How The Mighty Have Fallen

Well, good evening. We are continuing in our series of the life of David, looking

this evening at the first chapter of 2 Samuel. Now last week, Corey preached on

1 Samuel 28 where Saul sought out a medium, you know, looking for answers

which really was the height, the pinnacle of his disobedience against the Lord.

And he was told there that God would give Israel into the hand of the Philistine

so that he, his sons, and the armies of Israel would perish. And that is also what

happened. Now David was not there at the battle between the Philistines and Israel,

partly because, you know, Saul was trying to kill him so he was keeping away, but

also because David had fought a great battle against the Amalekites after they

had kidnapped the women and the sons and the daughters of David and his men.

Now as a quick note in our Bibles, you know, the battle between Israel and the

Philistines took place at the end of 1 Samuel and now we're in 2 Samuel. Now

originally this is actually just one book. You look in your Bibles you see

1, 2 and you may think they're separate, but in reality they're part of one and

the same story. So just keep that in mind as you are reading the book that there's

no disjointment but it's one complete story. Now in the first 16 verses that we

just read, you know, we see the news being delivered, being delivered to David of

the battle that went so terribly, the news of the defeat, the defeat of Israel,

the death of Saul and the death of Jonathan. Now we're going to be focusing

on verses 17 through 27 which is this lament that David has created to be

sung by Israel. Now lament, you know, it's not really a word that we use but a

lament is it's a deep expression of grief, of sorrow and of suffering. Now before

we, you know, look at the text and before we start looking into it, let's go

ahead and pray and ask for God to help us.

Father God, your servants are listening. We pray that you may speak this evening

in your word, by your spirit and we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.

Ask goes the king, so goes the people. That's a saying that some of you may

be familiar with that you may have might have heard before. It implies that the

way that the king goes, so goes the people that he is in charge of, that he

is to serve. You see this principle especially in first kings, we see one

king after another and we see when there are good kings on the throne, the people

follow and good things happen to the country, they prosper and things go

well. But then we see in the, when they have the bad kings, the people follow the

bad example of the king and they suffer as a consequence or led into disaster.

See in this chapter we see the tragedy that Israel experienced because of Saul,

because of its king, because of his sin. We see Saul and Jonathan in the army of

Israel being destroyed. See having the right king or the right representative is

crucial. It's a matter of life and of death. And at the heart of David's song

of lament that we see here in this chapter, we see this phrase repeated three

times. How would the mighty have fallen? You know how the mighty have fallen? That

is the center of this lament and pulling from this we see three points that we're

gonna look at this evening. We see first the death of the mighty, the death of the

mighty, the next the strength of the mighty, the strength of the mighty and

finally we're gonna look at the responses to the mighty. So starting then with the

death of the mighty. We see here first a reaction and then we see a curse. So let's

look at verse 19 through 20. If you have your Bible still open or your phones out,

look at verses 19 through 20. Your glory, oh Israel, is slain on your high places.

How the mighty have fallen? Tell it not in gath. Publish it not in the streets of

Ashkelon, lest the daughters of Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of

the uncircumcised exult. So we see here is the reaction. Israel has experienced

this great defeat and we see in this two verses that the lament is directed to

Israel. Oh Israel, what is the extent of this defeat? The glory that we see of

Israel has been slain. We will come back to that later to think more about what

that means. But we see this phrase again, how the mighty have fallen. See the

warriors of Israel have been slain. But more than that we see Saul. We see

Jonathan, they're lying there on the battlefield. And then verse 20 shows us

this reaction. This reaction to the defeat of Israel that the story of this

battle should not be told. It should not be told in gath. It should not be

published in Ashkelon. So we see two very common literary techniques here. The

first is this that we see parallelism. You see the parallel here very common

throughout the Psalms. We basically have two lines that are saying pretty much

the same thing. You know tell it not in gath. Publish it not in the streets of

Ashkelon. Both mean the same thing. David do not want this news of this battle

being told. The news of his fellow countrymen of Jonathan and David of

being dead. And the second technique we see is that he mentions these two cities.

You know he mentions the two of them really to refer to the whole Philistine

nation. You know we use similar things. You think of speaking of things from

the east to the west. Incompensates the whole thing. So David is using the same

thing here as you first of these two cities. He's speaking of the nation as a

whole. He doesn't want any city, any town, any village speaking about this battle of

the news of what has happened there. Because he could not bear it. He could not

bear the Philistines rejoicing over this. And we see yet another parallel. Do we

not? You know less the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, less the daughters of

the uncircumcised exult. See here he may have in mind first Samuel 18. You know

right after he had he had defeated Goliath and he comes back into the city.

