“Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the LORD. …” (2 Samuel 21:1, ESV)
Year after year, the people of Israel and Judah faced famine. For a while, King David may have thought the lack of rain had caused some of the problems. For some time, he probably figured that the crops were planted wrongly or not managed well. But after three years of dwindling food supplies, David knew something was seriously wrong. David immediately assumed the lack of food was due to judgment by God. Who had sinned? What caused this? Today’s scripture makes clear that after three years of famine, “David sought the face of the Lord”. David knew the Lord would explain the purpose of the famine.
After a period of prayer and meditation, David was told by the Lord that a sin from years before had raised God’s ire. In the days of Joshua, a peace treaty was made with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:4-5). Before David became King, Saul “put Gibeonites to death”, betraying promises made in that peace treaty (2 Samuel 21:1b). Before David’s time on the throne, King Saul had gone against the will of God by killing some Gibeonites. In doing so, Saul had broken the peace treaty made years before. God was grieved at the callousness of Saul, the murders of the innocent, the broken promises, the whole affair. The Gibeonites did not deserve their suffering. Saul hid the sinful act. Even the scriptures are not clear when or how it happened. But God did not forget. Even though the Gibeonites were not part of Israel, they deserved peace, not death. Promises made before God had been broken. God had enough. The famine was the result.
At this point in the story, David could have made several errors. He could have gone on a publicity tour and blamed Saul for the famine. He could have smeared Saul’s name and family. He could have buried the whole affair. Saul had died in battle before David became king. What was David going to do to “make things right”?
2 Samuel 21:3 explains David’s plan. Instead of playing political games or feigning innocence, David tried to make it right. David went to the Gibeonite leaders and begged, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?” After discussion, it was clear that the Gibeonites considered Saul was responsible for the deaths of their people. The Gibeonites asked for seven family members of Saul to be put to death as compensation. After some deliberation, David allowed seven family members of Saul to die to right the murders committed by Saul (2 Samuel 21). David also recovered Saul’s and Jonathon’s stolen bones and gave them to Saul’s family (2 Samuel 21:13). In doing so, David showed respect not only to the Gibeonites but to Saul’s memory. From that time forward God blessed the people again, listening to the “supplications” and prayers of Israel (2 Samuel 21:14).
King David’s actions show a clear willingness to seek God’s direction in righting a wrong. David did not play the victim. He did not blame his predecessor for all the problems. Instead, David prayed to God, sought out those who were wronged, and made things right. Only then did blessings flow again. Only then did God open His heart again to the people of Israel.
Even in these modern times, one should take notice of this story of King David that occurred almost 3000 years ago! God has not changed. God still will cause famines and pestilence and suffering to come to those who sin. Even when sins are hidden from others, they are not hidden from God! God is the righteous judge. When things are going wrong, seek God’s insight. Respect God’s sovereignty. Make things right. Otherwise, blessings will not flow from Heaven, and prayers will go unanswered.
If you break down this tale of David and Gibeonites into the clearest of actions, the following can be seen:
1)When there is suffering or famine or other catastrophes, seek God’s direction. Have promises been broken? Has someone been wronged? Has sin been hidden?
2)If you find that a group or a person is facing judgment by God, don’t play victim. Don’t blame others. Don’t make empty promises, offer fake tears, or act offended. Don’t get defensive. Instead, make things right.
3)Approach those who have been wronged and seek a way to make amends. This may mean that people need to own up to their sin or make restitution for their evil.
4)Follow through faithfully.
5)Watch the blessings flow again from God.
I am amazed at the lengths people will go to mess this all up! Most people today, even religious people, will not first seek God’s direction! Many will whitewash sins, cover up their responsibility, or go on social media to manipulate the truth! It is all too common when sins are committed, to hide the evidence or hush it up. Some will play victim. Politicians will often fake their sympathy or seek political gain instead of finding ways to make things right. Some may know their guilt but will find ways to eschew responsibility. They may not only play the victim, but they may also cry “Racism!”, “Sexism!”, “The Patriarchy is responsible!”, or “Trump did it!”. All these are ways to put the blame on someone else rather than making amends, being accountable, or putting things right. Blessings will be withheld by God with such attitudes or behaviors.
I want you to be different from the world. I want you to learn from King David’s actions. I want you to see that God is the ultimate judge and seeks to make things right. When things go very wrong, don’t overlook God’s place in the matter. Don’t be swayed by smooth talkers, social media manipulation, or political maneuvering. Find out God’s truth. Seek God’s direction. Make Amends. Do what is right. If you follow King David’s example while listening to the Holy Spirit’s direction, in the end there will again be blessings from God. It may take a while. It may require honesty and integrity and many prayers. But when things are made right, God’s blessings will break forth as amends are made and God’s justice is served.
