2 Samuel 1
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 1
Wiersbe - Saul began his career standing (1Sa 10:23+), but he closed his career falling (2Sa 1:4, 10, 12, 19, 25, 27): “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1Co 10:12+). Natural abilities and great opportunities do not guarantee success. Saul was head and shoulders above everybody else, but he was not heart and soul yielded to God. Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus.” (Borrow With the Word) When David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David remained two days in Ziklag - While God had allowed Saul and Israel to be defeated by the Philistines, He had allowed David to be victorious over the Amalekites. Both men had inquired of the LORD. Saul's inquiry was refused by God which forced him to commit the capital crime of necromancy (1Sa 28:6,8+) which earned him the judicial sentence of execution within 24 hours! David's inquiry was accepted (1Sa 30:6-8+) and launched him on his journey to become king over a nation in shambles as a result of Saul's sins. 1 Samuel 30:6+ marks a WATERSHED MOMENT in his life! In Ziklag (map) David is on the SW border of the territory God had given to Judah (1Sa 28:19+). Ziklag's burning and loss of all his earthly possessions (1Sa 30:1-2+) marked a low point in his life, from which the Spirit of God would enable him to ascend upward eventually to the throne. It is darkest before the dawning of the light. We are reminded of Paul's powerful, paradoxical words in 2Cor 12:9-10+ when Jesus answered his prayer by saying “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness (IN ZIKLAG DAVID WAS AT THAT POINT).” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." Recall that Ziklag had been given to the tribe of Simeon (cf Jos 19:1–5) and was presumably occupied by them (cf. Jdg 1:17–18), only to be lost to the Philistines at a later, undisclosed time. When David went to Gath, the king gave him Ziklag from which he conducted raids on Israel's enemies. He deceived the Philistine king, making him think that he was actually carrying out raids on Israeli towns. Matthew
2 Samuel 1
Wiersbe - The Amalekite tried to deceive David and win his favor, for his account contradicts the inspired record (1 Sam. 31). He did not know David! Saul was not David’s enemy, so David could not rejoice over Israel’s inglorious defeat. Do you have enemies whose sorrows make you happy? If you do, carefully consider Proverbs 24:17 and Romans 12:14–15.(Borrow With the Word) 2 Samuel 1:5 So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" know: Pr 14:15 Pr 25:2 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. DAVID SEEKS AFFIRMATION OF THE BAD NEWS So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead? - It is notable that David does not rejoice "Now, finally I am the king for my enemy is dead," which is what most men in his situation would have shouted. David in fact will compose a song but it is a eulogy. He was surely sad that Saul's sin had affected his kindred spirit Jonathan who also lost his life. Had Saul sought the Lord, the Lord would have protected Israel from the Philistines, and neither would have died in a battle. Sins of disobedient fathers sadly can have consequences on others who are close to them. Adam
2 Samuel 1
Wiersbe adds "To make anything more out of their friendship than the mature affection of two manly believers is to twist the Scriptures. Had there been anything unlawful in their relationship, the Lord certainly would never have blessed David and protected him, and David could never have written Psalm 18:19–27 ten years later." (Borrow Be successful) Even the secular source Wikipedia gets it correct (mostly correct - they make one off handed allusion to homosexuality but without any support whatsoever - the tenor of their explanation is platonic) - A platonic interpretation for the relationship between David and Jonathan has been the mainstream view found in biblical exegesis, as led by Christian writers. This argues that the relationship between the two, although strong and close, is ultimately a platonic friendship. David and Jonathan's love is understood as the intimate camaraderie between two young soldiers with no sexual involvement.[10] The euphemisms the Bible uses for sexual relations are not present, and nothing indicates that David and Jonathan had a sexual relationship.[citation needed] Neither of the men is described as having problems in their heterosexual married life. David had an abundance of wives and concubines as well as an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, and apparently suffered impotence only as an old man, while Jonathan had a five-year-old son at his death.[11] Norman Geisler - go to page 149 in When Critics Ask for discussion of 1 SAMUEL 18:1–4—Were David and Jonathan homosexuals? PROBLEM: This Scripture records the intense love David and Jonathan had for each other. Some see this as an indication that they were homosexual. They infer this from the fact that Jonathan “loved” David (18:3); that Jonathan stripped in David’s presence (18:4); that they “kissed” each other with great emotion (1 Sam. 20:41). They point also to David’s lack of successful relations with women as an indication of his homosexual tendencies. Is this a valid conclusion to draw from these texts? SOLUTION: There is no indication in Scripture that David and Jonathan were homosexual. On the contrary, there is strong evidence that they were not. First of all, David’s attraction to Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11) reveals that his sexual orientation was heterosexual, not homosexual. In fact, judging by the number of wives he had, David seemed to have too much heterosexuality. Second, David’s “love” for Jonathan was not sexual (erotic) but a friendship (philic) love. It is common in eastern cultures for heterosexual men to express love and affection toward one another. (ED: RECALL KING SAUL ACTUALLY "LOVED HIM GREATLY" - 1Sa 16:21+). Third, Jonathan did not strip himself of all his clothes in David’s presence. He only stripped himself of his armor and royal robe (1 Sam. 18:4) as a symbol of his deep respect for David and commitment to him. Fourth, the “kiss” was a common cultural greeting for men in that day. Furthermore, it did not occur until two and a half chapters after Jonathan gave David his clothes (1Sa 20:41). (ED: RECALL SAMUEL "KISSED" SAUL WHEN HE ANOINTED HIM - 1Sa 10:1+). Finally, the emotion they expressed was weeping, not orgasm. The text says, “they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most” (1Sa 20:41NIV). James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - DAVID AND JONATHAN 1 Samuel 18:1–4; 2 Samuel 1:26 “All through life there are wayside inns, Where man may refresh his soul with love; Even the lowest may quench his thirst At rivulets fed by springs from above.” —LONGFELLOW. