THEOSISAmbrose of Milan
What a remarkable gesture it was when David chose to spare the life of his adversary, the king, despite having the chance to confront him (see 1 Samuel 24:10). This decision greatly benefitted him, as it established a foundation of trust in his leadership when he became king. It taught the people to place their faith in their ruler, not to seek power for themselves, but to respect his authority. Thus, virtue was valued over mere favoritism, leading to favor arising from genuine goodness. However, his act of mercy was significant, as he also grieved for Saul upon his death in battle, weeping openly and lamenting, "Burn of Helvu, let neither dew nor rain descend upon you" (see 2 Samuel 1:21). He expressed his sorrow for Saul, saying, "Weep for Saul...
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I mourn for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me; your love was to me above the love of women." How poignant it is that he mourned the fallen, proclaiming, "How the strong have fallen, how the weapons of war have perished." What mother would lament for her only son as he did for his adversary? Who else would extol the virtues of their benefactor as he did for the one who sought his demise? His sorrow was profound, and his mourning was heartfelt. The mountains crumbled under the prophet's curse, and God's power enacted the judgment of the one who spoke it. In this way, even the natural elements themselves exacted punishment for having witnessed the death of their king.