And people are rejoicing. They're out dancing and celebrating the great

victory that Israel has won. But that is not the image that David wants. Take place

in in the Philistine country. Because of this great battle that has taken place.

As they celebrate the death of Saul and the defeat of Israel. But even more than

rejoicing they'll be speaking ill of Israel. But even more than that they will

be speaking ill of Israel's God. They will speak ill of the Lord. You see in that

time the pagan nations believed that when their country defeated another nation

that it was actually a battle between gods. So their God is the one that

defeated the opposite nations gods. So in the Philistine view they thought that

their God Dagon had defeated the Lord. Which of course is ridiculous because

he's the maker of heaven and earth. David knows that could not be the case but

he could not bear their rejoicing. Now in verse 21 we see the curse.

You mountains of Gilboa let there be no dew or rain upon you nor fields of

offerings. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled the shield of Saul

not anointed with oil. So David then turns from addressing Israel to address

the Mount of Gilboa. Which is where the battle took place. He calls for there to

be no dew or rain that no fruit would come of it. He says nor fields of

offerings. See in the culture and in the context of agriculture the idea is for

there to be no fruit. To be no growth. To be no harvest. And the word offerings

you know highlights the connection made to the Philistine God Dagon. David does

not want there to be anything that can be offered up. That can be sacrificed to

the pagan God during this celebration of Israel's defeat. And the second half we

see provides the reason for the cursing. You know for there the shield of the mighty

was defiled. The shield of Saul. Now you see the roundabout way of speaking of

Saul's death. He does not outright speak of the death of Saul. The defilement of

his body as it lays there on the ground slain. But he speaks of the defilement of

his shield. So not only the shield but the body was defiled. And when David goes

on to say that Saul's shield was not anointed with oil. It reminds us of Saul

being the anointed one. We saw that just a few verses prior as he as he has the

Amalekite killed because he had slain the anointed one or so he said. In 1st

Samuel twice was David given the opportunity to kill Saul but he would

not because Saul was the anointed one. But now Saul's body had been slain on

the field of battle whereas he should have been anointed with oil. He had been

covered with blood and with dirt instead. So with the Lord anointed being

defiled Israel is likewise defiled as his soldiers lie dead and the enemy is

victorious. Now throughout this series the the foil or the contrast that we see

between David and Saul which was highlighted by Corey last week. He even

showed how the author 1st Samuel goes to show us a type of Christ in

David. How we look at David when we see Christ in him and in Saul we have a type

of antichrist of someone who is the direct opposite of that. But in this lament

you know interestingly David gives us a glimpse of Christ in Saul. Do you see

the analogy of the anointed one of God who lies defiled not anointed with oil.

You know when Jesus was at Bethany at the house of Simon the leper we have Mary

the sister of Lazarus the sister of Martha who comes up and she breaks an

alabaster flask full of ointment and she takes it and she pours it over the head

of Jesus. Now the significance of anointing someone's head with oil you

know is throughout the Old Testament. That's how kings are anointed and we

see that even in that Christ's kingship is implied. But Jesus would not receive

another anointment. For his enemies would come. They would take him and they

would crucify him defiling his body. Now Saul is a he's a poor king. He's a

poor representative and he suffered and he was defiled because of it. And his

people they suffered the consequences of this his body and the bodies of many

other Israelites men were laying slain on the hills of Gilboa with the enemies

rejoicing. But the day would come when the Messiah would die similarly. You know

he was to be slain. He was to be defiled on top of a hill. But unlike Saul this

representative Jesus Christ does not remain slain on a hill but his body is

risen victoriously as he has conquered both his enemies death and Satan. You know

he is the one who suffered not for his own sins but for the sense of others for

the sense of his people. And we as long as we as we as we rest upon him as we

believe in him and rest upon him alone for salvation we share with Christ. We

share with Christ in his resurrection in his exaltation in his victory because

he is our representative and through him we have life and life everlasting.

