Click for a printable version of this post.
Scripture for Sunday, April 9, 2017: 2 Samuel 21:1-14David's release of seven of Saul's sons and grandsons to be executed by the Gibeonites is as hard to read as it is to understand. It's an ugly story. Why does David, a man after God's own heart, turn over to death the descendants of a man whose life he spared again and again?
The Gibeonites were Canaanites who, under false pretenses, made a treaty with Joshua to live at peace with the Israelites (see Joshua 9). Even though the Gibeonites had lied to them, Israel honored the peace agreement made in the LORD's name. While Saul was by no means innocent of slaughtering unsuspecting people (see 1 Samuel 22:17-19), there is no biblical account of Saul killing the Gibeonites.
As this passage opens, David finds his kingdom in trouble. The country has had a famine and continues to experience political tension. David's handover of Saul's sons and grandsons both attends to the issue of Saul's guilt and appeases the Gibeonites. But it also serves to solidify David's rule: young men of Saul's line who could have threatened David's throne are executed.
It's interesting that David inquires of the Lord about the famine; but not about a way to remove Saul's guilt. That question is reserved for the Gibeonites, who are not known for their trustworthiness. Was the only way to make peace with Gibeon truly to execute the two sons of Rizpah and the five sons of Merab?
Saul's concubine Rizpah, mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth, is given no recorded words in Scripture. But her life speaks.
Rizpah has lost the protection afforded to her as a member of Saul's household; and now by King David's authorization she loses any protection offered by her sons. She has nowhere else to go and no way to appeal. So she climbs the hill where her sons lie dead, spreads out the fabric of grief, and camps out on a rock.
There she is with Armoni and Mephibosheth, day after day. There she is, shouting at the sky, chasing off the birds. There she is, threatening the wild animals with sticks. There she is--for months!--from the time the barley begins to ripen in March until the autumn rains begin to fall on the land. She will not forget them, and she won't let others forget either.
Rizpah's protest reaches King David. David gathers the remains of Saul and Jonathan, killed by the Philistines; and the remains of Saul's seven sons and grandsons, and gives them all a suitable burial in their family tomb.
And then, after David honors Saul's family, God answers prayers for famine relief.
Reflection:
1. Rizpah is good company for those who grieve for the lives or injustices done to their children. She has limited power but demonstrates courageous protest in the wake of grief. How might God bring you encouragement through her?
2. We serve a Savior who knows each one of us and calls us by name. We are precious to him. Rather than "hand us over" to the destruction we deserve, in his great mercy Christ handed over himself.
Using your sanctified imagination, imagine how the story of 2 Samuel 21 would be different if David handed over himself to the Gibeonites to atone for Saul's sin. I can hardly imagine it. Yet this is what Christ, our King, has done for us.
