When I read about the tragic end of Saul and his sons, I can't help but think about the tragic fall of the well-known evangelist, Jimmy Swaggart. I don't know how many of you actually remember him. But throughout the late 70's and early 80's his ministry flourished. Thousands of souls received Christ under his preaching. He was a pioneer in the area of televangelism. My family was encouraged and challenged by the no-nonsense, fire-branding messages that Jimmy Swaggart was known to bring. Rev. Swaggart would sit at the piano and sing passionately for the Lord. And frankly, in my humble opinion, few I have heard preach hold a candle to the anointing that was on this man.
But tragically, Rev. Jimmy Swaggart's worldwide ministry came crashing down around him when he was caught soliciting a prostitute. Those who followed his ministry were crushed. And those skeptics who hated what he stood for in the first place found ample fodder to bury the man. Even people who called themselves christians decided to jump into the fray and pile on. Few people hear of Jimmy Swaggart on the national or world stage anymore. Although, he and his son still have a large church in Baton Rouge, LA. But Rev. Swaggart will forever be known, not for the countless lives he reached for the Gospel of Christ, but for the scandal of sex and prostitution.
So what should our attitudes be when a fellow brother falls and suffers the consequences of his sin? (and please do not misunderstand my use of the term "fall" as meaning losing ones salvation. I do not believe this is what the bible teaches. But that is for another day.) The answer to this question is found in the reaction of David in 2 Samuel 1.
David receives word that Saul has been killed from one of Saul's men who had escaped from the battle. Considering David's history with Saul, his flesh would have rejoiced in this fact. Saul was dead! The king who was obsessed with killing him was gone! David was not only able to return to his homeland, he would return as king!! What glorious news this should be, right? But what does David say when he laments Saul and Jonathan's death?
"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel." (2 Samuel 1: 19-24)
But tragically, Rev. Jimmy Swaggart's worldwide ministry came crashing down around him when he was caught soliciting a prostitute. Those who followed his ministry were crushed. And those skeptics who hated what he stood for in the first place found ample fodder to bury the man. Even people who called themselves christians decided to jump into the fray and pile on. Few people hear of Jimmy Swaggart on the national or world stage anymore. Although, he and his son still have a large church in Baton Rouge, LA. But Rev. Swaggart will forever be known, not for the countless lives he reached for the Gospel of Christ, but for the scandal of sex and prostitution.
So what should our attitudes be when a fellow brother falls and suffers the consequences of his sin? (and please do not misunderstand my use of the term "fall" as meaning losing ones salvation. I do not believe this is what the bible teaches. But that is for another day.) The answer to this question is found in the reaction of David in 2 Samuel 1.
David receives word that Saul has been killed from one of Saul's men who had escaped from the battle. Considering David's history with Saul, his flesh would have rejoiced in this fact. Saul was dead! The king who was obsessed with killing him was gone! David was not only able to return to his homeland, he would return as king!! What glorious news this should be, right? But what does David say when he laments Saul and Jonathan's death?
"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel." (2 Samuel 1: 19-24)
I copied this entire passage to fully demonstrate David's amazing response to Saul and Jonathan's death. If you knew nothing of Saul before this lamentation you would think he and David had the same close relationship that David had with Jonathan. I think it is plain to see that David never lost focus of the fact that no matter what Saul had done wrong, he was STILL God's anointed king. And as God's anointed king, Saul deserved to be mourned. It is NEVER a day to rejoice when one of God's anointed falls! I believe David could respond this way because he knew that he was equally capable of falling into sin. Also, David knew that word of Saul's demise would only empower and encourage God's enemies. And David would do anything he could to preserve Saul's honor and not bring open shame to God and His anointed.
We as christians need also be careful how we judge and react to those in authority in the christian church who fall into sin. We need to be more like David and cry out in sadness when one of God's anointed falls. For who are we to stand and point fingers? Any one of us can find ourselves in the same predicament needing forgiveness and mercy. Don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that an anointed leader of God can be restored to a prominent ministry after putting God to an open shame. Their ministry is often a casualty of sin. But a fallen brother's personal relationship wth God is not for us to decide. We must lament his or her condition, be quick to forgive, and be as David and proclaim the beauty of Israel! Remember and rejoice in the wonderful things God has done through that person. And gladly pick up the standard and continue on as David did!
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