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August 23, 2020 --- David's Grief for Saul and Jonathan --- 2 Samuel 1

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August 23, 2020 --- David's Grief for Saul and Jonathan --- 2 Samuel 1 1 Sunday School Lesson Outline – Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church – 3317 Toledano Street – New Orleans, La. August 23, 2020 --- David’s Grief for Saul and Jonathan --- 2 Samuel 1:11-12, 17-27 Unit III – David: A True King Introduction: “Life is filled with both joy and sorrow. Why some people seem to have more or less joy or sorrow than others is one of the enigmas of the human condition. Obviously, sin, either directly or indirectly, is at the root of many of the sorrows we experience. While some sorrow can be traced to bad choices on our part, others cannot. The book of Job demonstrates that even the righteous may suffer greatly. Job tragically lost his children, his health, and his wealth. Even so, he would not curse God, and die (Job 2:9), as his wife suggested. Since sorrow is the common lot of human beings, how we usually work through grief is fairly predictable. Those who have experienced deep sorrow will probably recognize the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While people in the biblical world did not enjoy the technological advances and modern conveniences we take for granted, they dealt with sickness, sorrow, and death in much the same way we do. In short, things have not changed in thousands of years.” – BE&I (See Preparing To Teach The Lesson on Page 6.) I. MOURNING THE HOUSE OF SAUL – 2 Samuel 1:11-12 2 Samuel 1:11 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: A. David the fugitive (2 Samuel 1:11). 1. “At the end of last week’s lesson, David had fled into the night to avoid being murdered by Saul.” a. “For nearly a decade, he was a fugitive, moving from place to place: being hunted down by the king.” b. “For a time, David even sought refuge among the Philistines (chap. 27).” 2. “King Saul strayed farther and farther from the Lord even as the Israelites continued to battle the Philistines.” a. “With the death of the Prophet Samuel, Saul had no one from whom to seek spiritual guidance.” b. “So, when they faced a large Philistine army, Saul was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled (vs. 5).” c. “Realizing his need of guidance, Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets (vs. 6).” 3. “At this, Saul sought out the witch of Endor to try to ascertain the future (I Sam. 28:8-19).” a. “Rather than being comforted with a message of hope, Saul was told that Israel would be defeated and that he and his sons would die.” b. “The very next day the two armies met on the field of battle.” c. “As predicted, Israel was defeated, and Saul and his sons died that day (31:1-7).” 2 Samuel 1:12 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. B. David mourns (2 Samuel 1:12). 1. “A few days later, a man from the battlefront arrived at David’s camp and informed him of the defeat of Israel and the death of Saul and his sons.” a. “David and his men mourned the loss.” 2 b. “David took hold on his clothes, and rent them (II Sam. 1:11); that is, he tore them as a sign of grief.” c. “His men did likewise, and all of them mourned, and wept, and fasted.” 2. “In spite of the fact that King Saul considered David his enemy, David nevertheless mourned for him.” a. “After all, Saul was the Lord’s anointed (vs. 16).” b. “As David and Saul’s son Jonathan were close friends, his grief for Jonathan was particularly painful.” c. “This mourning, however, was extended to the whole nation, because they were fallen by the sword.” Practical Point 1: “Christians should mourn the passing of loved ones as well as those they had difficulties.” II. LAMENTATION FOR THE FALLEN -- 2 Samuel 1:17-18 2 Samuel 1:17 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: A. David laments (2 Samuel 1:17). 1. “As you probably know, the Bible contains various kinds of literature.” a. “There are the general categories of law, history, poetry, and prophecy in the Old Testament.” b. “Likewise, the New Testament contains biography, history, epistles, and prophecy.” 2. “But within specific books, there may be various genres (categories).” a. “One of these categories is the lament, which is frequently found in Psalms.” b. “Of course, there is also a book called Lamentations, which contains the laments of the Prophet Jeremiah over the fall of Jerusalem.” c. “‘The beauty and forcefulness of the language in David’s lament attest his stature as a poet of genuine merit. (Indeed, this work is properly recognized as the greatest elegy (serious poem) in the Hebrew language’ [Allen]).” 2 Samuel 1:18 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) B. Lamentation taught (2 Samuel 1:18). 1. “Beyond the general mourning on the day David learned of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, he continued to lament their deaths.” a. “David’s lamentation was not just personal, but he wanted it to be taught to the children of Judah.” b. “The phrase the use of the bow could be rendered the ode of the bow or the lament of the bow.” c. He wanted taught the lament entitled the bow, not the weapon. 2. “Although little is known about it, the book of Jasher (literally, “the book of the upright) apparently was a well- known ‘collection of early poetry, commemorating outstanding events and providing a source-book for later writers of our Bible books’ (Baldwin).” a. “David’s lament was recorded in this book and is quoted here in 2 Samuel.” b. “The reference here does not mean the book of Jasher was divinely inspired.” Practical Point 2: “It’s right to mourn the loss of loved ones and or associates, for it shows that we know their value.” 3 III. DEEP SORROW EXPRESSED -- 2 Samuel 1:19-27 2 Samuel 1:19-21 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. A. For Israel (2 Samuel 1:19-21). 1. “The word beauty can mean what we usually think of, or it can mean something prominent, or glorious. (Many think the expression is better rendered The glory of Israel is slain.)” 2. “High places (vs. 19) is a reference to Mount Gilboa, where the battle took place.” a. “The mighty is parallel to the beauty of Israel.” b. “This repetition of ideas (parallelism) is typical of poetry found throughout the Old Testament.” 3. “It is understandable that Saul’s defeat was lamented in Israel.” a. “In the streets of Philistine cities like Gath, however, this would be reason for rejoicing, not lamentation.” b. “It was to be regretted how this news would spread among the uncircumcised (vs. 20), that is, among the Philistines.” Practical Point 3: “We should be sure to honor the mourning of others.” 4. “As somewhat typical in poetry, even inanimate objects such as mountains (Gilboa), dew, rain, and fields are addressed and here called upon to join in the weeping (vs. 21).” 5. “It was on the field of battle that Saul met his end, although David does not refer to him specifically but rather to his shield being vilely cast away.” a. “The reference to being anointed with oil may have a double meaning. (Shields were literally anointed with oil, both to keep them shiny and to make them more likely to deflect arrows.)” b. “Of course, the word anointed also calls to mind the fact that, in spite of his backsliding, Saul was God’s anointed king” 2 Samuel 1:22-23 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. B. For Israel’s warriors (2 Samuel 1:22-23). 1. “The picture painted by David was one of Saul and Jonathan bravely fighting to the very end.” a. “While they were not victorious over the Philistines, they had brought death to their enemies in this final battle.” b. “Therefore, David could say, “The bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.” 2. “When people speak of the departed, they do so in glowing terms to remember the good and forget the bad. (Perhaps David was doing this in his song of sorrow, referring to Saul as lovely and pleasant.)” Practical Point 4: “The loss of great leaders, even flawed ones, is hard to bear.” 4 3.
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