April 16: Does Jesus care?
2 Samuel 21:1-14, chap. 24, 1 Chron 21-22, Psalm 30
2 Samuel 21:1-1The Message (MSG)
Famine and War
21 There was a famine in David’s time. It went on year after year after year—three years. David went to God seeking the reason.
God said, “This is because there is blood on Saul and his house, from the time he massacred the Gibeonites.”
2 So the king called the Gibeonites together for consultation. (The Gibeonites were not part of Israel; they were what was left of the Amorites, and protected by a treaty with Israel. But Saul, a fanatic for the honor of Israel and Judah, tried to kill them off.)
3 David addressed the Gibeonites: “What can I do for you? How can I compensate you so that you will bless God’s legacy of land and people?”
4 The Gibeonites replied, “We don’t want any money from Saul and his family. And it’s not up to us to put anyone in Israel to death.”
But David persisted: “What are you saying I should do for you?”
5-6 Then they told the king, “The man who tried to get rid of us, who schemed to wipe us off the map of Israel—well, let seven of his sons be handed over to us to be executed—hanged before God at Gibeah of Saul, the holy mountain.”
And David agreed, “I’ll hand them over to you.”
7-9 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the promise David and Jonathan had spoken before God. But the king selected Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, plus the five sons that Saul’s daughter Merab had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. He turned them over to the Gibeonites who hanged them on the mountain before God—all seven died together. Harvest was just getting underway, the beginning of the barley harvest, when they were executed.
10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took rough burlap and spread it out for herself on a rock from the beginning of the harvest until the heavy rains started. She kept the birds away from the bodies by day and the wild animals by night.
"Rizpah is an Example of one way to Deal with Grief. As we have just read, the story doesn’t end with the death of her sons. Rizpah was determined to guard their bodies. She spread sackcloth over the rock, which was symbolic of grief, and settled down to keep the bodies safe from birds and animals. It’s hard for us to imagine this, but for about five months (beginning of the harvest until the rainy season), day and night she kept vigil over her son’s remains.
When the story of Rizpah’s vigil reached David, it would appear by his actions that he was deeply moved. He went to Jabesh Gilead, where the bones of Saul and Jonathan had been taken after being recovered from the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:11-13), collected their bones, then collected the bones of the seven here and buried them all in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father.
Thus, the saga of Saul ends with an honorable burial, an act that perhaps symbolized David’s own reconciliation with the man who had persecuted him.
The execution of Rizpah’s two sons left her a childless widow, a terribly vulnerable position for a women in ancient times. Yet, rather than mourn for herself, she set out to guard the remains of her two sons. So what’s the point for us? At times, nothing can lessen the pain of losing a loved one, especially when they seem to die unfairly or as a consequence of someone’s actions. For example, such is as parents who have lost a child to a drunk driver. What have many in this situation done? They have taken a stand, a vigil if you will, much like Rizapah, demanding stronger drunk driving laws and the enforcement of them. More often than not, when we help others, we help to heal ourselves.
Rizpah’s tragedy also foreshadows the truth expressed in Romans 8:28, God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God… However great the tragedy, God can work good through it. We may often fail or at least have a hard time seeing the good wrought by God in tragic situations. Many times God’s will is much broader and greater than we can ever imagine. Such was the case here in the life of Rizpah. Though hard for her to see, and I’m sure, hard for her to accept, her actions were a catalyst for closure. Closure in regards to the famine. Closure in regards to the feud between the house of Saul and David. Closure in her life and her loss.
Rizpah, in a sense, represents every mother who has grieved over the loss of a child; every mother who has determined that her child’s memory will be honored despite what that child might have done. Rizpah could do nothing to save them, but she was determined to do what little she could to save them from the ultimate disgrace - death with no burial. Her actions won for her sons, and their father, an honorable burial." Rickey Shive
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Jesus Felt Pain
Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
"But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvationthrough sufferings."
—Hebrews 2:9-10, NASB
"No one has suffered more than our Father in heaven. No one has paid more dearly for the allowance of sin into the world. No one has so continuously grieved over the pain of a race gone bad. No one has suffered like the One who paid for our sin in the crucified body of His own Son. No one has suffered more than the One who, when He stretched out His arms and died, showed us how much He loved us. It is this God who, in drawing us to Himself, asks us to trust Him when we are suffering and when our own loved ones cry out in our presence (I Peter 2:21; 3:18; 4:1)" Daily Bread
Pain Leads to Repentance
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Hope in the Future
Revelation 22:4-5 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lampor sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Job's Pain
Job 1:21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 6:10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Strength Comes from God to Overcome Pain
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Peter 5:9-10 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
- Does Jesus Care by Frank Graeff
- "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?- Refrain:
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
- Refrain:
- Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? - Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? - Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?"
Comments
Post a Comment