Theological Proposition/Focus: Loyalty to God transcends personal loss and disappointment. In moments of sorrow and hardship, our relationship with God is vital and can guide us through our darkest hours.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Re-evaluate your loyalty to God, true faithfulness doesn't waver with circumstances. It encourages believers to maintain a focus on God, even in despair and grief, reminding them that God is sovereign and worthy of our loyalty.

Introduction

Image: Losing well — Aryna Sabalenka's 2025 Australian Open exit

"Imagine losing one of the biggest matches of your life—only to react in a way that disrespects the winner and tarnishes the moment. That's what happened to Aryna Sabalenka at this year's Australian Open. Instead of processing her loss with grace, she lashed out, left the court abruptly, and overshadowed an opponent's moment of triumph. Not all defeat has to end that way.

In 2 Samuel 1, however, David shows us a different path. Despite being sidelined and wronged, and even though he had every reason to celebrate the demise of his enemy, David responds in sorrow and honor. This stands in stark contrast to how we too often watch disappointment play out—in sports, in life, in our relationships. The question we must ask ourselves is: "How will we respond when we lose? With class, or with chaos? With loyalty, or with lashing out?"

Need: We need to see that loyalty to God should change how we view loss and disappointment.

Preview: These passages recount the tragic end of King Saul and the heartfelt lament of David, showcasing loyalty despite loss and the call to keep God central during trying times.

Text: 1 Samuel 31 — 2 Samuel 1 read in sections with each point

Setting the Stage:

The book of 1 Samuel can be summarized as wrestling with one central question: "Who is fit to serve as king over God's people?" At first, the people placed their hope in Saul—the tall, impressive leader they thought they could follow. But it did not take long for the cracks to show. Saul's failures became undeniable. Then we were introduced to David, and immediately the contrast was clear. Side by side, Saul and David showed us two very different pictures of leadership—one rejecting God's ways, the other learning to trust Him. As the book races toward its conclusion, Saul completely unravels. He rejects God's authority, he abandons obedience, and he proves himself unworthy of the God he was called to serve. So 1 Samuel ends with at least part of an answer to the question: "Who is fit to rule God's people?" The answer is clear—not Saul.

Body

Determined Loyalty — Loyalty to God means choosing honor over impulse, even when His plan feels hard (1 Sam. 31:1-13).

Last week we looked at David's victory over the Amalekites and his wisdom in handling that victory, but now the scene returns to Saul. The final battle between Saul and the Philistines has begun. The stage is set, and, true to character, Saul is determined not to do things God's way. Sometimes it is hard to accept, but we must realize this:

God's plan will unfold as He intends (1-6).

Verse 1 gives one of the shortest summaries of a battle in Scripture: the battle began, Israel fled, and many died. But none of this should surprise us. In 1 Samuel 28:19, Samuel had told Saul: "The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me."

God's plan will be carried out, and Saul is not an exception to the rule. In verse 2, we see the death of Jonathan and in verse 3, Saul is critically wounded. Falling into the hands of the Philistines is not a pleasant experience, and so Saul calls for his armor bearer to kill him. The armor bearer is unwilling, and so Saul takes his own life.

Verse 6 records it with almost chilling simplicity—no royal farewell, no heroic epitaph. Just the sober reminder that what God said has come to pass. God's plan unfolds exactly as He declared.

God's plan will not always feel pleasant (7-10).

Verses seven through ten take what is a bad situation and tell us the truth about it. God's plan does not always result in rainbows and unicorns in the moment of execution. We live in a fallen world, and God uses fallenness, but that also means that sometimes really bad things happen, and sometimes things feel really bad.

We are left with very little detail about the battle itself and instead are given details on the personal and theological consequences of the battle ¹.

Israel loses territory.
Saul's body is desecrated.
His armor is displayed as a trophy.
False gods are celebrated as victors.

None of this feels pleasant! None of this feels like "all things working together for good." God's plan in the short term can look dark and painful. We live in a fallen world, and sometimes His purposes run through paths of deep sorrow. Saul's failure brought heavy consequences, but even in that, God remained in control.

Yet hardship is no excuse to abandon honor or courage (11-13).

A few brave men recognize the dishonor and choose to risk everything to restore some honor. If you have read through the entire book of 1 Samuel, you may remember that one of Saul's first acts as king was to rescue the residents of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites in chapter 11. This was Saul's shining moment and point of unity for the kingdom. It seems that this also was a time when Saul earned the loyalty of Jabesh Gilead, and so the people do what no one else was willing to do and end the Philistine desecration of the bodies of Saul and his sons.

Israel is defeated, but there are still brave, courageous people in Israel. The people are still God's people, and God still has a plan. The ending of 1 Samuel is fitting because we are able to see the consequences of failure while seeing the glimmer of hope. God still has a plan for His people, and there are still people in Israel who seek to act honorably.

MTR: When life feels like defeat, loyalty to God means honoring Him anyway.

