September 23, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Samuel and Acts? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Samuel 21 (NIV)
The Gibeonites Avenged
1 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”……Continue Reading
I struggle to read accounts like these because we have become so far removed from solving disputes this way or at least not so publicly. To offer lives and display their judgement seems cruel but I suppose the evolution or justice just finds us doing things differently now. I trust that God knows better and at this time, this way was appropriate. These desendants of Saul likely either participated in or directly benefited from the cruely of Saul so to call them innocent also seems inappropriate. But is is hard to read the account of a mother protecting the bodies of her sons from animals and birds as they rot for all to see. Shows me the importance of living an obedient life to God, modeling that for my children, and hopefully leading them to a future of blessing rather than a ripple effect of sin that leads to their own destruction.
2 Samuel 21
2 Samuel 21 and 22.
We may not completely understand the times of the day, but these were warring nations. Even the tribes fighting against each other at times. For whatever reasons, mankind are sinners and without the Lord in one`s life, the person becomes his own god and decision maker whether he realizes it or not. For us Christ Jesus needs to be the center of our lives and first. After that all things will fall into place. It`s when we make decisions on our own without prayer and guidance from Him that we can go astray and make bad decisions. God bless.
In this chapter are mentioned the four sons of the giant {Goliath} who die in battle fighting against Israel. God was on Israel`s side and therefore they defeated the Philistines. Israel was God`s chosen vessel to show His greatness to all the nations. However, when Israel failed to follow Him and sinned following other nations, He had to bring judgement on them. But when they repented, He would hear their cry and help them. God bless.
Hardship and difficulty doesn’t always mean that God’s favor has been removed, but it is a good thing to ask God and see what He reveals. 3 years of famine is a good reason to consult the Lord. The way this is resolved is very foreign to us, but would seem fair in that day. Even though the generation of the offense has passed, God has seen fit that it should be addressed. And so terms are agreed on and carried out. Mourning over the dead is natural and normal and David does what he can to address the sorrow. Once the evil done is addressed, then God can show favor to Israel and he grants them victory over some pretty heavy hitters. And David, just like all of us, needed to figure out when it was time for him to stop doing things he normally did. It is nice when leaders have this unwavering care and protection from those under them.
Acts 10
2 Samuel 21
2 Samuel 23
We see here how seriously God takes oaths, such that even after his death, the nation/land suffers famine from Saul’s betrayal of the Gibeonites. David does not discern this until he inquires of the Lord. It makes me wonder about some strange connections people make between events and their cause. Is it totally out of the realm of possibility that a curse, or breaking of an oath can cause an event? There are other places where people curse people or land/things. Jesus curses the fig tree, Paul curses those who teach another gospel, primarily putting themselves back under the law.
”But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.“
Galatians 1:8-9 NKJV
I believe God can still do this and in certain cases would. But we have to be careful deciding who and what God is cursing. And I think best to consider that in small, personal ways as opposed to national tragedies…at least don’t sat it out loud or post in on facebook where misunderstanding reigns…
Right!