It's Complicated (S2): WK 1 - MON

(2 Samuel 2:1a)
2:1a After this…

A lot has happened from where we left off at season one of It’s Complicated. Back then, David continued to be an outcast that King Saul hunted, even though Samuel had anointed David to be the new king of Israel. Shockingly, David continued to support Saul, because Saul had been God’s anointed one.

As we begin chapter 2 of 2 Samuel, Saul has been killed after being wounded in battle and falling on his own sword. Equally as tragic, Saul’s son, including Jonathan, were killed in the same battle.

In chapter 1, David mourns the loss of God’s anointed, and as sad as he was for Saul, his heart would have been crushed at the loss of his dear friend, Jonathan. You can see some of his grief in a song he wrote for them both…

24 O women of Israel, weep for Saul,
for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing,
in garments decorated with gold.
25 Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies dead on the hills.
26 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! (2 Samuel 1:24-26, NLT)

Notice how David encourages others to weep for Saul, but he weeps for Jonathan. I’m sure he was sad over Saul as well, but Jonathan was his confidant, his support in some of the toughest times of the last 8- 12 years. Losing someone that close to you not only brings the struggle of grief, but the task of trying to figure out how life will look now with that hole in your heart.

I have journeyed with many people through the stages of grief, and have traveled them myself. No two journey’s are the same. Grief is such a difficult and odd companion. Sometimes you think you’ve healed, moved past it, then a word, a fragrance, a memory pops up that sends you right back into the middle of it. You don’t get over grief, you work through it, but I believe it’s remnants stick with you until the day when there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21). Until then, may we be gentle with each other as likely, we’re all grieving something or someone.

And for all the trouble Saul caused David, he continued to show him love and respect as God’s anointed. It is an example of how we can disagree with one another, and still seek to love one another even in times when we’re perceived as an enemy.

1. Who have you, or are you, grieving over?
2. What helps you in your grief, or what ways do you help others in theirs?
3. How do you think David was able to continue to love and show respect for Saul even when Saul tried to kill him?