March 24, 2010 - The Heart Of A Great Man

Meditation on 2 Samuel 1

After David heard the death of Saul and his son, Jonathan in the battle field, he expressed his grief with a song and told his countrymen to learn it. (v. 17-27)

In this song, he lamented the fallen away of great heroes. It was a patriotic song with deep emotion of love and memory. He recalled the accomplishment of Saul as well as Jonathan's love to him. Here we have a great expression of brotherly love, "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; Your love to me was more than the love of women." (v. 26 NASB)

Instead of rejoicing over the death of Saul who had been chasing after him with an army for years, David mourned for Saul and extolled Saul's virtue. David recalled the deep love and sacrifices Jonathan had shown to him ever since they met after the battle with Goliath. (1 Samuel 18:1-4) He sang that Jonathan's love to him was more than that of women, possibly his own wives!

We are touched by such a great heart of David. He had shown what forgiveness, patriotism and brotherly love mean.