Daily Devotional for Friday 2nd February
How the mighty are fallen
I would advise reading on from today’s verses to the start of 2 Samuel (we aren’t going to cover that in the Devotionals next week). There you will see David’s famous lament for Saul and Jonathan (verses 17-27). This is a watershed in Israel’s history – the end of an era. Saul, the first king, a superstar in his youth, when he could do no wrong, now ends his life as he spent so much of it – in battle. It’s a heroic death, and when you read on you will see how much respect David still had for this flawed hero, who had spent years hunting for David to kill him. The writer of Samuel always stresses how David would not fight directly against Saul – God’s anointed chosen king. David twice passed up the opportunity to kill Saul. He hid in the hills rather than plunge the country into open civil war. And, of course, David mourns the loss of his friend Jonathan – who had gone against his own father to protect David.
There are so many obscure names of people and places in these stories, but to the people of the time these names would all have meant very much. We don’t hear much about the men of ‘Jabesh Gilead’ - but they have their moment here – heroically rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons. Why? Well, it was Saul who had ridden to their rescue back in chapter 11. He was their saviour when they were oppressed by a tribe called the Ammonites. The writer of Samuel wants to give these obscure men their moment of glory – something their descendants must have long treasured.
Time to reflect…
What tradition do you stand in? Are there ‘heroes’ in your past? Or are you going to be a hero to generations to come? I often think of the quote that says “We aren’t remembered for the kindnesses we didn’t do”! The time to act is now.
In ‘Lord of the Rings’ (a Christian parable written by a devout Catholic) the touchstone of wisdom (Gandalf) is talking to the main hero (Frodo) at their darkest hour when all seems hopeless:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Pause to pray…
Lord, please send your Spirit to help us decide! In years to come may others look at our lives and find inspiration there.
Here is the final verse of “Come down O Love divine” to inspire us today:
“And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling:
Nor none can guess its grace – till we become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling”
