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2 Samuel 1:11 Thoughts on emotions - Day 250

Good morning fellow soldiers of the cross,

He we are marching into 2 Samuel.  Of course Samuel didn't write this history as he has died.  But the history of the first and second kings of Israel are center stage.  As I thought about the emotions in this passage, I encourage you not to skip over people's responses in scripture.  I hope these thought help in that way.

Blessings,

Jeff

David's response to the news of Saul and Jonathan's deaths and defeat of Israel.  Here is the man who has known he was the next king for many years weeping and fasting over the death of his enemy.  In fact, in God's eyes he was the legitimate king since the day he was anointed by Samuel.  Essentially a king living in exile.  

How does this event move toward the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15?  Why is it necessary to see David weeping over the death of the man who sought to kill him?

Observations

David's emotions appear to be real.  If you have ever seen a Middle Eastern funeral on TV, the wailing and weeping seems to be over the top for us Westerners.  I dismiss this as pretentious show.  But I am confronted by the fact that Scripture portrays man in the full range of emotions.  We see shouting for joy in Psalm 71 and weeping here.  And then there is the shortest verse in the Bible Jesus wept.  I cannot dismiss these displays of emotion.

I think passages such as this give us insight into what the Messiah will be like.  I often speak of Jesus as the better David.  This does not mean Jesus was emotionless.  He will have emotions.  He will be fully human.  Any Christology that portrays Jesus as not fully human is heretical.  

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