12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. II Samuel 1:12
I know its Monday and I know you would rather be reading headlines of good news and there is good news in the gospel. But the reality is, people are dying all over the world this day. Also, this mornings focal text is II Samuel 1 which tells the story of how many had fallen in battle as King Saul had led the armies of Israel to defeat.
One might comment, but good came out of this, David would become king. Yes, Romans 8:28 is being fulfilled here. But at the same time God shows us in David’s heart attitude how we are to be compassionate toward those who have fallen.
Back in I Samuel 31 the Bible says, “The archers found him (referring to Saul)” Vs: 3.
Surely you know the arrows of death will some day find you or someone in your family. It could be the arrow that finds those who are close to you. Here is a proven point: The more you care for others, the more you will be cared for.
David was not faking in caring for Saul and he was not simply leveraging an opportunity to further himself. David loved Saul, (his enemy) Jonathan (his blood brother) and all of Israel (his countrymen).
Brothers and sisters, everyone who has died in CV-19 fits in one of the above categories in your life and mine. God has called us to come along-side of others today!!!
David teaches us to mourn, to pray, and to care for the families that remain. By the way, so did Jesus:
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matt. 22:37-38
The parable Jesus told in Luke 10 drives us to ask the question: Do I care for people like Jesus teaches me to do so?
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”