THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The inhabitants of Jabesh in Gilead received praise and were deemed blessed by King David for their kindness towards their lord Saul, as they buried his bones along with those of Jonathan out of pity for their plight. There is no barrier for the faithful in relinquishing the burial of the body, and no benefit arises from the ungodly receiving burial honors. Yet, why then does King David refer to the burial of King Saul and his son as a favor, blessed in nature, if not because the merciful and compassionate are consoled by the knowledge of the respectful treatment of the remains of those they mourn?
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It may also stem from a love that compels an individual to honor their own flesh, desiring that their own body, once it ceases to feel, be treated with the same dignity they would bestow upon others while they live.