He saw again is a poor Messiah figure as the dead bodies of Mount Gilboa is

evidence of. However neither David nor any of the Old Testament kings that come

after him bring the hope and the certainty of salvation that we that we

need. Now may you ask yourself this evening you know who is your representative

you know who is the one on whom you have placed your hope. Who is the one that you

are holding on to. You know is it a political leader is he or she the one

that's gonna bring what you need. Is it your boss is it your parent is it your

partner or is it yourself. Now you know you may not end up dead in a field but

death is what awaits for each one of us and there's only one sure firm and true

foundation. It is Jesus Christ the Son of God who who rose victoriously and

a seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty and he can be your

representative he can be your hope he can be your sure guarantee if only you

come to him. So the death of the mighty and then second we see the strength of

the mighty now please look at verses 22 and 23 as we see from the blood of the

slain from the fat of the mighty the bow of Jonathan turned not back in the

sword of Saul return not 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. See in verse 22 and the second half of 23 we see the

strength of the mighty in battle. See Jonathan and Saul they they fought with

great bravery with great courage and their weapons you know the bow representing

Jonathan and the sword representing Saul they did not turn back they did not

return empty but they continued to go forth they continued to battle the

enemy they were swifter than eagles they moved with meaning meaning they moved

with great speed they're stronger than lions you know emphasizing the strength

in their fighting and in the first half of verse 23 we see the the strength of

their character beloved and lovely is what David calls them you know for

Jonathan this makes sense and we'll talk more about this in a little bit but

for Saul you know the man who who tried to kill him twice he you know it to me

doesn't seem exactly what I would call a lovely person but it is true that Saul

during the beginning of his kingship could be called those things that he was

beloved and lovely because through his strength he had subdued the enemies he

was honored and he was respected by the people but then David says also that

they were they were not divided even though Jonathan had renounced his right

for the kingship and Saul had you know sought to kill David the one whom

Jonathan loved Saul and Jonathan they remained together in life and in death

on that battlefield even while loving David we see Jonathan remaining faithful

to his father even unto death on Mount Gilboa and there we see the strength of

the mighty now third we're gonna look at the response to the mighty because in

this little event we see both the response to Saul and a response to

Jonathan so in verse 24 and 25 the beginning of it we see the response to

Saul says you daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you

luxuriously in scarlet who put ornaments of gold on your apparel how the mighty

have fallen in the midst of the battle see David now addresses the daughters of

Israel and here focuses on Saul you call them to respond to this tragedy by

weeping and mourning for Saul see in quite in contrast to the Philistine

women who are rejoicing and celebrating the death of Saul David is calling for

them to weep see Saul he's the one who clothed them he provided for them

despite his many many faults Saul in his time had brought some stability he had

brought prosperity because think about what comes before Saul you know the book

of judges where the tribes of Israel are divided and they're being conquered by

Mesopotamians Moabites Canaanites Midianites of course the Philistines

yet in the time of Saul we see all 12 tribes come together under one king and

he defeated all you know several of Israel's enemies you we read that when

Saul took over the kingship of Israel he fought against all his enemies on

every side you know against Moab the Ammonites eat them the kings of Zobah

and the kings of Philistines wherever he turned he routed them and he did

valiantly and he struck down the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of

the hands of those who plundered them here is someone who has delivered Israel

from their enemies and brought for the first time in a long time prosperity and

the next look at the response to Jonathan verse 25 and 26 Jonathan lies

slain on your high places I am distressed for you my brother Jonathan

very pleasant have you been to me your love to me was extraordinary surpassing

the love of women see right at the end of verse 25 we see yet another parallel

did you notice it connects with the first verse of the lament you know which

said your glory oh Israel is slain on the high places and here it says

Jonathan lies slain on your high places see David is here clarifying that the

glory of Israel whereas we can also put it the jewel or the splendor of Israel is

Jonathan so this lament in this way both begins and it ends with Jonathan see

the death of Jonathan is the greatest loss in the battle with the Philistines

but why well as we continue we see how the lament shifts so it is now

addressing Jonathan David you know had in the beginning of this lament he

praised Saul and he praised Jonathan in third person he then called for the

daughters of Israel to weep over Saul but now he's addressing Jonathan directly

he says I am distressed for you he calls Jonathan his brother the one who's been

very pleasant to him whose love was extraordinary whose love surpasses the

love of women now before I explain what this means I'll first say what it does

not mean see there are those who read into this passage the idea of homosexuality

but that is not what is going on in this passage and I think if we had if we had

read through first Samuel thus far we understand what is going on here because

who is David and who is Jonathan well from the perspective of Jonathan at least

in view of the world well David should be the enemy see Saul is the king and

David is the threat to Saul's kingship see David has been anointed and as long

as David lives Saul's kingship is in danger more than that however Jonathan's

kingship is in danger see Jonathan is the air he is to become king so as long

as David lives David is a threat to his father and to his own kingship but we've

already seen in first Samuel Jonathan's reaction to Saul's desire to kill David

see Jonathan tried to persuade his father of David's goodness he warned David of

his father's desire to kill him and even greater than all these Jonathan made a

covenant with David you know he made this promise in first Samuel 18 that says

that Jonathan loved David as his own soul and Jonathan took off his royal robe

he took off his armor and he gave it to David and this is quite the symbolic

act as the things that that represent royalty are given to David and then

just two chapters later which Derek preached on last month Jonathan renews

his covenant with David promising to warn him but also saying these

remarkable words you know if I am still alive show me the steadfast love of the

Lord that I may not die and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house

