Where, When, How Should We Act When Responding to Loss - II Samuel 1 - 5

In every circumstance and under all conditions if there is a way to gain, then there is also a way to lose. All of us who gain in knowledge, wealth or fame will some-where, some-time and in some-way also suffer loss. God always expects the proper response from his people regardless of their condition. We do not always act responsibly and show care, kindness and appreciation for the good gains that come our way in life. However, we are much more apt to demonstrate our anger, discouragement and feelings of betrayal when we are forced to suffer loss regardless of who is at fault.

There are two major areas of family and personal gain and loss. God created the world and soon found that it would be a lonely place without family, friends and spiritual fellowship, and so he introduced the family plan to properly inhabit the earth. In order to keep the population under control he also introduced the plan allowing loss of loved ones by both natural and unnatural death. There are few things that affect us as dramatically as the death of a love-one regardless of cause.

Very close behind follows any kind of circumstance that threatens our life or livelihood. It seems very coincidental that America is [today as I write] facing troubling times in our financial condition and a general election that may be the most important in our history. The response to our recent losses and to the losses that may come in the next very few months will set the tone for life in America for years to come. We must pray for God to be in ultimate control and guide the hearts and minds of those who gain the power and position to lead our country.

When we suffer the great loss of family or friend, or the loss of security of family and home, other most urgent matters have to be suspended; I don’t know about you…but I just seem to grow numb—I feel lost, scared, anxious and uncertain. I tell myself that it is imperative for me to turn these uncontrollable circumstances over to God. I find this easy to say but hard to accomplish. We have no other choice but to trust and obey. King Saul may have had a trust in God that was as strong as did King David, but he definitely did not obey God as David did. His disobedience was his downfall.

This week’s lesson shows how David dealt with loss when he learned of the deaths of King Saul and his best friend, Jonathan. David demonstrated stability by responding to loss in God-honoring ways. As we examine responses to loss that honor God, we will learn to demonstrate stability in turbulent times by putting these responses into use in our own lives.

When David walked on the battlefield with the sling in his had and the Giant in his sight it was the beginning of a turbulent life of war-fare between the Philistines, Canaanites and the Amalekites and Israel. From that day forward Saul was at war…David was at war…and David was on the run to escape Saul who had vowed to kill David. All things must come to and end. Saul finally lost to the Philistines who killed him and his three sons—and decapitated Saul and hung his body on a wall and took his head home with them to Philistia [Chron: 10-9].

David was at war with the Amalekites when one of their soldiers brought him word of the death of Saul and his sons, especially Jonathan. This Amalekite soldier probably did not know that David was his recent adamant enemy or he would not have risk his neck to tell David of the recent death of Saul and his sons. According to Jewish custom David began to show honor and remorse immediately for his deserving dead by renting his clothes, reverent prayer and mourning. Secondly, they continued in prayer, and fasted. Thirdly, David had the Amalekite soldier that reported the deaths put to death because of his role in the matter.

There has been little said in Samuel about the musical talent of David but we know that his talent was great and that he has been given credit for the writing of much music and many Psalms. Because of his ability and the timing of Saul’s death David wrote the lament to honor the dead king and his sons. David’s musical talent and ability was one of the leaders that brought all kinds of music into the temple worship. As a result of this, much of the history of Israel is recorded through the use of music.

You will note through the early verses of this lament that Saul had caused David a lot of trouble for a long period of time but David did not hold a grudge against him for his hatred and mistreatment. You will find only the good side of Saul spoken of and it makes one wonder just what kind of forgiving heart that David must have had when he refused to comment on Saul’s wicked ways.

The 26th verse was worded in a way that it caught my eye—and because of my bent against any kind of acceptance of homosexual life, I had to look into this verse more closely. I do not believe that David was referring to any kind of sexual relations or implying that this was the case. I searched again and found that homosexual acts were absolutely forbidden in Israel. Leviticus 18 says that homosexual acts are detestable and chapter 20 calls for the death penalty for anyone that practices homosexual ways. God said personally that the practice was an abomination in his sight. David was probably thinking of the love of mothers for their children one of the strongest loves that ties people together. David was simply explaining the deep brotherly love that had built up from their long life of friendship.

David knew that Saul was dead and that he [David] was now the new king—but he did not assume any kind of personal control and in the first verse of chapter two, he asked God what he wanted him to do. God sent him and his two wives to Hebron where he was to be crowned king of Judah. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was crowned to follow his father as king of Israel and the war continued between the two factions.

I was a bit confused at first as the word says that both Saul and David were anointed kings in service at the same time. On must remember that this was during the time before the nation of Israel was divided and became known as the North and South, or Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. Later on, when the division came, Judah including the land and cities around Jerusalem was called Judah, or the Southern Kingdom.

During the period covered by the lesson today, the division between the north and south is beginning to happen. David was sent to Judah which became the area with the good trade routes, big business and commerce later on; and Saul’s son was assigned to Israel, which was actually just the northern part of the entire country of Israel. Immediately these two kings were at war with each other, and it never stopped…even today the problems still rage in this area.

It is somewhat sad to read [2: 12-28] and find just how frivolous some of the [fighting] [wars] were. Go now to 2: 14-17 and read aloud. Think about it. This was one of the wars you read about in scripture. It reminds us of the war that was settled when David killed Goliath, the giant. However, in this man to man fight, all were killed, there was no winner and nothing was settled. This type of warfare was not totally without reason, for in some cases a decision was made without the death of thousands of soldiers in real battle.

Abner appeared in this conflict between David and Saul as Saul’s military leader. Some of his first assignments were given by Saul and they were to find and kill David. He was not successful and lived to see his king die on the battlefield. He then took over as the military leader for Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, who was now at war against David to see who would finally control all of Israel. The war that started with Saul against David lasted a long time but David continued to grow stronger while the house of Saul grew weaker.

While David was at Hebron, his six sons were born and grew to be a serious part of his life. King Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s wives causing a split and Abner decided to change sides…so he promised to deliver the northern part of the kingdom to David which would make him King over all the land of Israel.

We have often studied the life of David and given him credit for his desire to obey God. Now we have looked at another trait that pleases God and that is that David did not hold a grudge against those that mistreated him. He showed respect for those in power, and responded to their loss with a proper attitude. Christ could have had him in mind when he told us that we should learn to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us; even to turn the other cheek.