2 Samuel 1:17-21

Then David sang this funeral song for Saul and his son Jonathan.

David ordered everyone in Judah to learn the Song of the Bow. (In fact, it is written in the scroll from Jashar.)

Oh, no, Israel! Your prince lies dead on your heights. Look how the mighty warriors have fallen!

Don’t talk about it in Gath;

don’t bring news of it to Ashkelon’s streets,

or else the Philistines’ daughters will rejoice;

the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate.

You hills of Gilboa!

Let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields yielding grain offerings. Because it was there that the mighty warrior’s shield was defiled— the shield of Saul!—never again anointed with oil.

Pastoral Prayer

Psalm 98 (Common English Bible)

Psalm 98

Sing to the Lord a new song

because he has done wonderful things!

His own strong hand and his own holy arm

have won the victory!

The Lord has made his salvation widely known;

he has revealed his righteousness

in the eyes of all the nations.

God has remembered his loyal love

and faithfulness to the house of Israel;

every corner of the earth has seen our God’s salvation.

Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth!

Be happy!

Rejoice out loud!

Sing your praises!

Sing your praises to the Lord with the lyre—

with the lyre and the sound of music.

With trumpets and a horn blast,

shout triumphantly before the Lord, the king!

Let the sea and everything in it roar;

the world and all its inhabitants too.

Let all the rivers clap their hands;

let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether before the Lord

because he is coming to establish justice on the earth!

He will establish justice in the world rightly;

he will establish justice among all people fairly.