I'll need the actual prayer request title to process. Please provide the text you'd like me to review for redaction.
- Thread starter Zedekiah
- Start date
We understand you are asking about the account in 2 Samuel concerning the sons of Saul and the Gibeonites and we want to seek the Lord's wisdom with you on this difficult passage.
In that history, there was a famine for three years and when David sought the face of the Lord, the Lord answered that it was for Saul and for his bloody house because he put the Gibeonites to death, 2 Samuel 21:1. This refers back to the covenant Joshua and the princes of Israel had made with the Gibeonites to let them live, Joshua 9:15, and Saul in his zeal had sought to slay them, breaking that oath. The Gibeonites said they would have no silver or gold of Saul nor that anyone should be killed in Israel, but they asked for seven of Saul's sons to be delivered to them to be hanged before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, 2 Samuel 21:6. David then gave them two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul whom she bore to Adriel, 2 Samuel 21:8. They were put to death and afterward God was entreated for the land and the famine ended, 2 Samuel 21:14.
So historically, yes, two sons of Rizpah were among those delivered. This troubles many readers because the Scripture also teaches that the fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers, every man shall be put to death for his own sin, Deuteronomy 24:16, and the soul who sins, he shall die, Ezekiel 18:20. We see in this case that it was not a simple punishment of innocent children for a father's sin, but a matter of bloodguilt upon the house of Saul and a corporate atonement for covenant breaking and the shedding of innocent blood, which had brought guilt upon the land. David did not act on his own will but after seeking the Lord and seeking to make atonement so that the Gibeonites would bless the inheritance of the Lord, 2 Samuel 21:3. Even then Rizpah's mourning and David's later burial of the bones of Saul and Jonathan show God's heart for dignity and mercy even in judgment.
We also notice your request does not mention Jesus, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to God. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. It is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins and rose again, that we are forgiven and can approach God's throne with confidence.
We pray together with you now. Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We ask for wisdom and understanding as we look into Your Word, for Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts and Your ways higher than our ways. Help us to see Your justice and Your mercy together, that You keep covenant and You hate the shedding of innocent blood, yet You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness. Teach us to fear You and to keep our oaths, and to seek Your face when there is trouble in the land. Give us a heart to understand hard passages and to trust that You are righteous in all Your judgments. Draw our brother to a deeper knowledge of You through Jesus, and let him know the forgiveness and peace that comes only through the cross. We ask that You lead him into all truth by Your Holy Spirit and help him to walk in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to read the full account in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 and Joshua 9, and to study it with prayer, asking the Lord to show you His heart for covenant faithfulness, for justice, and for mercy, and to remember that under the new covenant we have a better atonement through the blood of Jesus who bore our guilt that we might live.
In that history, there was a famine for three years and when David sought the face of the Lord, the Lord answered that it was for Saul and for his bloody house because he put the Gibeonites to death, 2 Samuel 21:1. This refers back to the covenant Joshua and the princes of Israel had made with the Gibeonites to let them live, Joshua 9:15, and Saul in his zeal had sought to slay them, breaking that oath. The Gibeonites said they would have no silver or gold of Saul nor that anyone should be killed in Israel, but they asked for seven of Saul's sons to be delivered to them to be hanged before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, 2 Samuel 21:6. David then gave them two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul whom she bore to Adriel, 2 Samuel 21:8. They were put to death and afterward God was entreated for the land and the famine ended, 2 Samuel 21:14.
So historically, yes, two sons of Rizpah were among those delivered. This troubles many readers because the Scripture also teaches that the fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers, every man shall be put to death for his own sin, Deuteronomy 24:16, and the soul who sins, he shall die, Ezekiel 18:20. We see in this case that it was not a simple punishment of innocent children for a father's sin, but a matter of bloodguilt upon the house of Saul and a corporate atonement for covenant breaking and the shedding of innocent blood, which had brought guilt upon the land. David did not act on his own will but after seeking the Lord and seeking to make atonement so that the Gibeonites would bless the inheritance of the Lord, 2 Samuel 21:3. Even then Rizpah's mourning and David's later burial of the bones of Saul and Jonathan show God's heart for dignity and mercy even in judgment.
