David avenges the Gibeonites

2 Samuel Chapter 21

During David's reign a famine lasted for three years and David asked the Lord about it. The Lord said, "the famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites."

So David summoned the Gibeonites who were all that was left of the nation of Amorites, and he asked them what he could do to make amends. They replied that they did not want money or Israelites executed, but instead they wanted seven of Saul's sons or grandsons handed over to be executed.

David agreed and spared Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, but gave them Sauls two sons by the woman Rizpah and five sons by Saul's daughter Merab. The men of Gibeon executed them on the mountain before the Lord.

Then Rizpah, the mother of two of the men, spread sackcloth on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented vultures and wild animals from tearing at the bodies. When David learned what Rizpah had done, he went to the people of Jabesh-gilead and asked for the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan and had them brought along with the bones of the men the Gibeonites executed. He buried them in the tomb of Kish, Saul's father in Benjamin. After that, God ended the famine in Israel.

Once again a war broke out between Israel and the Philistines. During a heavy battle, David became exhausted. Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants whose spearhead weighed more than seven pounds. He cornered David and was about to kill him, when Abishai son of Zuruiah came to his rescue and killed the Philistine. After that, David's men told him that he was not going out to battle anymore. They did not want to risk snuffing out the light of Israel.

There was another battle at Gob and as they fought,four Philistines who were giants and descendants of the giants of Gath were killed by David and his warriors.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Although the Bible does not record Saul's act of vengeance against the Gibeonites, it was a serious crime. In many cultures of the time, an entire family was held guilty for the crime of the father because the family was considered an indissoluble unit. Saul broke the vow that the Israelites made to the Gibeonites and this was a serious offense against God's law. So either David was following the custom of treating the family as a unit, or Saul's sons were guilty of helping Saul kill the Gibeonites.

The giants talked about in this chapter were probably of the clan which produced Goliath. They were reported to be over nine feet tall.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We could point to David, who appears to finally be using his head and not his heart in dealing with matters of state. He stopped worrying and whining and went directly to the source of the famine in his land- GOD. This is a good example showing us what to do in times of great strife. Don't run away from God. Run TO God. He answered David, just like he would answer your concern too. The second part of David's responsibility and which should be yours also, was to follow through. He followed through by summoning the people being offended (Gibeonites) and asking them how the problem could be solved. Having lived in Saul's household and knowing many of the relatives, having them killed was a difficult decision for David. But God does not always make a solution easy for us. Sometimes we have to follow through with a plan that is not to our liking. But remember that like David, we must follow whatever our Lord asks of us.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Update on Lori: she sheds her back brace soon and can drive. She thanks God for healing her. Please continue to pray for her during recovery. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Update on Craig: he is back to work and we are removing him from our prayer list. Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.