RBT: GALATIANS 4-6
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 1:17-27
HYMN: BH 2: LOVE DIVINE
1. Love divine, all loves
excelling,
joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation;
enter ev'ry trembling heart.
2.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev’ry troubled breast.
Let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
let us all thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
4.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
true and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.
Golden Text: “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold”. 2 Samuel 1:24, NIV
In ancient times, professional
mourners create an atmosphere of sorrow at funerals. Such mourners are often
paid for make-belief crying, which is done to create an atmosphere of sadness.
Unlike these professional mourners whose weeping has nothing to do with their
emotion, David’s mourning for the death of Saul and Jonathan was real.
David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan
shows how difficult it is to be separated from one’s beloved. David sang a
dirge in honour of God’s anointed, Saul, who was dishonoured by the Amalekites.
“The shield of the almighty is vilely cast away”. He acknowledged Saul’s
achievements in Israel. “Weep over Saul who clothed you in scarlet with luxury”
(vs. 24), and he was grateful to Jonathan for the special love they shared.
“Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women” (vs. 26). His
lamentation was a show of sincere love at the moment of sadness. It reveals his
unalloyed love for Saul. He grieved at the news of Saul’s death by fasting
“until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord,
because they had fallen by the sword”.
We all need sincere and true friends
like David. Can you be adjudged a true friend by those you call your friend?
Let your friendship with other people be one that others would love to imitate
just like that of David and Jonathan. You should not wait for people to die
before you express sincere gratitude and celebrate the relationship you share
with them. Have you lost beloved ones and seems you are having unending pain?
Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort you. Let the good moment you shared with them
encourage you to move on.
WISDOM:
Good relationships thrive on truth
and sincerity.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Are you a true friend?
FOLLOW-UP-ACTION: Renew your relationships with your
friends through visitation.
PRAYER:
O Lord Jesus, help me to value my
relationship with You and people.
O Lord, I covet your presence with
me and my family all the days of our lives.
