(1) God judged by giving punishment, which is the famine v.1a. From the punishment, David inquired of the Lord for the reason v.1b. When the sins were resolved God gave the rain back to the land v.2-14.
In other words, God used adversaries in our lives to remind us something. Sometimes, we may not know the exact reason of the adversaries like what God had told David. Just like what Jesus told us about the reason the blindness of the blind man was to glorify God (when Jesus opened his eyes, Jesus was glorified) John 9:3. But, at least we can search our hearts and see if there is any sin that we have not confessed when we face adversaries. God caught our attention in the pandemic. It may be due to our sins. I mean, "our" sins. We may be part of the reason of the pandemic!
(2) The sin mentioned here was the violation of promise by Saul v.1c, v.2b.
v.1c The LORD said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites.”
v.2b The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)
(BKC) When he inquired of the LORD as to its cause, the LORD revealed that it came as punishment for Saul’s violation of the covenant made with the Gibeonites back in the days of Joshua (Josh. 9:15–21).
It was a long time ago, in the days of Joshua, that that promise was made. Even it was so long ago, when Saul violated that God remembered. This reminded me to be careful of our words. God took our words seriously.
It was a long time ago, in the days of Joshua, that that promise was made. Even it was so long ago, when Saul violated that God remembered. This reminded me to be careful of our words. God took our words seriously.
(3) As a total opposite to Saul, David kept his words. He did not pick the descendants of Jonathan to be turned over to the Gibeonites.
21:7 The king had mercy on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, in light of the LORD’s oath that had been taken between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
Scriptures mentioned the keeping of the oath by David as a direct opposite to Saul. Note, the oat was called, "the LORD's oat," even when the oat had been taken between David and Jonathan...v.7. When Saul broke, David kept.
Although David had serious sins and got the consequences, the Scriptures described him as a faithful believer of God. We may be like David. We sinned. But when we confessed, our relationship with God was restored.
Audrey
Audrey
2024
v.1-14
B:
1. Who are the Gibeonites
v.2b...Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah
(LBD) They deceived the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them during the conquest of Canaan (Josh 9:1–27). Later, King Saul’s violation of this treaty with the Gibeonites led to a famine (2 Sam 21:1–9).
2. The cause of the famine for 3 consecutive years was because of the murder of the Gibeonites, whom Israel promise not to kill, but kept as slaves. The murder was meant for extermination. Saul also used a scheme to make them destroy and left without status. Therefore, they cursed the Israel or not blessed them.
v.1 During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites.”
v.5 b...As for this man who exterminated us and who schemed against us so that we were destroyed and left without status throughout all the borders of Israel
v.3 David said to the Gibeonites, “What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless the LORD’s inheritance?”
3. The difference between Saul and David
Saul was zealous for the people or his country to lose the chance to get rid of their former residents, but his zealous was against a promise they had made. Zealous is not necessary the rule of our life.
David knew the 3 consecutive years famine was unusual, and therefore he inquired of the LORD. And it was unusual and there was a particular reason. And when David knew about that he was willing to ask for ways to amend the situation even it was not his fault. (Dont know why it happened during David's time, not Saul's time??)
4. Note, after David did everything what the Gibeonites asked for, plus what they did not ask for (to gathered up the bones of the 7 who had been executed and the bones of Saul and Jonathan from another place. Then he buried them) God responded.
v.14b...After they had done everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers for the land.
(BKC) When David saw the devotion of Rizpah in protecting the bodies of her sons from the carnivorous birds and beasts, he was reminded of the shameful exposure of the bodies of Saul and his son Jonathan on the walls of Beth Shan where the Philistines had displayed them after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 31:11–13). Though the people of Jabesh Gilead had brought the bodies away for burial, the remains were interred far from Gibeah, Saul’s family home. David resolved to bring their bones back from Jabesh Gilead and bury them in the sepulcher of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin. After this was done God again answered prayer on behalf of the nation.
(EBC) Upon being told of Rizpah’s vigil (v.11)—and perhaps also of her implied desire to make sure that the remains of Saul’s seven descendants be given a proper burial—David is conscience-stricken to follow her example. He makes the long journey to Jabesh Gilead (v.12, probably modern Tell el Maqlub about fifty miles northeast of Jerusalem; see comment on 1 Sam 11:1) to retrieve the bones of Saul and Jonathan from its citizens, who had buried them there (see 2:4b and comment)
David was not a person who left things half-done or just to meet the minimum. He went all the way to get things done well.