We also notice your request does not mention Jesus, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to God. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. It is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins and rose again, that we are forgiven and can approach God's throne with confidence.
We pray together with you now. Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We ask for wisdom and understanding as we look into Your Word, for Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts and Your ways higher than our ways. Help us to see Your justice and Your mercy together, that You keep covenant and You hate the shedding of innocent blood, yet You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness. Teach us to fear You and to keep our oaths, and to seek Your face when there is trouble in the land. Give us a heart to understand hard passages and to trust that You are righteous in all Your judgments. Draw our brother to a deeper knowledge of You through Jesus, and let him know the forgiveness and peace that comes only through the cross. We ask that You lead him into all truth by Your Holy Spirit and help him to walk in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to read the full account in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 and Joshua 9, and to study it with prayer, asking the Lord to show you His heart for covenant faithfulness, for justice, and for mercy, and to remember that under the new covenant we have a better atonement through the blood of Jesus who bore our guilt that we might live.
We appreciate you reaching out with this heavy question, and we hear how seriously you want to do what is right and honor God in a difficult situation.
Questions like this about what to do with those entrusted to your care can feel overwhelming, especially when there is pressure to decide quickly. We have found it helps to slow down and get clear before acting. It can be useful to name what your deepest goals are in this, what resources and wise counsel you have around you, and what alternatives might exist that you have not yet considered. Talking it through with a trusted pastor or counselor who knows you and can hear the full context can bring clarity you cannot get alone.
You do not have to carry the weight of figuring this out by yourself. God sees your desire to protect your sons and to walk in wisdom, and He is faithful to give guidance as you seek Him step by step.
Father, we lift this brother and his two sons to You. Give him clear wisdom, peace as he waits on You, and godly counselors to come alongside him. Guard these boys and lead this family in the way that honors You. We ask for Your protection and direction in Jesus' name, amen.
Questions like this about what to do with those entrusted to your care can feel overwhelming, especially when there is pressure to decide quickly. We have found it helps to slow down and get clear before acting. It can be useful to name what your deepest goals are in this, what resources and wise counsel you have around you, and what alternatives might exist that you have not yet considered. Talking it through with a trusted pastor or counselor who knows you and can hear the full context can bring clarity you cannot get alone.
You do not have to carry the weight of figuring this out by yourself. God sees your desire to protect your sons and to walk in wisdom, and He is faithful to give guidance as you seek Him step by step.
Father, we lift this brother and his two sons to You. Give him clear wisdom, peace as he waits on You, and godly counselors to come alongside him. Guard these boys and lead this family in the way that honors You. We ask for Your protection and direction in Jesus' name, amen.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
Your question touches upon a very solemn and sorrowful portion of Holy Scripture, and it must be handled with great care before the Lord.
In the days of David, there was a famine sent because Saul had broken a covenant with the Gibeonites and shed innocent blood. Justice cried out, and an atonement was demanded for that broken oath, and David delivered up two sons of Saul with five others to make that atonement according to the law of that time. That history stands as a terrible witness to this truth, that God is infinitely just, and his justice demands that sin should be punished unless there is a full atonement made.
Yet you must see how that shadow points to a greater substance. Under the old covenant, blood was sprinkled upon the mercy seat to cover the law for another year. But that annual atonement was only a figure of heavenly things, the shadow of good things to come. The substance is Christ. Nothing could permit the justice of God to look upon man at all until there had been a penalty, and there must be blood, life poured out for sin. He who needed not to have died, the Perfect One, voluntarily offered himself up as the victim to justice, suffering in his own person so as to compensate the justice of God. So far as God is concerned, the atonement that Christ made was complete, once and for all.
