Sermon Audio: David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 1:17-27
Duration: 24:01
Size: 16.4 MB

The Life of David
David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan
II Samuel 1:17-27

David and all the men with him mourned and wept and fasted for Saul and Jonathan and for the defeat of Israel at the hands of the Philistines.

To signify the importance of Saul’s death, none other than David, who came to be known as "the sweet psalmist of Israel", wrote a national lament for Saul.

I. Lament for the Loss to a Nation (II Samuel 1:17-18)
It was not merely a personal and private expression of his grief, but it was a public expression of grief.

He wanted it to become motivation for their response to the attack of the Philistines.

II. Lament for the Loss of Mighty Leaders (II Samuel 1:19-24)
Of course, by the time that David heard about Saul's death, the Philistines would have already broadcast the news all over Philistia: "We won! Philistia beat Israel! Dagon defeated Yahweh!"

It is right to mourn the loss of mighty heroes.

Nevertheless, now that Saul and Israel had been defeated, there was reason to mourn.

III. Lament for the Loss of a Dear Friend (II Samuel 1:25-27)
There is something that is irretrievably lost when a loved one dies. It is certainly appropriate to lament that loss.