Rev. Don Campbell
2 Samuel 1-4
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 21, 2019
“HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN”
The news came to David that Saul and Jonathan had died in a battle against the Philistines and he composed an elegy lamenting their death (2 Samuel 1:17-27). Saul, of course, had made himself David’s enemy, while his son Jonathan was David’s best friend. However, David did not lament only Jonathan’s death, but that of Saul as well. There were two reasons: First, whatever his faults, Saul had been chosen by God as king. Second, both were mighty in war (vv.22-23).
David repeats the words of our title three times (vv. 19, 25, 27). In verse 19, it is “How the mighty have fallen!” In verse 25, it is “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!” In verse 27, it is “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
What lessons can we learn about nations? First, nations need leaders. Second, all leaders have feet of clay. Third, we should not rejoice when bad things happen to leaders whom we do not like, but they should be honored because God says that they are due it (Romans 13:1-7). Third, the best leaders have vices and the worst leaders have virtues, and they should be given credit where credit is due.
But what did David mean when he said, “the weapons of war perished”? Surely, he did not mean that the swords, bows, and whatever other implements of war they had perished. It has been said that a soldier’s best weapon is a well-trained mind, which would mean that a soldier’s best weapon is himself. I believe Saul and Jonathan were the weapons of which David spoke.
There is a lesson for every soldier of the cross from the greatest to the least: We are our best weapon when we fight in faith. The armor of God which Paul describes is powerful only when used by those trained in righteousness, not those who have a well-polished image (Ephesians 6:10-20). When we are equipped with this armor, we are mighty and we never fall: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore….”
CONNECTIONS
1. I recall that in Air Force basic training we were taught that we saluted every officer and gave them respect because we were saluting the uniform, not the man. The salute said nothing about our estimate of the quality of his leadership. When Paul said that believers must give respect to whom respect is owed and honor to whom honor is owed, was he saying, “Salute the office, not the officeholder”?
2. If you doubt that Paul had something like that in mind, then consider what Peter said: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly” (1 Peter 2:17-19). Honor and submission are not just given to the good, but to the bad also.