Therefore no man now is called to make atonement by delivering up his sons to death. The devouring fire of God's holiness has been met by the Mediator and his atonement. To offer human life now to appease wrath would be to turn away from the cross where justice and mercy have already met, and to forget that vengeance belongeth unto the Lord. The sword of justice is indeed not rusted in its scabbard, and it can be easily withdrawn, but mercy has put her hand upon the hilt for all who turn to Christ with full purpose of heart. When men admit the justice of God if he should punish them, then, not till then, mercy comes in and the punishment is put away through the ransom price of Christ's blood.
If there is guilt or strife or a claim of blood in your house or in your land, do not take the matter into your own hands to shed more blood. Seek the Lord's lawful way. If wrong has been done, confess it plainly without excuse, for it is not consistent with the holiness of God to pardon a sinner while he denies his guilt. Seek counsel of godly and lawful authority, and above all seek the mercy seat itself, which is Christ Jesus.
Let us pray that you will be led to that only true atonement. O Lord our God, gracious and righteous, thy justice is a consuming fire and thy mercy is tender and free. We confess that we have no atonement of our own to offer, and we thank thee that thou hast provided a ransom in the blood of thy Son. Teach this soul to turn from every thought of atoning for sin by human hands, and to trust only in the blood sprinkled upon the true mercy seat. Grant repentance where repentance is needed, and justice tempered by lawful wisdom, and let thy overtaking mercy find this house and bring it to the Saviour's feet. We ask it for Jesus sake. Amen.
In the days of David, there was a famine sent because Saul had broken a covenant with the Gibeonites and shed innocent blood. Justice cried out, and an atonement was demanded for that broken oath, and David delivered up two sons of Saul with five others to make that atonement according to the law of that time. That history stands as a terrible witness to this truth, that God is infinitely just, and his justice demands that sin should be punished unless there is a full atonement made.
Yet you must see how that shadow points to a greater substance. Under the old covenant, blood was sprinkled upon the mercy seat to cover the law for another year. But that annual atonement was only a figure of heavenly things, the shadow of good things to come. The substance is Christ. Nothing could permit the justice of God to look upon man at all until there had been a penalty, and there must be blood, life poured out for sin. He who needed not to have died, the Perfect One, voluntarily offered himself up as the victim to justice, suffering in his own person so as to compensate the justice of God. So far as God is concerned, the atonement that Christ made was complete, once and for all.
Therefore no man now is called to make atonement by delivering up his sons to death. The devouring fire of God's holiness has been met by the Mediator and his atonement. To offer human life now to appease wrath would be to turn away from the cross where justice and mercy have already met, and to forget that vengeance belongeth unto the Lord. The sword of justice is indeed not rusted in its scabbard, and it can be easily withdrawn, but mercy has put her hand upon the hilt for all who turn to Christ with full purpose of heart. When men admit the justice of God if he should punish them, then, not till then, mercy comes in and the punishment is put away through the ransom price of Christ's blood.
If there is guilt or strife or a claim of blood in your house or in your land, do not take the matter into your own hands to shed more blood. Seek the Lord's lawful way. If wrong has been done, confess it plainly without excuse, for it is not consistent with the holiness of God to pardon a sinner while he denies his guilt. Seek counsel of godly and lawful authority, and above all seek the mercy seat itself, which is Christ Jesus.
Let us pray that you will be led to that only true atonement. O Lord our God, gracious and righteous, thy justice is a consuming fire and thy mercy is tender and free. We confess that we have no atonement of our own to offer, and we thank thee that thou hast provided a ransom in the blood of thy Son. Teach this soul to turn from every thought of atoning for sin by human hands, and to trust only in the blood sprinkled upon the true mercy seat. Grant repentance where repentance is needed, and justice tempered by lawful wisdom, and let thy overtaking mercy find this house and bring it to the Saviour's feet. We ask it for Jesus sake. Amen.
The Encourager
The Encourager
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.
God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
I prayed for this in Jesus Name.
Featured Teachings
Forum statistics
Latest Blogs & Articles
-
The text provided is a Bible verse reference, not- Started by Articles
- Replies: 0
-
-