The Lesson Of Grief
Lessons From A King • Sermon • Submitted
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David was a decade away from Israel in enemy territory.
1 Samuel 31:1–13 (KJV 1900)
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
David said he was fighting against Israel but was really fighting against the Amalakites
What a difficult time to go through in David’s life
The Biblical perspective of life is that chance is not in control
God is in control
Not circumstances
God’s Sovereignty
God is in charge
David understood in God’s timing - He in many times in his life was patient; trusting God for answers
No matter whether it is fast or slow when someone is taken from our life it hurts
We will experience loss in this world in this life
Spiritually - it is difficult to love someone as a brother or sister in Christ and see them fall away from fellowship
Relationally - Family that hurts us - a deep
Physically through death - This life is brief and fragile
The world is full of grief today
Why sin cursed
Why -
Sorrow can be devastating if we’re not careful
There are transitions the Lord wants to bring us through for growth and learning
David has been fleeing Saul’s
Now Saul is in eternity
Jonathan, David’s close friend, now gone
imagine the hurt
imagine the tragedy
imagine the darkness
Death, separation - We all respond differently
Philistines against Israel at Gilboa -
The armorbearer
Vs 4.
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
Suicide
Life is fragile
Loss of life is devastating
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
The philistines, in pride and victory, take Saul’s body and use it as a trophy of their victory.
David, after soon recovering from losing all that he and his men had learns of fate of Saul.
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
David knew the crown of King Saul
David had seen the bracelet
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
The Amalekite lied and embellished
Maybe he wanted to be honored
Maybe he wanted to show allegiance
13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?
David would not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed
David knew he didn’t have to kill a king to be a king
David knew he didn’t have to worry about when he would be made king and try to secure leadership on his own
David allowed God to take care of Saul
If you desire to lead, don’t try to manipulate
God will put you in leadership - Don’t try to exalt yourself, the Lord lifts up the humble
You don’t need to compete, that’s not how God’s kingdom works
Hurt people hurt people
15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.
The wrath of man worketh not
1. When Visited By Grief, Meditate On The Lord and His Goodness
Death -
Tragedy
Hardship
Suffering
All of these can make us angry
All of these can hurt us emotionally
All of these can make us question
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
We need to pause and meditate on The Lord
David reflects
David eulogizes
David reflects
David looked at the good
17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: How are the mighty fallen!
The beauty of Israel
The Mighty
20 Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, Neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, as though he had not been 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 were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
Focus on the good in the day of grief
24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
Overlook the flaws
Overlook the hurts
Look at the good that he accomplished
David decided he would not be bitter
He took heart in God’s providence
He knew that it’s not for him to take the Kingdom
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
One of the greatest things that God gives to His children is the confidence that we can wait on Him, our Heavenly Father
One of the best feelings in the world is waiting on God, bringing our needs to Him in prayer, and allowing God to lift us up in His timing.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
God knows the proper time
We rely on God for elevation
David could’ve taken matters in his own hands but God would’ve humbled him
2. When Grief Comes We Don’t ask Why The Lord Allowed It
22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
3. When Grief Comes Seek What The Lord Will Do As A Result
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Eternal redemptive value in every circumstance we face
Every circumstance God, in His sovereignty, has a purpose for it.
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women.
27 How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!
A. The Fragility of Life
We are not as strong as we think we are
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
B. The Brevity of Life
Love those in your life passionately
Love those in your life intensely
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
C. The Gift Of Life
Accept people
Appreciate people
Reach out to others
Pray for others
D. The Purpose of Life
2 Corinthians 4:14–18 (KJV 1900)
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Life is not about me
Life is not about what I possess
Life is not about my position
Life is not about this world, it IS about the Kingdom - It’s all about heaven
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain - Philippians
That’s Joy
That’s peace
That’s security
I am here to live for Jesus
When I leave here, it’ll be gain
The reason I want to stay here is to prepare myself and others for Heaven
Our life is not about this temporary world - we rob ourself focusing on this life so much
How many of us have wounds
The greater the grief the greater the glory