Your Love To
Me Was Wonderful
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and all the man
who were with him did the same.
2 Samuel 1:11
David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He
ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of
You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no
dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty
was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty.
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they
were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
O daughters of
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you,
my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of women.
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
2 Samuel 1:17-27
After David received news of Jonathan’s death, he spent time recalling
the life of his friend – even writing a lament that others could sing as a way
to respect Jonathan. David recalled his friend’s courage and skill, and he
spoke of the grief that caused him to lament deeply. He honored a rich,
pleasant, and heroic life. For David, it was an intense time of mourning and
remembrance.
When we grieve for a loved one, it is vital to recall the cherished
details and shared experiences of our lives together.
Those memories flood our hearts with far more thoughts than anything else
might. The day that grief visits our hearts is not a time for short summaries
and quick snapshots of our loved one’s life. It is a time to remember deeply,
giving God thanks for the details, the stories, and the impact of an entire
life. It is time to pause, reflect, and honor.
Precious memories of life can tempter the
profound sadness of death.
Our Daily Bread – August 25, 2009