“and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! Don’t announce the news in Gath, don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice and the pagans will laugh in triumph. O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil. The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work. They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes. How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold. Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on the hills. How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead.”
2 Samuel 1:18-27 NLT
After killing the man who took credit for killing Saul, David composes a song which he decrees should be taught to the people. Shockingly, this song focuses on the good things about Saul without going into the negative things. Now it should be noted that David wasn’t simply acquainted with the negative side of Saul; he was largely the undo focus of it. Not only would it be a time to air his grievances, but in paper, he was seemingly right to. This is ,perhaps, why the amalekite felt it safe to claim victory over Saul. Nevertheless, David continued his trend toward showing love for God and grace to his own enemies. By teaching this song, he ensured that Saul’s legacy as king, and thusly the legitimacy of the office, would be preserved among the people. This is a remarkable perspective to hold after being needlessly persecuted for so long. It is one that we ought to emulate. David was not a perfect man, but in his relationship with Saul, he was perfectly graceful, and the lack of bitterness on display made him and Israel better for it.
David’s Song: David composed a song praising Saul, focusing on the positive aspects of Saul’s reign.
David’s Grace: David’s song demonstrates grace and forgiveness towards Saul, who had persecuted David.
Legacy Preservation: David’s song aimed to preserve Saul’s legacy and the legitimacy of the monarchy.
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