Sweetness

 “When their leaders fall into a hand of stone, they will hear my words, that they are sweet”—Psalm. 141:6

Admittedly a difficult verse, but I would suggest that those whose “leaders fall,” are the elders of the Kingdom of Israel, who aligned themselves with Saul against David and the Kingdom of Judah. “Hand of stone” is an idiom signifying the application of an irresistible force—God’s “hand” that brought about the collapse of Saul’s kingdom.

 

For twelve years Saul hounded David and sought his death. David steadfastly refused to speak against Saul, but took his complaints straight to the Lord with the confident assurance that He, in due time, would set things right. Throughout David’s long ordeal, his words to and about Saul were gracious. And when Saul was killed in battle and the northern kingdom went into decline David did not gloat. Even then his words were “sweet”: He honored Saul and upon hearing of his death rendered a most tender elegy (2 Samuel 1:17-27).

 

“Sweetness” hardly accords with David’s rough exterior—though Walter Peyton pulled it off—but David was making a point: His words to and about Saul were gracious and good.

 

Perhaps, David muses, when the dust has settled, Saul’s followers will remember my words and the two nations will be reconciled—a reunion of North and South that actually occurred somewhat later at the instigation of David’s former enemies: “So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over (all) Israel” (2 Samuel 5:1-3).

 

Sweetness keeps the door wide open. Bitterness keeps us apart.

 

David Roper

5.4.21