It’s not often that when one’s enemy dies, the survivor writes a song about how great his enemy was, but that’s exactly what happens when Saul is killed in battle:

Then David sang this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, and gave orders that everyone in Judah learn it by heart. Oh, oh, Gazelles of Israel, struck down on your hills, the mighty warriors—fallen, fallen!…No more dew or rain for you, hills of Gilboa, and not a drop from springs and wells, For there the warriors’ shields were dragged through the mud, Saul’s shield left there to rot. Jonathan’s bow was bold— the bigger they were the harder they fell. Saul’s sword was fearless— once out of the scabbard, nothing could stop it. Saul and Jonathan—beloved, beautiful! Together in life, together in death. Swifter than plummeting eagles, stronger than proud lions…The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen in the middle of the fight! Jonathan—struck down on your hills!…The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen. And the arms of war broken to bits. (Selected verses from 2 Samuel 1.17 – 27, MSG)

The word “forgiveness” is not there, but surely David had forgiven Saul for his bad behavior dominating 1 Samuel chapters 18 – 26. We were just talking with someone who, in his 60s, is still holding a grudge about the way he perceives his high school principal treated him. “Don’t tell me to let it go! I will always hate him!!” How’s that working for you?

Jesus was clear in what we call “The Lord’s Prayer:”

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6.12, 14, 15, ESV)

Paul echoes the message:

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4.31, 32, ESV)