Intro:
1. Samuel Wise founded the Free Synagogue in New York City back in 1907. He once accepted an invitation to address an anti-Nazi meeting in Brooklyn. He received several death threats. He opened his speech with these words:
“I’ve have been warned to stay away from this meeting under pain of being killed. If anyone is going to shoot me let him do it now. I hate to be interrupted.”
2. We all hate to be interrupted, and death is one of the greatest interruptions we face! The difficulty is not so much in our being interrupted from this sick and sorry world but when we are interrupted by the death of others.
3. What to do when our Lives are Interrupted by the Death of a Loved one.
2 Sam. 1:1-27
I. First, the Report of Saul’s Death. 1:1-10
2 Samuel 1:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3 And David said to him, "Where have you come from?" So he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."
4 Then David said to him, "How did the matter go? Please tell me." And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."
5 So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"
6 Then the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.'
8 And he said to me, 'Who are you?' So I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'
9 He said to me again, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.'
10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."
A. For starters, this man Lamented. 1:1-2
Saul, the first king of Israel is dead. He did in battling the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa, and now an Amalekite comes bringing news of that death. Tearing clothes, putting dust on the head were all outward signs of grief. (I Sam.4:12/2 Sam.13:31/Job 2:12).
B. Furthermore, this man apparently Lied. 3-10a
This simple does not line up with what we learned in I Sam. 31:4-5. Apparently this man came upon Saul’s dead body and thought that making up this story would bring him into David’s favor, since Saul was seeking David’s life…2 Sam. 4:10
C. Finally he Looted. 10b
Taking these things would be proof that his story, at least in part was true.
This shows the contrast between how a believer thinks and how the world thinks.
Peterson, “Saul hated David. Saul chased David. Saul defrauded David. Danger, hardship, loneliness, loss – all because of Saul. But, there was something else going on that was more significant than Saul’s hatred of David, and that was God’s anointing of Saul. What God did for Saul far outweighed anything that Saul did to David…God’s grace in Saul’s life, not Saul’s hate in David’s life, is what gave content to David’s prayers and decisions.”
This kind of thinking a lost man cannot comprehend. The lost and saved always view things differently.
II. Next, David’s Response to Saul’s Death. 1:11-27
2 Samuel 1:11-27 (NKJV)
11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite."
14 So David said to him, "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?"
15 Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, and execute him!" And he struck him so that he died.
16 So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD'S anointed.' "
17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
18 and he told them to teach the children of Judah the song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:
19 "The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon-- Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 "O mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
22 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.
23 "Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
24 "O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 "How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women.
27 "How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!"
A. David Mourned for Saul. 11-12
B. David Murdered the man who claimed to kill Soul. 13-16
This was just and according to God’s Word (Deut. 25:17-19/Ex.17:15-16).
C. David Memorialized Saul. 17-27
1. The Song of the Bow, in the Book of Jasher. 18
2. The Slain were Beautiful and mighty. 19
3. The call to Shut-up about it. 20
Telling about it can only cause the enemy to rejoice.
4. The call for the mountains of Gilboa to reap what they Sowed. 21
May Gilboa be denied life-giving liquid because it was Saul’s life-giving liquid was poured out…they took Saul’s blood, so may God take their rain.
5. The acknowledgement of Saul and Jonathan’s Skill. 22
Speaking of the many victories they won, Saul with his sword and Jonathan with his bow…
6. They were known for their Splendor, Speed, and Strength. 23
7. Saul was generous with the Spoils of war. 24
8. David’s Special love for Jonathan. 25-27
III. Finally, some Relevant principles from our Passage.
A. First, don’t be afraid to express your Sorrow. 1:17a
Being a Christian does not eliminate sorrow at the death of a loved one.
John 11:35-36 (NKJV)
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"
Acts 8:2 (NKJV)
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Scroggie, “Let grief do its work. Tramp every inch of the sorrowful way. Drink every drop of the bitter cup. Draw from memory and hope all that they can offer. To see the things our loved ones have left behind will give us daily pain – the clothes they wore, the letters they wrote the books they read, the chairs in which they sat, the music they loved, the hymns they sang, and much besides – but what would we be without these reminders?
Would we, like quickly to break with the past, in order to lessen the grief? Those who truly love will say that they have found in sorrow an new joy, a joy which only the broken-hearted can know.”
If we lose a loved one it is healthy to grieve for a time…
B. Furthermore, grief should be Shared. 17b
Talk to somebody about how you feel. Talk to God and family, and friends. If somebody has lost a loved one let them talk to you about it.
Billy Graham tells of a woman who after losing a loved on was visited by her Sunday School teacher. She expected her to give her some scriptures or share some profound truth about death.
She said, “He came and just sat down on the couch as people came and went. When everybody had gone he just said, “Tell me how do you feel.” Years later I recall that of all the people, he made the most profound impression upon me during my time of grief.”
C. Next, take comfort in a Song. 17c
Merle Haggard was right when he sang, “Everybody knows the way I’m feeling, because everybody’s sang the blues.”
“Without a song a day would never end,
without a song the road would never bend,
without a song a man aint got a friend,
without a song.
I’ve got my trouble’s and woe’s
But sure as I know the Jordan rolls,
I’ll get along as long as a song
Is strong in my soul
D. Finally, focus on the Sweet times. 19-27
Not one word about Saul’s pursuing him, not one word of criticism or resentment. Apparently he forgave and forgot…
It reminded me of a man who’s brother just died. His brother was a drunk, a woman chaser, and had a filthy mouth. He went to the preacher and said, “Preacher, I’ll give you $1,000 dollars if you will preach my brothers funeral and say at least one nice thing about him.”
The preacher agreed to do it. At the funeral he said, “Now folks you all remember Ned, he was drunk half the time, chased everything with a skirt on, and had a foul mouth. But, compared to his brother he was a saint!”
We can always find something nice to say about everybody. There is no value in remember the bad things, it is best to focus on the positive.
PS: I am not talking about lying! All that David said about Saul were true.
Is this not how God remembers us? David himself is remembered by most for his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband. Yet God never mentions that when speaking of David in the New Testament! Rom. 4:5-8
Of course if you are lost it is a different story, your sin is not forgiven and forgotten! What sin is that – the sin of unbelief! But then you do not have to die in your sin but can realize that Jesus Christ died for you and offers you forgiveness and righteousness if you will by repentance/faith receive Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Con:
1. Well who knows maybe this very week our lives are going to be interrupted by the death of someone, if so, I hope this message will help.
2. I came across this:
“She is not dead – but only flying higher,
Higher than she’s flown before,
And earthly limitations,
Will hinder her no more.
Thank God that now her flight can be
To heights her eyes had scanned,
Where she can reach with comets,
And buzz the rainbow’s span.
She is not dead, you should have known
That she is only flying higher
Higher than she’s ever flown.”
Johnny Palmer Jr.
www.strugglingthruscriptures.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