Where is one place in your life right now that feels like loss or disappointment—something you wish God had written differently? Maybe it's a strained relationship, a prayer that seems unanswered, or a burden that won't go away.

Don't let that place become an excuse for bitterness or compromise. Instead, determine to honor God in it. Honor Him in how you speak, in how you treat others, in how you keep your integrity. Like the men of Jabesh Gilead, choose to act with courage, not because the circumstances are pleasant, but because God is worthy.

If 1 Samuel leaves us asking, "Who is fit to rule God's people?"—then 2 Samuel begins to unfold the answer.

transition

The story shifts from Saul's failure to David's rise. And yet, the book does not rush to crown David. Instead, we see David tested—tested in his grief, tested in his loyalty, tested in whether he will seize power for himself or wait on the Lord.

Through these tests, God shows us that the kind of king His people need is not simply strong or charismatic, but a man loyal to God above all else. So as 2 Samuel opens, we are invited to watch David—not as a flawless man, but as a man whose loyalty to God will shape how he waits, how he grieves, and how he leads.

Sideline Loyalty — Even when you are not at the center, you can still show loyalty to God (2 Sam. 1:1-16).

Remember, David had been told by the Philistines that he was not welcome on the battlefield, and Saul certainly did not want David nearby. The result? David is back in Ziklag while the battle and Saul's death unfold. David has been sidelined for this event.

It is difficult to watch from the sidelines as God works (1-4).

Think back to 1 Samuel 29. David had tried to join the Philistines in battle, but God, through their commanders, kept him away. By the time we arrive in 2 Samuel 1, David is far from the action.

News of the battle comes to him through a weary messenger, and David eagerly seeks details. Yet beneath the surface, something deeper is happening. David had been sidelined—kept out of the battle, unable to fight for either side. Knowing David's personality, this could not have been easy. But it was essential. What do I mean? David seems like the go-getter, never willing to just sit. David is not part of the action, and that had to be hard. But, as I said, it was essential.

God's plans for David's kingship required that no one could accuse him of assassinating Saul or Jonathan. His absence preserved the integrity of God's work. Sometimes, when God places us on the sidelines, it isn't rejection—it’s protection. It may feel like exclusion, but it may actually be preparation.

Be cautious of trying to benefit from God's plan (5-10).

What do I mean by this? I mean we need to make sure that we are never manipulating God's plans for mere personal gain. Here enters the Amalekite messenger. His story doesn't quite line up with the account in 1 Samuel 31. If you read 1 Samuel 31 and then 2 Samuel 1, you notice there is a slight discrepancy between the accounts. Let me say right at the outset that ancient people were not stupid; it is not the case that they didn't notice the discrepancy! No, what I think is going on here is that the Amalekite sees an opportunity to manipulate the truth and gain David's favor. He bent the truth. He saw a chance to gain favor with David and presented himself as the one who finished off Saul. He expected a reward. Instead, he received judgment.

Saul is dead and David is the heir apparent, or at least the most powerful person around, it is no secret that there was conflict between David and Saul. So this man seizes the opportunity, spins some partial truth, and then takes credit for himself. As we read earlier, the result does not end well for the Amalekite.

Here's the danger: when we see God's plan unfolding, we may be tempted to manipulate it for personal advantage. This is especially true with words. Information can become a commodity we use to boost ourselves—whether through gossip, exaggeration, or simply making sure people see us as "in the know."

But loyalty to God means refusing to hijack His purposes for our own gain. His plan is not a platform for our pride.

Image: Don't seek to make yourself look good all the time!

I have seen it a lot where someone uses information as a commodity to trade. "Hey, did you hear about... what do you think about..." One, it is often gossip, but two, you are trying to make yourself look good, in the know, in a position of power, authority, or whatever, by using information that is not your information to use!

I see it all the time. We would do well to shut our mouths more often and ask ourselves before speaking: "Is what I am about to say something designed to make myself look good?"

Fierce loyalty to God shows itself in honoring God's people (11-16).

In verses 11-16, David responds quickly and decisively. Some may have expected David and his men to celebrate, but instead, they mourn. David is free from Saul's oppressive pursuit, but God's anointed king is dead, and that death brings David to mourn.

Far from celebrating Saul's death, David and his men tear their clothes, weep, and fast. David mourns not only Jonathan but also Saul—the very man who hunted him.

Furthermore, David responds to the Amalekite with great honor for Saul, striking down this man who would dare to use Saul's demise for personal gain. Why? Verse 16 tells us: because Saul was the Lord's anointed. David's fierce loyalty to God expressed itself in honoring the position and person God had chosen, even when that person had failed him deeply.

MTR: Commit yourself to fiercely honoring those whom God has appointed.

Notice, I am not saying to defend or blindly follow just to honor. God's appointed people can and will make mistakes, but your honor should not change.

