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SONG OF THE BOW. II Samuel 2:17-27. 11/1/2020. #2.
II Samuel 1:18-27 [New King James Version]
2 Samuel 1:18-27
New King James Version
18 and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:
19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon—
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 “O mountains of Gilboa,
Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23 “Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their death they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
24 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
Your love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”
- David’s gracious tribute
- David writes a eulogy titled Song of the Bow for Saul and son
- He commands the song to be taught to children
- The song is both a lament and a tribute
- Also written in the Book of Jasher (a lost book)
- These books were not inspired Scripture
- The Apocrypha and Pseudopigra are not Scripture
- 22 lost books are alluded to in the Bible:
- David writes a eulogy titled Song of the Bow for Saul and son
Book of the Wars of the Lord (Num 21:14-15 ), Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13 ), Manner of the Kingdom – “ (1 Samuel 10:25 ), Acts of Solomon – (1 Kings 11:41 ), Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (1 Kings 14:19 1 Kings 16:14 , 1 Kings 16:20 , 2 Kings 1:18 , 2 Kings 14:28 , Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (1 Kings 14:29 ), Book of the Kings of Israel –. (2 Chronicles 20:34 2 Chronicles 16:11 , 2 Chronicles 27:7 , 2 Chronicles 32:32 , and etc., Annals of King David – “ (1Chronicles 27:24 )., Book of Nathan the Prophet, Book of Gad the Seer – (1 Chronicles 29:29 ), History of Nathan the Prophet – (2 Chronicles 9:29). Prophecy of Ahijah – (2 Chronicles 9:29, Visions of Iddo the Seer – (2 Chronicles 9:29 2 Chronicles 9:29, Iddo Genealogies – (2 Chronicles 12:15 ), Story of the Prophet Iddo –(2 Chronicles 13:22 ), Book of Shemaiah the Prophet – “ (2 Chronicles 12:15 )., Book of Jehu – (2 Chronicles 20:34 ), Story of the Book of Kings – (2 Chronicles 24:27 ), Acts of Uziah – (2 Chronicles 26:22, Acts of the Kings of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:18 ), Sayings of the Seers – (2 Chronicles 33:19, Laments for Josiah – (2 Chronicles 35:25
- Even though Saul sought to kill David and Jonathan, killed the priests of God and their families, deceived, lied, and sought information from a medium, David was gracious in his tribute
- He calls Saul the “beauty of Israel”
- Saul was the “mighty that had fallen”
- Saul and Jonathan had slain many before they fell
- Saul is described as beloved and pleasant
- Saul was swifter than eagles and strong as a lion
- David calls upon the women of Israel to weep over Saul
- David’s lament over Jonathan
- As gracious as David’s lament over Saul was, his lament over Jonathan was genuine and accurate
- Jonathan is described as mighty, loyal to his father and Israel, a great warrior (blood-stained shield), brave, a deadly archer, swift as an eagle, strong as a lion, pleasant, and loving to David (a loyal friend)
- David keenly felt the loss of Jonathan and prestige of Israel
- David warns the Philistines
- David warns the Philistines not to gloat or rejoice over the fall of Saul, Jonathan, and Israel.
- David does not want the news to reach the cities of the Philistines, for daughters of uncircumcised would exalt
- David calls out for the dew and rain to cease on Mt. Gilboa
- This is where the Philistines had pushed out the Israelites and had taken over their cities
- David beseeches God to punish them with drought
- The aftermath
- David’s lament is genuine and appropriate
- Grief is real and the loss is permanent
- Remembrance honors the deceased and loss
- David will move on from his grief to further God’s plan
- Even though we are grieved, we are still responsible to continue to live and serve him
- David’s grief for Jonathan wouldn’t bring him back David goes on to become king, establish a line that would lead to the Messiah, expand Israel, and defeat the Philistines
- No setback or tragedy in the life of the faithful is permanent
- Joel 3 out of the ashes of tragedy, God will build greater things (Haggai 2, John 20, Ephesians 2:4-7)
- We will meet fellow believers again in Eternity
- David didn’t lose Jonathan for long = now ever together
- I Thessalonians 4 we do not grieve as if we have no hope
- David’s lament is genuine and appropriate