David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan. Then David sang this dirge (funeral song) over Saul and his son Jonathan, and he told them to teach the sons of Judah, the song of the bow. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar: “Your glory and splendor, O Israel, is slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 2Sa 1:17-19
THE REIGN OF DAVID
INTRODUCTION
The Second Book of Samuel is devoted entirely to the reign of David. His coronation, first by Judah and then by all of the tribes, his wars and conquests, his care for the religious life of the people, his sins, and the calamities he suffered, are impartially set forth in vivid and convincing narrative.
“A very notable thing in the books of Samuel,” says James Robertson, “is the prominence given to music and song. There is in these books an unusual number of poetical pieces ascribed to this period, and all the indications put together give ample justification for the fame of David as the sweet singer of Israel, and for the ascription to him of the origin of that volume of sacred song which never ceased in Israel, and has become embodied in the Psalms.”
2. How is David’s character revealed in the “Song of the Bow?”
DAVID’S LAMENT FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN
Then David sang this dirge (funeral song) over Saul and his son Jonathan,
and he told them to teach the sons of Judah, the song of the bow. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar:
“Your glory and splendor, O Israel, is slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
“Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised (pagans) will exult.
“O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew or rain be upon you, nor fields with offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The shield of Saul, [dry, cracked] not anointed with oil.
“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely and friends in their lives, And in their death they were not separated; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.
“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been a good friend to me. Your love toward me was more wonderful Than the love of women.
“How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war have perished!”
DAVID’S LAMENT FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN
THE SONG OF THE BOW
This noble poem is unrivaled. It is a perfect model of a funeral dirge. It is in poetry what Händel’s Dead March in Saul is in music. The psalmist is borne along both by art and affection. He could not have composed this song unless he had been a consummate artist, and unless he had drunk deep of that divine love which believes, bears, hopes and endures all things and never fails.
He forgets all that he has suffered. His love refuses to consider anything but what has been pleasant and lovely in his liege lord. And for Jonathan there is a special stanza. A brother soul! The Philistines had felt David’s might, but his friend had tasted his sweetness! Terrible as a whirlwind in flight, yet winsome as a woman! But if human love can impute only good to those who are the objects of its affection, what will not God’s love say of us, feel toward us and impute to us! Here is a clue to the exceeding riches of the love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins!
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