Looking Ahead to July 8, 2012 -- 6th Sunday After Penetecost, Proper 9 (using Proper 8 Readings)

The Scripture Readings this week are:

• 2 Samuel 1:1-27
• Psalm 130

The Sermon title is Bittersweet Victory

Early Thoughts: The King is dead!  Long live the King!

David hears that Saul and Jonathon have died in battle, leaving him to be the King of Israel.  And his reaction is, to say the least, interesting.  First he has the person who brings him the news, the person who knows Saul is dead because he slew the king, slaughtered as punishment for this crime. [Interesting historical note:  although there were various times in English history when one king deposed another there was a great reluctance to openly kill "God's anointed" in cold blood.  One of the reactions to both the beheading of Charles I in England (1649) and Louis XVI in France (1792) was horror at the impertinence of daring to strike the King, who was (in some eyes) still seen as placed and anointed by God -- not unlike the reaction of David in this story]

And then David sings a song of great lament and sorrow.  Instead of moving directly into celebration (although he will get there eventually) David takes the news with sorrow over the death of his monarch (albeit a monarch with whom he has, at best, a troubled relationship) and a very close friend (who was in fact the heir presumptive).  It is one of those points in his story where we are reminded of the very real humanity and complexity of David.  He is not simply a warrior, or a proud kingly man.  He is also a friend, a poet, and one who loves greatly.

And what does that have to tell us here and now?  What does that tell us about victory in the battles of life?  To me it suggests that victory is often bittersweet.  Victory for one comes at a cost for another.  30 years ago I remember watching Family Ties and in one episode the staunchly Republican Alex asks his former hippie parents if there was a time of lament in their social circle when Nixon was brought down by the Watergate scandal.  Apparently not.  But maybe there should be.  Maybe we should be ready to pause in the midst of our victory celebrations and ask what the cost of victory is?  Maybe when we can do that we can remember that those who oppose us are people, not caricatures.  And maybe that will help us to oppose with respect and love.  And that would be a very good thing.
--Gord