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2 Samuel 1:11-12  Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.  

The death of Jonathan and Saul on the same day, and at the hands of the Philistines in battle, was much more than just the loss of two human lives as far as David was concerned; it was the defeat of the LORD’s Covenant People by the enemy that symbolised everything that was ungodly and God-denying.  When David had gone out against Goliath he had seen the contest only in terms of a spiritual battle between the one, true, living God and the forces of evil: “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.  And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear.  For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.’” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

So David’s personal issues with his own arch-enemy Saul were not in focus here – the mourning and weeping and fasting were because it seemed that God had abandoned his chosen people, his Church.  How do we feel when the cause of the Gospel is dishonoured, when secular humanism seems to be getting the upper hand throughout our whole culture, in our educational institutions or through government policy-making?  How do we respond to attacks on Christ’s Church for which he gave his life?

Do we take seriously enough the significance of the spiritual battle in which we are engaged today? … and are we equipping ourselves for it in the manner suggested by the Apostle Paul:  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18) Especially with regard to praying at all times?

– Bruce Christian