R:
Am I a leader that was willing to pick up responsibility even it was not my fault?
Am I someone just did the minimum, or make sure it is done well?
Am I someone just did the minimum, or make sure it is done well?
v.15-22
B:
1. 4 descendants of Rapha were killed by David and his soldiers in 4 different battles v.20
- Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, was killed by David or more precisely by Abishai v.15-17
- Saph, who was one of the descendants of Rapha was killed by Sibbekai the Hushathite v.18.
- the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam, was killed by Elhanan v.19
- a large man who had 24 fingers and toes, he too was a descendant of Rapha, was killed by Jonathan v.20-21
2. Who is the descendants of Rapha v.16, 18, 20, 22
(NET) This name has the definite article and may be intended to refer to a group of people rather than a single individual with this name.
(BDB) perhaps der. from n.pr.gent. II. רְפָאִים, q.v.
רְפָאִים=old race of giants, ancient inhab. of Canaan [W. of Jordan?], Rephaites
3. Why did the Bible recorded that?
The time of the battles were not specified, but the location of the battle are all in Philistines or Gath (which was one of the main cities of P).
22 These four were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by David and his soldiers.
The strongest enemies could not stand David and his servants. God was with David. He had presidential military power over all the surrounding nations and the descendants of giants. God kept His promise to Ab through David Gn 15:18-20 even though they were giants.
R:
Will I be able to face the giants? With the promise of God, am I afraid to face the giants? What and who is my giants? worries, humiliation, aging, or jealousy
Q:
1. a famine for three consecutive years.
How does God use adversaries?
In other words, God used adversaries in our lives to remind us something. Sometimes, we may not know the exact reason of the adversaries like what God had told David. Just like what Jesus told us about the reason the blindness of the blind man was to glorify God (when Jesus opened his eyes, Jesus was glorified) John 9:3. But, at least we can search our hearts and see if there is any sin that we have not confessed when we face adversaries. God caught our attention in the pandemic. It may be due to our sins. I mean, "our" sins. We may be part of the reason of the pandemic!
2. Saul murdered the Gibeonites. Israel's trust among other nations was at stake.
3. Father who committed adultery will not have the respect from their children, or divorce of parents will affect their children about the view of marriage. Father who owed other people debt will make the family's financial situation at risk. No sense of security. Father who curses or gambles may also make their children to follow them.
4. Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on them, she did not allow the birds of the air to feed on them by day, nor the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh Gilead...13 David brought the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son from there; they also gathered up the bones of those who had been executed. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin.
5. He met the covenant he made with Saul's son, Jonathan and spared his son, Mephibosheth when h3 handed 7 male desendants to be killed by the Gibeonites. He respected what Saul's concubine done and therefore he gave them the proper burial. He had gone out of his way to repay Saul who chased after him for all these years.
Note, after David did everything what the Gibeonites asked for, plus what they did not ask for (to gathered up the bones of the 7 who had been executed and the bones of Saul and Jonathan from another place. Then he buried them) God responded.
v.14b...After they had done everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers for the land.
Had him only do what the G had asked for, I'm sure God would respond as well. However, David not only gathered up the bones of the 7 who had been executed, but he also collected the bones of Saul and Jonathan from another place. Then he buried them.
(EBC) He makes the long journey to Jabesh Gilead (v.12, probably modern Tell el Maqlub about fifty miles northeast of Jerusalem; see comment on 1 Sam 11:1) to retrieve the bones of Saul and Jonathan from its citizens, who had buried them there (see 2:4b and comment)
David was not a person who left things half-done or just to meet the minimum. He went all the way to get things done well.
R:
Am I a leader that was willing to pick up responsibility even it was not my fault?
Am I someone just did the minimum, or make sure it is done well?
Am I someone just did the minimum, or make sure it is done well?
6. God's righteous, judgment, time-keeping a promise is a serious matter, when Israel's king violated that the country would bear the consequences from God even after many years.
Name-The high standard for Israel was because they were the people of God. They needed to do things to glorified God.
Comments