1 Samuel 31:1-4, 8-10; 2 Samuel 1:17-27 (ESV) (ESV)

1 Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. … 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. … 2 Samuel 1:17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18 and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: 19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21 “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. 22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 “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. 24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 26 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. 27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

Intro: How would you respond to the deaths of your enemy and your best friend?

THE STORY BEHIND EVERY DEATH.
Why do we believe that death is common, yet not natural?

WHAT DOES GOOD GRIEF LOOK LIKE?
How does David’s response stand out from the world?

WHY DO WE HAVE HOPE?
How can we be free from fear and death?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD, God Almighty as the Lord and Giver of life. Praise and adore Him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for His power to conquer sin and death itself, overcoming all the cursed effects of the Fall.

2 - How have you lived against God’s good design? Confess your sin and destructiveness to Jesus, asking Him to forgive you but also to heal you from the deadly consequences of sin.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for His death and resurrection on our behalf. Thank Him for the wonder of His work through death, to remove our guilt, and His work against death in His resurrection to give us eternal hope.

4 - Who do you know that lives in fear? Pray for them, asking the Lord to give them hope in Christ, especially in His ability to turn death and violence on their head, harnessing them to accomplish the greatest good ever done.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to bear in you His fruit of love and joy. Pray that He would work into you hope because of your inheritance in Christ,“imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded…” 1 Peter 1:4-5