Years ago, Neil Diamond wrote and recorded a song that became quite popular; it was entitled “Song Sung Blue.” The lyrics have long left me, but that title came rushing back when I began looking at David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan. That’s a good definition of a lament a song sung blue.

A Medium for Grief

At first this might strike us as a bit strange singing our grief but there it clearly is in the first chapter of 2 Samuel:

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,who clothed you daintily in scarlet,who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.How are the mighty fallenin the midst of the battle!

Jonathan lies slain upon thy high places.I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. (2 Samuel 1:24-26…