2 Samuel 1:17

2 Samuel 1:17 says, And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:  David lamented, or mourned, over Saul’s death, even though he had been trying to kill him, just as He did for Jonathan, who was his friend and was helping him.  People sometimes tend to mourn the death of their friends and celebrate the death of their enemies, but I am not sure that we should ever celebrate the death of anyone, especially those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We shouldn't want even our worst enemies to spend eternity in hell, because Jesus died for them just as He died for us.  Verse eighteen adds, (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) David taught the people of Israel to use the bow. Matthew Henry says that this was likely a musical instrument instead of a bow used in war, and it was used in mourning Saul and Jonathan.  We are told this is written in the book of Jasher, which we have no copy of.  Not all things written by God's people became a part of the scriptures or are even preserved.  Still, Matthew Henry says it was written down so that we have at least fragments of it today.  The rest of the chapter is an elegy written by David. Verse twenty-nine states, The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!  David referred to Saul as the beauty of Israel who had fallen with the mighty, though Saul hadn't been beautiful in his relationship to David and God and the people hadn't been mighty in their fight with the Philistines.  I believe that even if they fail that we should look for the best in people today.  Verse twenty adds, Tell 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. I believe this was a reference to not saying anything bad about Saul so that his enemies couldn't use it to rejoice in his death.  We should never give the enemies of God reason to celebrate the defeat of anyone who is identified as a part of the family of God, even if they haven't always lived up to that calling.  Verse twenty-one continues, Ye 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.  David basically said to let the mountains of Gilboa, where Saul had fallen, be cursed.  Verse twenty-two states, From 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.  David praises the valor of Jonathan and Saul in fighting the enemy, and Saul had been victorious in many battles with the Philistines.  David put Jonathan his friend and Saul who was trying to kill him in the same category.  Even if we don't always agree with them, we should mourn the loss of anyone who has been a part of the war against Satan and his forces just as much as we do those that we are close friends with.  Verse twenty-three adds, Saul 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.  David continues to celebrate the lives of Jonathan and Saul together and speaks of their valor and might in war.  He also says that they died fighting together.  We as Christians, even when we disagree amongst ourselves, should be noted as having fought together with our fellow believers when we die.  Verse twenty-four continues, Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.  David called on the woman of Israel to weep for Saul, who had enriched their lives materially.  Though he was at times a very self-centered individual, Saul did lead the people to victory many times and enrich their loves.  Verse twenty-five says, How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.  David now praises Jonathan without mentioning Saul.  Jonathan and David had a covenant to support one another, and now Jonathan was dead.  This is but a personal observation, but David may have felt guilty for not being there to help Jonathan in the fight.  Verse twenty-six adds, I 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.  David spoke of the great love that Jonathan had for him.  Again, this was not a sexual love, but a God given closeness to each other spiritually.  We too often want to view love in worldly terms instead of spiritual terms.  We should have a Godlike love for all our fellow Christians, and we will have a closer relationship with some than with others.  Verse twenty-seven continues, How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!  David closed by speaking of how the mighty had fallen and their weapons of war had perished.  We should lament anytime people of God fall in the battle against evil in the world, even if they are not always perfect in their faith.