David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:
What is your response to death? Do you yell? Do you weep? Do you sleep? Do you fight? Do you become sullen? Everyone responds differently to hearing of a death. No doubt that grief is the main emotion most feel when hearing news of a death. David is no different. The above passage says he lamented. The root of the word is to strike a note. It is not to sing a song. It is to strike a single note and strike it again and again and again. It is to wail that note. This is how David felt. But David did more. He wrote a song, as well. In God’s word we have several people who wrote songs in these moments: David, Moses; Solomon; Aspah; Jeremiah; and the sons of Korah. Writing a song or lament or words after death is very cathartic for the writer and gives honor to the one who died. That was David’s mission. At the end of his lament here is what he wrote about his best friend, Jonathon:
2 Samuel 1:25-26 (ESV)
“How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!
“Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
your love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.
David loved Jonathon and to honor him he wrote this lament. There is no perfect response to death but one way some deal with death is they write.
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