After a period of prayer and meditation, David was told by the Lord that a sin from years before had raised God’s ire. In the days of Joshua, a peace treaty was made with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:4-5). Before David became King, Saul “put Gibeonites to death”, betraying promises made in that peace treaty (2 Samuel 21:1b). Before David’s time on the throne, King Saul had gone against the will of God by killing some Gibeonites. In doing so, Saul had broken the peace treaty made years before. God was grieved at the callousness of Saul, the murders of the innocent, the broken promises, the whole affair. The Gibeonites did not deserve their suffering. Saul hid the sinful act. Even the scriptures are not clear when or how it happened. But God did not forget. Even though the Gibeonites were not part of Israel, they deserved peace, not death. Promises made before God had been broken. God had enough. The famine was the result.
At this point in the story, David could have made several errors. He could have gone on a publicity tour and blamed Saul for the famine. He could have smeared Saul’s name and family. He could have buried the whole affair. Saul had died in battle before David became king. What was David going to do to “make things right”?
2 Samuel 21:3 explains David’s plan. Instead of playing political games or feigning innocence, David tried to make it right. David went to the Gibeonite leaders and begged, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?” After discussion, it was clear that the Gibeonites considered Saul was responsible for the deaths of their people. The Gibeonites asked for seven family members of Saul to be put to death as compensation. After some deliberation, David allowed seven family members of Saul to die to right the murders committed by Saul (2 Samuel 21). David also recovered Saul’s and Jonathon’s stolen bones and gave them to Saul’s family (2 Samuel 21:13). In doing so, David showed respect not only to the Gibeonites but to Saul’s memory. From that time forward God blessed the people again, listening to the “supplications” and prayers of Israel (2 Samuel 21:14).
King David’s actions show a clear willingness to seek God’s direction in righting a wrong. David did not play the victim. He did not blame his predecessor for all the problems. Instead, David prayed to God, sought out those who were wronged, and made things right. Only then did blessings flow again. Only then did God open His heart again to the people of Israel.
Even in these modern times, one should take notice of this story of King David that occurred almost 3000 years ago! God has not changed. God still will cause famines and pestilence and suffering to come to those who sin. Even when sins are hidden from others, they are not hidden from God! God is the righteous judge. When things are going wrong, seek God’s insight. Respect God’s sovereignty. Make things right. Otherwise, blessings will not flow from Heaven, and prayers will go unanswered.
If you break down this tale of David and Gibeonites into the clearest of actions, the following can be seen:
1)When there is suffering or famine or other catastrophes, seek God’s direction. Have promises been broken? Has someone been wronged? Has sin been hidden?
2)If you find that a group or a person is facing judgment by God, don’t play victim. Don’t blame others. Don’t make empty promises, offer fake tears, or act offended. Don’t get defensive. Instead, make things right.
3)Approach those who have been wronged and seek a way to make amends. This may mean that people need to own up to their sin or make restitution for their evil.
4)Follow through faithfully.
5)Watch the blessings flow again from God.
I am amazed at the lengths people will go to mess this all up! Most people today, even religious people, will not first seek God’s direction! Many will whitewash sins, cover up their responsibility, or go on social media to manipulate the truth! It is all too common when sins are committed, to hide the evidence or hush it up. Some will play victim. Politicians will often fake their sympathy or seek political gain instead of finding ways to make things right. Some may know their guilt but will find ways to eschew responsibility. They may not only play the victim, but they may also cry “Racism!”, “Sexism!”, “The Patriarchy is responsible!”, or “Trump did it!”. All these are ways to put the blame on someone else rather than making amends, being accountable, or putting things right. Blessings will be withheld by God with such attitudes or behaviors.
I want you to be different from the world. I want you to learn from King David’s actions. I want you to see that God is the ultimate judge and seeks to make things right. When things go very wrong, don’t overlook God’s place in the matter. Don’t be swayed by smooth talkers, social media manipulation, or political maneuvering. Find out God’s truth. Seek God’s direction. Make Amends. Do what is right. If you follow King David’s example while listening to the Holy Spirit’s direction, in the end there will again be blessings from God. It may take a while. It may require honesty and integrity and many prayers. But when things are made right, God’s blessings will break forth as amends are made and God’s justice is served.