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God” (1 John 4:7). In this little portion of Scripture we have “apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Prov. 25:11). The love of Jonathan for David seems a pure unclouded reflection of that love of God which is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. It was wonderful. I. His Love was Real. “He loved him as his own soul” (v. 1). It was no mere formal business connection. Jonathan had taken David and all his interests home to the secrets and carefulness of his own soul. The love that fails to do this is shallow and selfish. How can we say that we love Christ if His interests do not appeal as powerfully to us as our own. Paul had done this when he said, “To me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). II. His Love was Surpassing. It passed the love of women (2 Sam. 1:26). To say this suggests that it was supernatural. The highest form of human love is found in the true motherly heart. The love that excels this is that “greater love” manifested in the only begotten Son of God (1 John 4:9), and begotten in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:19). The believer’s love to Christ is more than mere natural love, for the carnal mind is enmity against God. The natural heart is an alien to the Holy One. III. His Love was Inseparable. “Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him” (v. 3) True love will always constrain to a closer bond of union; mutual affection culminates in the marriage tie. The love of Christ constrains us. What to do? Why, like Jonathan, to yield our life’s concerns into the hands of Him whom God hath exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour (Chap. 20:14–16). Hear the whisperings of Christ’s dying love in those never-to-be-forgotten words, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24). IV. His Love was Self-Sacrificing. “Jonathan stripped himself … and gave to David” (v. 4). Love will not hide; “It doth not behave itself unseemly: it seeketh not her own” (1 Cor. 13:5). Love gives till the giving is felt as a sacrifice. It was so with the love of Christ, who for our sakes stripped Himself and became of no reputation, that we through His poverty might be made rich (2 Cor. 8:9). The love of Christ was manifested in that poor woman who, when overtaken by a snowstorm, stripped herself to save her child. In stripping ourselves for the honour and glory of the Christ of God we are proving the reality of our confidence in Him. If He is to triumph for us, let us give Him “even to our sword and our bow.” Self-aggrandisement is always inconsistent with the glory of God. V. His Love was Well Deserved. No doubt there were many personal attractions about David to draw out the full flow of Jonathan’s affections, for David “behaved himself wisely” (v. 5), and was to Jonathan the fairest and chiefest among ten thousand. But the secret of the strength of his love lay in the fact that he knew David as the Lord’s anointed and the coming king of Israel (chap. 20:15). Surely the tenderest affections of his pure soul were well spent when lavished unreservedly on the beloved of God. A greater than David is here! One who spake as never man spake, and whose behaviour has been such that neither God, man, nor devil could find fault in Him. And He says, “Lovest thou Me?” VI. His Love was Reciprocated. “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David” (v. 1). These two souls were knit together in their desires and motives, as the warp and woof of a web. The knijting together shows that the affections of David responded in full measure to the love of Jonathan, so that the vital interests of the one were intertwined with the vital interests of the other. This is something deeper than mere belief in outward conformity; it is the very essence of “the unity of the Spirit.” Jesus Christ was moved by that yearning fathomless LOVE when he prayed that “they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in them.” This deep spiritual union can only be brought about where there is the entire surrender of all on both sides for mutual advantage through the constraining power of love. This is what Christ has done for us. What response are we making to Him? “He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love” (1 John 4:8). Our Lord is abundantly willing that His life should be knit with our life. Are we equally willing that our life should be knit together with His life, and so become one in heart and purpose for the glory of God? 2 Samuel 1:27 "How have the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!" How: 2Sa 1:19,25 weapons: 2Ki 2:12 13:14 Ps 46:9 Eze 39:9,10 2 Samuel 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN How have the mighty (gibbor; Lxx = dunatos - possessing power) fallen, and the weapons of war perished - David repeatedly uses mighty to describe Saul and Jonathan (except for the use in 2Sa 1:22 all others refer to Saul and Jonathan - 2Sa 1:19; 2Sa 1:21; 2Sa 1:25; 2Sa 1:27). Given the fact that weapons of war were still in use it is possible that David is using "weapons" as a metaphorical description of Saul and Jonathan.