1-4+ Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 20:17+ Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life. (GENUINE SELFLESS, UNSELFISH LOVE) DAVID REVIEWS THEIR COVENANT LOVE I am distressed ("grieve" - tsarar) for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your love (ahabah; Lxx - agapesis - see agape) to me was more wonderful (pala) Than the love (ahabah) of women - This passage recalls 1 Samuel 18:1+ "Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself" and 1 Samuel 20:17+ "Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life." Jonathan was his brother-in-law by relationship because of his marriage to Michal, but here he refers to Jonathan as a brother by the covenant of friendship. See discussion of "friend" as covenant term. MacArthur on love of David for Jonathan - The bond between David and Jonathan was strong. However, this does not mean that their friendship was necessarily superior to the bond of love between a man and a woman. The commitment shared between the two of them was a noble, loyal, and selfless devotion (cf. 1Sa 18:3), which neither of them had ever felt for a woman. Unlike love between a man and a woman in which a sexual element is part of the strong attraction, this love between these two men had no such sexual feature, yet was compellingly strong. Distressed (06887) tsarar means to be narrow, to be cramped, to be straitened, to be constricted, to hem or be hemmed in. Figuratively tsarar means to oppress or harass and thus to be hostile or be an adversary or enemy, the best known use being Ps 23:5 "in the presence of my enemies (tsarar)." Figuratively tsarar also means to feel hard pressed and thus to be distressed (13/36 uses), troubled, oppressed, cramped, anxious or worried. In contrast, that which is wide-open or broad gives a picture of freedom and/or deliverance. In Job 20:22 the idea is to be in narrow straits, to be in a bind, connoting the idea of pressure, stress or trouble. Love (0160) ahabah from aheb/ahab) describes a powerful, intimate love between a man and a woman (Gen. 29:20; Song 2:4, 5, 7); love between friends (2Sa 1:26); God's love for His people (Isa. 63:9; Hos. 3:1). Frequently, it is associated with forming a covenant, which enjoins loyalty (Dt. 7:8). This Hebrew word is used of love between God and man, but usually refers to love between people. Love is the basis of covenants made in the OT. Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship in 1 Sa. 18:3 and reaffirmed it in 1 Sa 20:17. God keeps his promises because He loves his people (Dt. 7:8) (ED: AND BECAUSE HE KEEPS HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAM!). And those who love the Lord keep his covenant (Isa. 56:6). Ahabah - Gen. 29:20; 1Sa 20:17; 2 Sam. 1:26; 2 Sam. 13:15; Ps. 109:4; Ps. 109:5; Prov. 5:19; Prov. 10:12; Prov. 15:17; Prov. 17:9; Prov. 27:5; Eccl. 9:1; Eccl. 9:6; Cant. 2:4; Cant. 2:5; Cant. 2:7; Cant. 3:5; Cant. 3:10; Cant. 5:8; Cant. 7:6; Cant. 8:4; Cant. 8:6; Cant. 8:7; Isa. 63:9; Jer. 2:2; Jer. 2:33; Jer. 31:3; Hos. 11:4; Zeph. 3:17 2 Samuel 1:11,17-27 Lament For A Friend I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me. —2 Samuel 1:26 As a pastor, I was often asked to lead funeral services. Typically, the funeral director would give me a 3 x 5 index card with all the particulars about the deceased so I would be informed about him or her. I never got used to that, however. As practical and necessary as it may have been, it seemed a bit trite to take a person’s earthly sojourn and reduce it to an index card. Life is too big for that. After David received news of Jonathan’s death, he spent time recalling the life of his friend—even writing a lament that others could sing as a way to respect Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:17-27). David recalled his friend’s courage and skill, and he spoke of the grief that caused him to lament deeply. He honored a rich, pleasant, heroic life. For David, it was an intense time of mourning and remembrance. At journey’s end, take a long look back At the details of the story; Take time to review the godly life Of your loved one now in Glory. —Branon Precious memories of life can temper the profound sadness of death. C H