Saul’s Sins Revisited

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 21:1-9. There was a famine during the time of David for three consecutive years. David asked the LORD why there was a famine. The LORD told David that there was a famine because of the bloodshed from the house of Saul, because he slew the Gibeonites.

The Gibeonites were not part of the children of Israel. They were a remnant from the Amorites, but the people of Israel had sworn to spare them. Saul tried to destroy them in his quest for the people of Israel and Judah.

King David went to the Gibeonites to inquire what he could do for them to make atonement for what Saul had done so they would bless the inheritance of the LORD.

The Gibeonites told David that they didn’t want silver, gold, or anything from Saul’s house. They didn’t want him to kill any of the men of Israel. David asked them again what he could do to make this right.

They told David that they wanted seven of Saul’s sons so they could hang them up before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul.

David agreed to give the Gibeonites what they requested. But he spared the life of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson because of the oath that he made with his best friend, Jonathan.

The king chose Armoni and Mephibosheth, two sons of Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare to Saul. He also chose five sons of Michal, the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel, the son of Barzillai, the Meholathite.

King David delivered the seven men into the hands of the Gibeonites, as they requested. They killed the men and hanged them on the hill before the LORD. All seven of the men fell together. They were put to death during the first days of the barley harvest.

This is another example of how there are consequences for our actions. Saul caused a lot of unnecessary blood shed. His family suffered the consequences of his actions. No doubt this caused a lot of grief in his family.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 21:1-9

1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

Things to think about:

• What was the problem the children of Israel were experiencing? Why?
• What did King David do to try to resolve the issue?
• What agreement did the king make?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture we see that there are circumstances for the sins that are committed. Help us to realize this and think about the decisions we make. Help us to honor You in all of our ways. Forgive us of all the ways we have failed You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. Malachi was considered to be a “Messenger of the LORD.” God delivered His message to the people of Israel through Malachi. Malachi was one of the twelve prophets from the Old Testament. The book of Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament of the Bible.

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