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Day 82, or March 23. Standing on the shoulders of giants. Our thoughts today are rooted in

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2 Samuel chapter 1 verse 23. Saul and Jonathan, in life they were loved and admired, and in

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death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.

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Here's the big picture surrounding this verse. With the death of Saul, 1 Samuel closes, and

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this important event is repeated at the beginning of 2 Samuel. The range of mountains where

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Saul died is cursed by David, and even today there is very little greenery on Mount Gilboa

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in northern Israel. David's reign begins in Hebron, but he finally rules the whole

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of Israel from his city Jerusalem, after a long war with the surviving son of King Saul.

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And now our action step for today. David pays his final tribute to King Saul and his son

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Jonathan with a song at the beginning of the book of 2 Samuel. What a refreshing idea that

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we respect those who were in authority before us. I was told some years ago that the best

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minister any church ever had is the one before last. It takes that long to forget their mistakes.

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However, David has respected Saul all his life as the Lord's anointed, and it's not

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surprising that this continues after Saul's death. If only this respect could spread through

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ministries and churches alike. It's not long since I was talking to someone in a well-established

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ministry about their founder who had moved on to other things. I was told that it would

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be better if we didn't talk about him when the current leader was around, as it could

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cause problems. How sad is that! All churches and ministries are different, and leaders

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are just as varied, but why not try to speak well of those who served the Lord in the past?

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It's so easy to simply blame them for all that is wrong and give little credit for their

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valued legacy. We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants. Try speaking of previous

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co-workers as part of your foundations, rather than stepping stones for you to walk on.