2 Samuel 1

Back in high school, my bible study went over the book of 1st Samuel. It's been years since then but the lessons that I learned in that still hold strongly in my life to this day. I figured that I would start reading 2nd Samuel as it is a natural continuation of 1st Samuel. I must say, I am actually quite confused about a bunch of things that happened in the first half of chapter 1.

In the beginning of 2nd Samuel, David finally becomes the king of Israel. He knew that this day would come but he waited upon the Lord to work in His own timing. David went through many struggles and even had the opportunity to kill Saul with this own hands and take the throne, and yet David patiently waited. It's amazing how much David trusted God. David had the chance to seize what was the throne by his own might and yet he waited for God. God held true to His promise and David's patience paid off. So many times, we see an opportunity before us and say "Wow, I HAVE to take this opportunity because it might now come again!" and we blindly charge forward. Just because the opportunity presents itself doesn't mean that God necessarily wants you to take it. Be patient and seek HIS answer and HIS desires first and foremost.

What confuses me the most is David's reaction to the news of Saul's death at the hands of a man from Saul's camp. David wept. He mourned not only for the death of his dear friend, Saul's son Jonathan, but also for Saul, his enemy. I understand that David was distraught by the death of his friend but why did he mourn for Saul? Saul had wronged him in so many ways. The way that I see this is almost as if the Jews were to mourn the death of Hitler at the end of World War II. I'm no history buff but such a thing probably did not happen. So why then would David mourn for Saul?

I think it ultimately boils down to David's character. As we read farther into 2 Samuel 1, we realize a few things. David acknowledges that Saul was appointed by God to be king. Being a man of faith, that means David accepted the fact and realized that it was part of the Lord's plan. David was trusting in the Lord and knew that Saul had been in place for a reason. From verse 17 on is a lament for Saul and Jonathan. Rather than talk about all the times that Saul tried to kill him, David notes the good in Saul. It would have been easy for David to celebrate in Saul's death but that would not have honored God. As a man after God's heart, David honored God by loving Saul, his enemy, even after all that Saul had done. David desired to follow God's commands and that is evident.

The prayer of my heart is that I can be a more loving person. David loved the very man that almost speared him while he was playing the harp. In no way, shape, or form has anyone ever thrown a spear at me and yet I still find it hard to love people.