Reflection on 2 Samuel 7:1, 17-27

David calls on Israel to lament openly the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Gene M. Tucker in Preaching through the Christian Year B, points out that the instructions that David gives contain many expressions helpful for expressing grief:

1. Wailing, moaning, and expressions of the pain of loss...
2. A description of the catastrophe...
3. Expressions of anger....
4. A description of the situation before death....

Sideline:
Before Saul was anointed king by the prophet Samuel, Hannah (Samuel's mother) sang of victory over enemies. Look back at 1 Samuel 2:1-10. She asserts that God is more important than kings then says "The bows of the mighty are broken..." and that the Lord raises the poor, lifts up the needy, but shatters foes.

Samuel later warned his people of the dangers of kings, but anointed Saul (and David) as king.

Now Saul has fallen.

Since David's lament has some echoes of Hannah's song, "How have the mighty fallen...." we may wonder if we are supposed to temper our regret at the loss of Saul with the memory of his failures.