The weeping of David is a poignant theme throughout the biblical narrative, reflecting his deep emotional experiences and his heart's alignment with God. David, the second king of Israel, is often remembered for his psalms and his profound relationship with God, which included moments of intense sorrow and repentance.

1. Mourning for Saul and Jonathan

One of the earliest instances of David's weeping is found in 2 Samuel 1:11-12, following the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. Despite Saul's pursuit of David's life, David mourned for him and his beloved friend Jonathan, demonstrating his respect for God's anointed and his deep personal loss. The Berean Standard Bible records, "Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword."

2. The Death of Absalom

David's grief over his son Absalom is another significant moment of weeping. Absalom's rebellion against David and subsequent death brought profound sorrow to the king. In 2 Samuel 18:33, David's lament is recorded: "The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he went, he cried out, 'O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!'" This expression of grief highlights David's paternal love and the personal cost of familial betrayal and loss.

3. Repentance for Sin

David's weeping is also associated with his repentance, particularly after his sin with Bathsheba. In Psalm 51, a psalm of repentance, David's contrition is evident. While the Berean Standard Bible does not directly mention weeping in this psalm, the depth of his sorrow and plea for mercy imply a heart broken before God. Psalm 51:17 states, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

4. Weeping at Ziklag

In 1 Samuel 30:3-4, David and his men returned to Ziklag to find it destroyed by the Amalekites, and their families taken captive. The text describes their reaction: "When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep." This moment of despair was met with David's reliance on God for strength and guidance, leading to the eventual recovery of their families.

5. The Weeping of the Psalms

David's psalms frequently reflect his weeping and emotional struggles. Psalm 6:6 captures this sentiment: "I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears." These expressions of lament reveal David's vulnerability and his trust in God amidst trials.

David's weeping is a testament to his humanity and his deep relationship with God. His tears were not only expressions of personal grief but also reflections of his heart's alignment with divine purposes, demonstrating a life marked by both profound sorrow and unwavering faith.2 Samuel 1:17
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
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2 Samuel 3:32
And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
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2 Samuel 13:36
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
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2 Samuel 15:23,30
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
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2 Samuel 18:33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!
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David's Sorrow.
... It was a sad procession that went over the Mount of Olives led by David,
weeping as he went, with his head covered and his feet bare. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxv davids sorrow.htm

Absalom the Ungrateful Son
... All the people were weeping aloud while David stood in the Kidron valley,
and they went by before him on the way to the wilderness. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/absalom the ungrateful son.htm

King David's Little Boy.
... was that he was no better; and all the people saw that King David's grief was ... in
the hushed room of the king's palace at Jerusalem, and the weeping mother was ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/king davids little boy.htm

How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... So David having no longer any room to call in question the truth of what ... his garments,
and continued all that day with his companions in weeping and lamentation ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how david reigned.htm

St. Ambrose, Speaking of Tears, Explains David's Saying, "Every ...
... bed and water it with tears, the couch of him who is praying, for weeping has to ...
For which reason David also says: "The Lord will send him help upon his bed of ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v st ambrose speaking.htm

That Passage of David Explained; what the Harps Hung Upon the ...
... Chapter III."That Passage of David Explained; What the Harps Hung Upon the Willows ...
also, we are always fearful, and we groan and cry with weeping to God ...
/.../chapter iii that passage of david.htm

David's Strength
... all ye that work vanity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. ... wise, which
gives its peculiar grandeur to that wonderful 18th Psalm, David's song of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon ii davids strength.htm

That when David had Conquered the Philistines who Made War against ...
... so often failed of their purpose in these battles, they came upon David with an ... he
should keep his army in the groves, called the Groves of Weeping, which were ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 that when david.htm

The Tears of Christ.
... for His habitation." Still looking at this Jerusalem of the past, we see the same
David fallen from his high estate, sore punished for his sin, weeping for the ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlv the tears of.htm

A Broken-Hearted Father
... of Israel is weeping and mourning for Absalom." So for all the people the victory
that day was turned to mourning, because they heard that David was mourning ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a broken-hearted father.htm

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