2 Samuel 1:23-24 (ESV)
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles;
they were stronger than lions.
“You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
These verses are part of David’s lament over the death of Saul and Saul’s son, Jonathan. Although Saul had attempted to kill David on many occasions, David still lamented his death and the death of Jonathon, David’s best friend. Although Saul had little spiritual life, David still found something to praise in his death.
This past week I went to a funeral of a friend’s father. There was absolutely no spiritual conversation. There was none that I heard. There was, like above, praise and admiration for a life lived well. That is a good thing. But it was a sad thing, as well, in that no spiritual conversation took place in that public memorial. This is true about Saul as well. David does not praise Saul’s walk with God because Saul had little, if not none. (I know nothing about my friend’s father. Only that there was no public mention of spiritual connection with God.)
In our deaths, a memorial lament is always a good thing. But let us live our lives in such a way that the conversation of our physical and earthly life are subservient to the conversation about the spiritual and, now, heavenly life. May the talk at our death memorial be more about Him than us.
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