Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-27, 2 Samuel 2:1-32, Psalm 60, Romans 12:14
Have you ever watched the 1950s movie, Sunset Boulevard? Norma, an aging Hollywood starlet, longs for a comeback. She’s deluded enough to think that by sheer force of will, she can break back into the business with a new movie. It goes horribly wrong for her, and the movie ends as she descends a staircase, guilty of murder, smiling and waving to the flashes of reporters’ cameras as she’s taken into police custody. Norma couldn’t loosen her vulture-grip on her own fame to see reality.
Now, I’m not usually a wide-eyed crazy lady clawing at the scraps of my imagined life—or am I? Do I try to hold onto things that are gone and out of my control? Do I secretly attempt to force God to do my bidding? I suspect that because of our sin nature, we all try to control our own circumstances, instead of trusting God to go to bat for us.
The aging starlet reminds me of King Saul. While Saul was still in power, Samuel anointed David as God’s choice for king (1 Samuel 16:1). Instead of gracefully stepping down, Saul raged on, fighting for years against both David and the will of God.
Look at the story from David’s perspective. He was the youngest and the least impressive of all his brothers. Although Samuel did have a small family ceremony after he anointed him, not much changed right away for David. He was still the little brother who had to tend the sheep.
But one very significant thing did change immediately: the Spirit of the Lord came upon David and departed from Saul, who was then plagued by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14). Although David didn’t actually assume the throne for years after he was anointed, the Spirit of the Lord was with him. That was more valuable than 10,000 thrones. While Saul scraped and grasped to keep control of his kingdom, David waited on God’s timing and spent the years learning to listen to the Lord.
Despite the Lord’s clear choice of David as king over Israel, Saul was unwilling to give up the kingdom. He knew David would be king, but he was unable to let go of his delusion of power before his death.
David didn’t have to scramble and fight for the crown. The Lord chose him; He gave David the throne (2 Samuel 2). David didn’t have to take matters into his own hands. God had everything under control, and He still does. His faithfulness frees us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Like David, we are free to bless, and not curse, those who would seek to harm us (Romans 12:12,14).
We don’t have to claw, hustle, and scratch to make things happen in our lives. God is still sovereign. In spite of all Saul’s labors, his day was over as David’s was ready to begin. David waited patiently for the Lord, and we can, too, with confidence. God will defend and protect us.
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60 thoughts on "David’s Lament"
“We don’t have to claw, hustle, and scratch to make things happen in our lives.”
This was what I needed to hear this morning. As part of a generation that prides itself on “side hustles”, I find it hard to rest, it always seems like my dreams are just around the corner if I can work hard enough. Increasingly God has been reminding me that we’re called to be satisfied in Him, not to sacrifice our lives to hustling and fighting for success.
Amen! I can so relate to what you said. Thanks for sharing your heart Emily.
Yes! Thank you for these words!
Ari
I messed up with the typing first go round, Wow! The way God spoke to you in the “side hustles” that just wrecked my heart. I have been running and running trying to “side hustle” while working a full-time ministry job. Telling myself I need this to pay student loans. When In reality, I don’t. Now I think my side hustle is good . But I think God could make it Holy if I gave it over to Him and said ” Where do you want me to go today with this?” “How can I glorify you today through this?” instead of having this feeling of being unprovided for. Because we are so well provided for by our Father who is in heaven. I think scraping and clawing shows a lack of faith. I am so glad you said that! Thank you!
All of my questions sedkset-thantl!
This is SO timely for me because I struggle with control – my nightmares regularly consist of being out of control. Just last night, I had a combination back-to-school + forgetting to bring the music I’m playing at my brother’s wedding nightmare! it really shook me up, but then I woke up to this reminder that I need to rest in God’s plan and continue to seek Him. What a RELIEF it is that we don’t have to carry the full burden of control!
“Do I try to hold onto things that are gone and out of my control? Do I secretly attempt to force God to do my bidding?”
Ouch. This followed my many desperate prayers this morning for God to bless us with a baby this month. Since I miscarried our first child several months ago, I am finding it so difficult to be patient in affliction and trust God’s timing/will. David knew God was faithful and patiently waited for His timing and deliverance.
I pray that I would walk in that same confidence in my head and heart today.
Praying for you!
thank you!
I am so sorry Emily for your loss and holding a place in my prayers for you today!
thank you so much!
I’ve been praying that same desperate prayer, Emily. I also miscarried our first child a few months ago and it has been agonizing waiting for my body to heal and to start the process again. My sister-in-law talked to me right after it all happened and she shared a devotional about how purposeful and perfect God’s timing is with the day a child enters the world (his or her birthday!) and how that one special day sets the course for so much of their life…when they go to school, the friends they will meet, which world events will shape their lives, who they may marry. I’ve held onto this little reminder to help me in those moments of confusion and impatience and even frustration. If He desires for us to have a baby, He has a very special and purposeful day picked out, even when it’s not the day I had picked out…just like David probably felt after being anointed king and then years of waiting to actually BE king!
I’m sorry for your loss too and praying for your heart as well. I have never thought of that before, thank you so much for sharing! I will try to remind myself of that today when my mind wanders.
