“David’s Lament”

 “And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:” (2 Samuel 1:17)

Introduction

A lament is a cry of extreme sorry. A lamentation is a poem or song, in the modern world the Laments of the Irish and Scottish are some of my favorites. David is mourning the death of God’s anointed king for Israel. David, of course, realized the evil of Saul; David also saw the protection of Saul was because God had selected Saul for a reason.

The Following is the David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan.

David’s Lament

18(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20Tell 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.

21Ye 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.

22From 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.

23Saul 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.

24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (2 Samuel 1:18-27)