“Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, ‘There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.’ 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. 3 And David said to the Gibeonites, ‘What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the Lord?'” 2 Samuel 21:1-3 (ESV)
The Gibeonites requested that King David bring seven of Saul’s sons to them so they could terminate their lives. David desired to position the Gibeonites to bless the heritage of the Lord. Their request would have a fatal impact on Mephibosheth. “But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul” (2 Samuel 21:7 ESV).
David kept his word. He and Jonathan establish an oath before the Lord and David demonstrated integrity by protecting Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.
- “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18 (ESV)
Ask God to give you wisdom to make decisions that will honor Him and benefit others. May a harvest of righteousness be sown in peace as you seek to make peace.
Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 139: 2 Samuel 19-21)
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell