And what I got back was mostly articles written about famous or formerly famous people. Among those reputed to have fallen ranged from Baywatch Babes, baseball players, Cuba Gooding Jr in Daddy Day Camp, to fallen financier Warren Buffet.

In every case, what followed was a sarcastic commentary on the individual’s current performance, beginning with a rehearsal of what made them great in the eyes of whomever was beholding, continuing with a blow by blow description of their fall from immortal legend. It’s easy to write such a piece, especially from the perspective of one who is a critic, or a columnist interested only in making sure another star falls from the sky. They write such tripe because it sells; and it sells because people read such tripe.

The question is, why? Why do some want to hear or read about how famous people who once were stars in their fields are now utter failures?

I believe there are two answers, one psychological and the other theological. The psychological answer is complex but it goes something like this: if they (meaning the great people) can fall, how much better am I in comparison? Or perhaps, see they are no different than I am. Now behind those two statements is a career of couch talking, but the theological reason isn’t complex at all. We see their fallen nature and recognize the same fallen nature in ourselves. We know, even if the verse isn’t memorized, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Whether that brings us to the point of confession or resentment depends on our relationship with the Living God.

And so when we look at the life of David, certainly one of the great names of all time, we tend to remember him first by his own fall from grace: his affair with Bathsheba. Reading that account we might say of him, oh how the mighty have fallen. But remember David coined the phrase first, and when he wrote it, he didn’t mean what we mean by it at all. We have seen David the young shepherd anointed to be king over all Israel.

We have seen David the warrior, going into battle as the representative of the Lord of Hosts. And now we have a chance to see David, the man of great honor and integrity.

It is in this poem, this lament entitled The Bow, that so much of David’s true character is revealed. When he writes O how the mighty have fallen he means it!

He isn’t tearing Jonathan and Saul apart, he is praising them! It comes as no surprise he praised Jonathan; they were as close as brothers. Jonathan was an intelligent and courageous defender of Israel. He led 1,000 men in defeating the Philistines at Gibeah. He was a marksman in archery and slinging. If Saul hadn't had himself disqualified as king, Jonathan would have been king of Israel instead of David. And even though his father had disinherited him and tried to kill him, Jonathan remained steadfast to David and to Saul.

Saul on the other hand was a piece of work.

His personal behavior was erratic and psychotic.

He tried to kill his own son for eating honey after a battle.

And he repeatedly tried to kill David forcing David into exile.

Saul had no love for David, and David had no reason to love Saul.

So it was when the Philistines and Israel lined up for battle once again, that this time there was no David to save them. We’re told they killed Jonathan and the archers found Saul. Wounded, Saul fell on his own sword rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. When David hears of this it is natural for him to grieve the loss of Jonathan, but it is in his noble nature to also grieve Saul.

He could have written anything and because he was to be King it would have stood the test of time. But he leaves Saul’s judgment to God and history, and writes a song about their greatness and bravery. Being himself a warrior, he writes from a warrior’s perspective.

How the mighty are fallen tells us as much about David as it does Jonathan and Saul. David was very generous to Saul, his sworn enemy. Saul was his father-in-law, his sovereign, and the anointed of the Lord;  and therefore, though he had done him a great deal of wrong, David does not wreak his revenge upon his memory when he is in his grave; but like a good man, and a man of honour, he conceals their faults and with charity remembers their best qualities.

This is the way of those who follow the path of true dignity, true nobility, true honor.

St Paul commends us to such a role model, and in what is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament, he tells us how to attain such a goal:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure , whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8-9 NKJV

Change your mind and the way you think my friends, and you will change your heart.

Keep your heart fixed on that which is noble and pure and you will become noble and pure as well.