Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 25
Tuesday


LAMENT FOR
A FRIEND

READ:
2 Samuel 1:11, 17-27
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I am distressed for you,
my brother Jonathan;
you have been very
pleasant to me.
__2 Samuel 1:26
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As a pastor, I was often asked to lead funeral services. Typically, the funeral director would give me a 3x5 index card with all the particulars about the deceased so I would be informed about him or her. I never got used to that, however. As practical and necessary as it may have been, it seemed a bit trite to take a person's earthly sojourn and reduce it to an index card. Life is too big for that.

After David received news of Jonathan's death, he spent time recalling the life of his friend--even writing a lament that others could sing as a way to respect Jonathan 2 Sam. 1:17-27). David recalled his friend's courage and skill, and he spoke of the grief that caused him to lament deeply. He honored a rich pleasant, heroic life. For David, it was an intense time of mourning and remembrance.

When we grieve for a loved one, it is vital to recall the cherished details and shared experiences of our lives together. Those memories flood our hearts with far more thoughts than an index card can hold. The day that grief visits our hearts is not a time for short summaries and quick snapshots of our loved one's life. It is a time to remember deeply, giving God thanks for the details, the stories, and the impact of an entire life. It's time to pause, reflect, and honor. __Bill Crowder
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`````````````````At journey's end , take a long look back```````````
````````````````````````At the details of the story;```````````````
`````````````````````Take time to review the godly life````````````
````````````````Of your loved one now in Glory. __Branon`````````
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Precious memories of life
can temper the profound sadness of death

************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Samuel 1:11,17-27*********

11 Therefore David took
hold of his own clothes and
tore them, and so did all the
men who were with him....

17 Then David lamented
with this lamentation over
Saul and over Jonathan his
son, 18 and he told them to
teach the children of Judah
the Song of the bow....:

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....

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....

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!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jonathan and David were the best of friends v.26). Jonathan had
gone against his own father, King Saul, to save David (1 Sam. 20).
When saul and Jonathan died in battle (31:1-6), David honored
them with this song of the Bow (2 Sam. 1:18). __SIM KAY TEE