2 Samuel 1-2: Swifter Than Eagles
Verse of the Day: (1:23) 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. 

1. Swift (1:1-27)
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. (1:26)

The only time that we will never grieve for the loss of our loved ones is when we are in heaven reunited forever with God and our precious ones. (Revelation 21:1-4) David grieved for the passing of King Saul and his sons, especially Jonathan, his best friend. David grieved for Saul even when he tried to kill him several times. David loved God and His people including his enemies. Though Saul hated David, yet he loved his sons, especially Jonathan, as both of them were warriors who were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions, surpassed only by David who dared to face off and subsequently defeated Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior. Though David loved all, yet he killed the Amalekite because he claimed to kill Saul upon Saul’s command. The Amalekite thought that David would reward him for allegedly killing Saul, yet little did he know that David killed him, because he had killed God’s anointed man. David was indeed a man after God’s heart. Let us thus be swifter than eagles in following after God’s heart. (Acts 13:22)

2. Strengthen (2:1-7)
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. (2:7)

David commended and strengthened the men of Jabeshgilead who risked their lives to retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines’ territory. Indeed, our labour is never in vain as we serve God and not men. Even if no one notices our labour and even if we are never appreciated on this earth, let us know that our God notices our labours and He shall richly bless and reward us when we get to glorious heaven. (Galatians 6:7-10)

3. Serve (2:8-32)
And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. (2:13)

Saul’s servants made Ishbosheth as their king after Saul’s death, while David’s servants anointed David as their king. Israel was now divided, and hence Saul’s servants led by Abner challenged David’s servants led by Joab to a duel. David’s servants won, however it was a start of the end of Israel as throughout history there was no real peace and unity in Israel as they wrestled against God and one another. Indeed, let us submit to God, and live in unity, and love one another for God’s riches blessings to be upon us. (Psalms 133)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be swifter than eagles in following after God’s heart.