II Samuel 1:12 "And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword."
What is the best thing that could have happened to David? Become king of Israel? Become fabulously wealthy? Be responsible for making major decisions? Stop fleeing for his life? Ironically, the answers you might give all hinge on one event: King Saul's death. So, actually, the best thing that could have happened to David was for Saul to die!
II Samuel begins with David learning of Saul's death. What happens in chapter 1 is not instinctive to us or the way we usually act. David immediately rent his clothes and mourned Saul's death from his heart. He was not just being noble about the guy who was hunting his head, nor was his response scripted or dramatized for the people around him. The best thing that could've happened to David was the thing that caused him the most grief!
I have to be honest: if the guy who gave me the most grief was no longer a problem, I would be inspired-but not to lament his demise! David's response to Saul's death is remarkable, unusual, and worth taking note of. I want whatever David had! David realized two truths that would help us respond correctly too.
First, the people for whom David mourned were God's people. Verse 12 says, "And they [David and his men] mourned . . . for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD. . . ." Saul was David's enemy, but he was God's man. Jonathan was David's friend, but he was God's man. The people of Israel were ambivalent toward David, but they were God's people. There is something wonderfully liberating about giving people to God! Whether the person is an enemy, a friend, or someone who goes back and forth on you, recognize that they belong to God.
Secondly, the people for whom David mourned were God's problem. When David gave Saul to God, he could rest in the fact that God would take care of the problem. When you don't "own" the person, you don't own the problem! Proverbs 24:17-19 says, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Fret not thyself because of evil men. . . ."
When you face trouble from people, remember that they are both God's people and God's problem. If you take care of your troubles your way, you are bearing the burden and responsibility of the problem alone. Each day the Lord gives you life, you will have the opportunity to respond to those who have wronged you in one of two ways: try to deal with them on your own or give them to God. The best thing is to follow the example of David in II Samuel!
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