_A man came out of the camp._ THE MAN WHO PROFESSED TO HAVE SLAIN SAUL On the day that Saul fell by his own hand, and before his body had been discovered by the Philistines, an Amalekite, passing by, recognised the corpse of the fallen king, and bethought him how best to turn the event to his own... [ Continue Reading ]
_And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son._ DAVID'S LAMENT 1. The Bible has been called “the record of human sorrows,” and so it is. There are, however, parts of the sacred Scriptures where the shadows lay thickest, and the notes are ever in the minor key: I ref... [ Continue Reading ]
_The use of the bow, _ I. Activity is a valuable solace for sorrow:--The people were very grieved; for Saul and Jonathan, the king and the crown prince, were slain. David indulges their grief: he writes them a plaintive song which the daughters of Israel may sing. But to take off their minds from t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The beauty of Israel is slain._ THE FALL OF CHRISTIANS We have here an illustration of the degenerating influences of sin upon the character of Christians, and the lamentable effects in the eyes of the world. I. The beauty of Israel. Christianity imparts a distinguishing character to the believe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tell it not in Gath._ THE ELEGY We are far from assigning She peculiar complexion of this elegy to that mere commonplace thing which goes by the name, though most wrongfully, of charity; but which should rather be characterised as perilous unfaithfulness to God, to the interests of religion, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew._ THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SPEAKING BETTER THINGS THAN THE BLOOD OF SAUL These words form a part of that song of lamentation which David composed after that Saul, and Jonathan his son, had fallen in battle with the Philistines. The death of Saul was in the ey... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tell it not in Gath._ THE ELEGY We are far from assigning She peculiar complexion of this elegy to that mere commonplace thing which goes by the name, though most wrongfully, of charity; but which should rather be characterised as perilous unfaithfulness to God, to the interests of religion, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lovely and pleasant in their lives._ THE MASTER AND THE DISCIPLE The words from the elegy of David far Saul and Jonathan, describe their character and relations in both life and death. 1. Great value is always to be attached to inspiring personal influence. None of us can fully compute the benefi... [ Continue Reading ]
_How are the mighty fallen._ THE DIRGE OF THE MIGHTY “How are the mighty fallen”--the words sound in our ears like a deep undertone in some mournful harmony. The warrior-bard is celebrating the memory of a king and a king's son--warriors themselves of no mean prowess, “swifter than eagles, stronge... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan._ BEREAVEMENT Perhaps you know by experience what a choking sensation there is in looking at an emigrant vessel clearing out, even though you have no personal interest in anyone on board. The confusion and hurry that attend her departure; the crowded... [ Continue Reading ]