"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen![...]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[...]Ye daughters of Israel, weep[...]How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle! O Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high places" (2Sam.1:19-25)
Although there are conflicting accounts of exactly how Saul and Jonathan died, compare the last chapter of 1Sam with the first chapter of 2Sam, either way it was an epic, tragic death of a king and his heir. No matter Saul's faults, he was a mighty man, and the first anointed king of Israel. He is worthy of mourning.
There are so many things to say about the end of Saul and the full rise of David thereafter, but I'm not going to say much. Just that David really is a poet, and his lament over the death of his master and his best friend is beautiful, and should be read.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 135, John Taylor echoes David's words when he describes the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph, and his brother the Patriarch, Hyrum: "In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!" (D&C135:3).
The difference here is that while Joseph and Hyrum's place with God had been assured, Saul's eternal standing remains unclear. We cannot judge. We don't know everything. I would be happy though, to go to the presence of God one day, and see that he and his son were there. If not, then David truly has cause to mourn. And so do we for such a tragedy of souls.
No comments:
Post a Comment