Commentary on "Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness"

MARTIN L. CAREY

 

Day 7: Friday, November 26, 2010 - Further Study

 

Overview of This Week

When we consider the faithfulness of the various characters in this story, we might have little reason for encouragement. God’s anointed King Saul broke the covenant, destroyed his entire family, and nearly brought the nation to ruin. King David’s failures led to family tragedy and civil war, and in this story, he was slow to discern God’s hand in the famine. Others, such as Ishbosheth, Abner and Joab, lived to be players in the royal games of power. However, God had decreed that the house of David would increase, and that Saul’s house would decrease. The God of Israel did not wait for His people to perfectly reflect His character before acting on their behalf. He guaranteed His covenant with His people, by both blessings and by hard discipline. From Genesis 3 onward, we see how God ensures that the woman’s Seed will triumph.

We have found an example of faithfulness in a Gentile tribe. God had His purposes in bringing the Gibeonites within Israel, to help solidify Israel’s hold on Canaan, and to build the house of David. Even though they were cursed by Joshua to serve Israel’s worship, they accepted their lowly status. Living under Israel’s protection for 400 years and witnessing worship of the true God, they were able to “draw near” to God and become participants in the covenants. This was a foretaste of the new covenant where all of us who were far off are no longer strangers or aliens.

Rizpah, the fallen king’s concubine, showed her love for her sons by staying with their bodies after death, day and night, for weeks. She had probably lost everything she believed was worth living for, and felt there was nothing else to lose. She made a powerful public statement that exposed the corrupt state of the nation. But Rizpah was not a mere pawn, just small and mighty in God’s plan. He was able to use this broken woman, along with the rashness and bad motives of the other players in this story, to serve His purposes.

Not only Israel, but nature itself was under the curse of Saul, as they eagerly waited for the Lord to hear their pleas for the land. The first king of mankind also failed, so man and earth suffer together. The created realm longs for our liberation, as Paul describes in Romans 8,

“…the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Romans 8:21

The Gibeonite atonement is a most disturbing story, raising questions about justice that we don’t have all the answers for. It seems unfair that the sons of Saul should be punished for the sins of their father. Yet in the executions on a hill outside the city, God blessed this substitutionary payment of blood. They were done “before the Lord,” to carry out His will and honor His covenant.

The violence of the hangings is a stark picture that foreshadows the atonement of the Messiah who was made to be a curse for us. The house of Saul was under the curse of God for unfaithfulness, witchcraft, and murder, and their hanging bodies displayed this to the world. Jesus the innocent Son of God purchased a ransom for everyone who will believe, and was executed in an even more brutal manner than were the sons of Saul. They were quickly dispatched and hung on trees after they were dead. Our Lord was hung up on a tree while still alive, bearing the sins of all the world. Israel was cursed by God because of the house of Saul, and then blessed by their atoning deaths “before the Lord.” While Israel was guilty through their disobedient king Saul, we are declared innocent through the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, all sinners will find an eternal blessing when we participate in the execution of Jesus the Messiah, when we accept His blood for our sins. We now have access to boldly draw near to God’s throne. Let us gather up our load of guilt and shame, and gather on Golgotha’s hill to be free indeed.

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” Hebrews 13:12,13

 

 

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