Emily and CC, I’m praying for you both today. I’m so sorry for your losses; it’s such a hard thing to handle emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I lost three babies and had two failed rounds of IVF. I struggled tremendously through it, but, in all that loss, God brought me to the most amazing community of believers. Now I’m pregnant again, and just this morning we had our first ever healthy 12 week ultrasound! It seems never-ending when you’re stuck in loss and doubt, but I know God is aligning all things perfectly for you and your babies. Take heart, sisters.
Thank you for sharing, I’m sorry for your losses. I can’t imagine the joy you felt this morning! Your encouragement does help, and I just walked out my front door to the most beautiful rainbow! God is so incredibly kind in the midst of good and hard things :)
Amelia, thank you so much for your sweet words and I’m so sorry for your losses. Yet, I’m also rejoicing with you for your healthy 12-week check up!!! What a thing to celebrate! God is good, no matter what :)
It is hard to know when to wait and when God wants us to be moving forward in some way. I have 2 sons. They would love to be married to godly young ladies. Their are none in their very late 20’s to choose from through church/work options. They have looked a few other ways too and the age groups are young and married or older and married. Wondering if God would have them both stay single even though it is their desire to marry. Waiting is confusing.
I’m a single, godly, young lady in her late 20’s! ;) Just kidding. Although I am. But, I encourage you or your sons to listen to some of John Piper’s sermons on singleness. He has helped me see so much clearer how it is just one state of being verses another. God can use us while we’re still single, even if the desire to be married never leaves us. Go forward in the work of Christ and His desires will come about. David loved the Lord before he ever became King and everything he did in his life before being anointed helped him when it was his time to have a kingdom.
Similar to what Cera said, even if it’s not particularly helpful, I know a single, godly woman in her late 20s who desires to get married. :)
It is interesting that your boys are looking for Godly women. In my community, the reverse is true. I have a daughter and when people tell her to wait, I sometimes follow up with name me even one guy that would be worthy of her to date. They have no response. Anyhow, Cera, I’m glad you mentioned John Paper’s sermons. I will have to look them up. You sound like you have a great perspective. Wishing all our young singles the right guy or gal and not to settle. And if God plans for them singleness, let them find peace in their heart.
The response for her to wait is even more valid when they don’t offer a name. That reminds you and her to trust God and God alone. God knows the name if that is His plan for her life. Sure, introductions can be made. And the age group you are asking may not know guys her age to even offer a name. . But I’m pretty sure they would share very specific answers to the type of guy she should date. I’m sure they coukd describe in detail the qualities that make for a good mate… And they could describe the warning signs in detail as well. A Godly man may seem rare but not in God’s economy. In His economy, a Godly man is the best… and worth waiting for. In the meantime… You’re absolutely right that young adults should pray for discernment about God’s plan for them. It may be lifelong singleness. And if it does, He will give them grace and joy and fulfillment in it. He promises just that when one follows Him, regardless of their ‘status.’
Good thoughts, Christy. We can not agree with someone’s actions and yet have compassion for the way they are afflicted. Since we know the spirit of the Lord was on David, we can see how he would have godly compassion for Saul – especially given his very close relationship with Jonathan.
I’m really challenged by how David mourned for Saul. I understand why he didn’t want to kill him earlier on because he was God’s anointed one, but I would have expected a sense of relief when Saul finally died, that now he was free of having to run and hide from Saul trying to kill him, now God’s plan could move forward. The mourning for Jonathan makes sense but I’m not sure about the mourning for Saul. Does anyone have any thoughts on why David responded that way?
I think it might be because David was close to Saul and his family before Saul’s revenge and anger overtook him. David played music to comfort Saul in his affliction. David ate meals with Saul and Jonathan regularly. I also think that David understood the tragedy that unfolded in Saul’s life. Because of David’s friendship with Jonathan, David would have seen the damage that Saul was doing to his family, including putting Jonathan in danger. All of those things put together make it a truly lamentable story. David’s mourning was honorable.
Just some thoughts :)
I agree with Christy. Just to add on, I think David was mourning the loss of one that God had anointed. He might have seen some of himself in Saul as well. David was also anointed to be king, I have to wonder if this situation didn’t put his own mortality in the front of his mind. I also think he’s mourning what could have been. I think he was still hoping that Saul would repent and begin to do the right things, but now there was no hope of that.
I shared some similar thoughts with Caitlin. We see how David continued to treat Saul with respect and honour even when others did not. He continually refers to Saul as the Lord’s anointed. With Saul’s death, Israel lost a king and I think David wanted to show the proper mourning the loss of their king warranted.
Thanks, that’s really helpful!
My study Bible says, “David had every reason to hate Saul, but he chose not to. Instead, he chose to look at the good Saul had done and to ignore the times Saul attacked him. It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt to respect the positive side of another person especially an enemy.” I don’t think I could do what David did!
Maybe he was mourning the loss of Saul’s soul:(
Amen! Learning to love this way and although I’m taking baby steps, it is freeing and exciting!
*live not love : )
Love works too❤️
Yes, it does !!
Learning to rest in the Lord is a lifelong lesson. It’s best to wait on the Lord. Even after Saul’s death, David waited for God to have the people put him in place. Trusting the Lord is always best. Believing He doesn’t need us to push issues and make stuff happen takes faith. He can faithfully lead as we trust.