That doesn't mean blind defense of every decision. It means cultivating a posture of honor. God's leaders—parents, pastors, teachers, elders, civic leaders—are not perfect. They will make mistakes. Yet our loyalty to God is reflected in how we treat them.

Honor doesn't excuse sin, but it does reflect humility and respect. Like David, we are called to show loyalty to God by honoring the people He places in our lives.

Sorrowful Loyalty — Loyalty to God shapes how we grieve (2 Sam. 1:17-27).

David was loyal to Saul, and we see that loyalty most clearly in his grief. But we also see something else important here: a model of how godly grieving can be structured. David's lament is not only poetry—it is instruction. It shows us how the people of God can walk through loss with integrity and hope.

Godly grief remembers the good in someone's life (17-22).

David begins his lament with a striking image: "Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!" The Hebrew word translated here as "glory" (כָּבוֹד) can mean gazelle, beauty, splendor, or jewel. In other words, Israel's most splendid figure, the crown jewel of the nation, has fallen.

What's remarkable is that David chooses to speak this way about Saul. If anyone had reason to highlight Saul's failures, it was David. Saul had thrown spears at him, hunted him like prey, and driven him into exile. Yet David does not use this moment to score points. He refuses to define Saul by his worst moments. Instead, David remembers the good.

This teaches us something vital about godly grief: when we lose someone, even someone complicated, we are called to look for what was good, beautiful, and noble in their life. Every person, even the deeply flawed, bears God's image and has reflected His goodness in some way.

David also widens the lament geographically. He speaks of Israel—Saul was their king. He speaks of Philistia—Saul was their enemy. He speaks of Mount Gilboa—the place of Saul's death. Everywhere David looks, he finds reasons to acknowledge Saul's impact. For Israel, Saul was the mighty king who stood taller than any man. For the Philistines, Saul was the warrior they feared, the one who "slain his thousands." On Gilboa, Saul was the soldier who fought to his death.

David's loyalty to God shows in this: he honors Saul's life by retelling it truthfully, but graciously. Godly grief chooses to remember the good.

Godly grief recalls how they blessed others (23-25).

David then shifts from Saul's public reputation to the way Saul and Jonathan had blessed others. He describes them as "beloved and gracious," as mighty in battle, as protectors of the people. He even calls on the daughters of Israel to weep for Saul, for he had clothed them in scarlet and ornaments.

This is not flattery—it is memory. Saul did provide for the nation. He did bring prosperity and protection at points in his reign. Jonathan, too, had been a source of blessing, laying down his own claim to the throne and strengthening David in God.

Grief is not only about what we have lost but about acknowledging the ways God used a person's life to bless us. When we gather at funerals, we often hear stories of kindness, provision, encouragement, or sacrifice. That is biblical. David models it here. To grieve in a godly way is to remember how God used someone to make others' lives richer.

And notice, this is not denial of pain. Saul had caused David immense pain. But grief that honors God chooses not to be consumed by bitterness. Instead, it remembers the blessings.

Godly grief expresses the weight of personal loss (26-27).

Finally, David turns to the most personal part of the lament: Jonathan. He says, "I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women."

David is raw and unashamed in expressing sorrow. He does not hide behind stoicism or bravado. He names his loss, he acknowledges the depth of his friendship, and he weeps.

This, too, is part of godly grief. Sometimes Christians are tempted to "skip ahead" to hope, to suppress tears because we know of resurrection. But the Bible never asks us to pretend death isn't painful. Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Grief is not unbelief—it is the honest acknowledgment that something precious has been lost.

And yet David's grief is shaped by loyalty to God, as God's leaders, His chosen leaders, have perished. He ends with the refrain: "How the mighty have fallen, the weapons of war have perished!" He mourns, but he mourns within the framework of God's purposes. God had allowed Saul to be king to lead the people, and his son Jonathan was instrumental in that leadership. David has lost a friend, and Israel has lost a leader.

Image: Zoom in

During VBS, one of the videos we played during dinner was a series of videos that zoomed way in on something, and then we would guess as to what it was as we zoomed out. You could see all the little details and imperfections, but at the end you got to see the whole picture.

Think of grief like a tapestry. Up close, we see knots, tangles, and dark threads. But step back, and we begin to see the picture. Godly grief allows us to look honestly at the knots of sorrow, but it also trusts that God is weaving something bigger. David's lament gives voice to both—raw sorrow and steady trust.

MTR: Prepare your heart now to honor people, even fallen people, in a way that honors God.

One day, every one of us will walk through grief, and many of us will experience what I call confusing grief as we grieve the loss of someone who was not perfect. The question is not "if" but "when." David shows us how to prepare:

Choose now to remember the good in people not because people are good, but because God uses people for good.
Choose now to look for how God has used them to bless others.
Choose now to be honest with sorrow rather than hiding it.

In doing so, you will grieve in a way that honors God, because your loyalty to Him will shape even your tears.

Bill T. Arnold, 1 & 2 Samuel, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003), 400. ↩