forever and then a few chapters later as Saul is pursuing David Jonathan says to

David do not fear for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you you shall be

king over Israel and I shall be next to you Saul my father also knows this see

Jonathan knows that even though he is he is the son of the king he is the son of

Saul that he is not the heir he's not the real heir for the kingship belongs not

to Saul but to David he knows the Lord is not with his father but with David

and I could give countless examples of where power has been fought and has been

killed over but unlike those Jonathan freely gives it to David so in David

here in his in this lament says that Jonathan's love with extraordinary he

is talking about Jonathan's actions of giving up the throne and everything for

the sake of David you know he says that Jonathan's love surpasses even the love

of women what is meant by that well at the heart of love especially marital

love is fight is fidelity is faithfulness and who has been more faithful to David

than Jonathan you hear is a quote from Matthew Henry that that highlights

Jonathan's fidelity see he had a reason to say that Jonathan's love to him was

wonderful surely never was the like for a man to love one whom he knew was to

take the crown over his head and to be so faithful to his rival and this far

surpassed the highest degree of conjugal affection and constancy see it's it's

it's it's the love we see there and now this is not the only time that we see

marital language used without referring to sexual acts I mean think of the

relationship between God and his people of course in the New Testament we have

Christ and his bride but even in the Old Testament when Israel turns from the

Lord and worships the bales the foreign gods you know God says that they have

committed immorality that they have been immoral to him see God made a covenant

with his people and promised to be faithful and yet his people has been

unfaithful but here you see Jonathan has promised to be faithful to his covenant

to David and he has and that is a tremendous friend so we've seen the

death of the mighty the strength of the mighty and the response to the mighty and

then with the final refrain we see the lament ending how the mighty have fallen

the weapons of war have perished it is over see the bow of Jonathan and the

sword of Saul they probably lie there on Mount Gilboa useless you're wasting

away and this is the lament that David wants for all of his people to know

than to sing and even though Saul and Jonathan are the heart of this this is

a lament for the whole nation as many husbands fathers brothers and sons had

perished on Mount Gilboa but what does David's call to remember Mount Gilboa

mean for us today and I think for us it means to remember an entirely different

mount a different hill the hill of Golgotha the place of the skull where

Christ was crucified the hill on which the mighty indeed the mightiest had fallen

the glory of Israel the splendor its jewel slain on that high place indeed

the glory of not just Israel but the whole world but because the story of

Golgotha does not end on Golgotha but indeed continues with the empty tomb and

with the ascension and will come to its final fulfillment at the return of Christ

the lament here is turned on its head because of Gilboa Israel is told not to

tell of this in gas or ash cologne but because of Golgotha we are told to share

the great news not only in Jerusalem Judea or Samaria but across the whole

world because of Gilboa David does not want the Philistines the uncircumcised

to rejoice but because of Golgotha Christ wants the whole earth Jews and

Gentiles to rejoice of the salvation that we have in his life and in his death

because it is in these things that we've been given all things of how we've been

been given a new heart that we've been given the Holy Spirit we've been given

justification that we can stand and God can say of us that we are righteous of

how he can say that we are his sons and we are his daughters and that we've been

given life eternal life to live forever in heaven and at the heart and the

greatest of all these things is Christ himself that he is the one the mighty is

one that has been given to us see the mighty is one has fallen but he has

conquered and he has risen so here are the good news now we're gonna end taking

from a song called see what a morning written by Townsend and Getty which ends

honor and blessing glory and praise to the King crowned with power and

authority and we are raised with him death is dead love has won Christ has

conquered and we shall reign with him for he lives Christ is risen from the

dead let us pray

Father God may we indeed have in our mind the hill of Golgotha the place and

the time that changed all things for Lord if we set our hope on Saul on David

on anything on this earth it would all be futile we would still be without hope

without any sure foundation without any life but Father we thank you that because

of your love that we have Christ that because of your love we have the Holy

Spirit that because of you that we have you and we have you for all eternity and

Father we pray all these things in the name of Jesus Amen