No cause for celebration

II Samuel 1:12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Death, even the death of your enemy or of an ungodly, evil person is never cause for celebration.  This event in the life of David is my reminder of that fact.  King Saul had become a wicked, ungodly man who had become David’s mortal enemy, yet when Saul died David did not celebrate.  David mourned because he recognized that Saul had been chosen by God for the job he did.  Saul had been a strong, good warrior (v.23b).  He had, as king, brought prosperity to the nation (v.24).  Even the most wicked, evil people will face death and judgment when they die and it does not please God to have to judge anyone when eternal life was available, so why should I respond any differently to that person’s death?