1991
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; (2 Samuel 21:1)
The famine was there for the first, the second and the third year as well. When David recognized that it was an evil pattern.
What is an evil pattern?
Recurrence of evil negative events or activities in an individual's life or a family or even a place. An evil pattern gives birth to a stronghold
Looking at the life of Abraham, Isaac (his son) and Jacob (his grandson), we find an evil pattern of delay in childbearing. Abraham’s wife (Sarah) was barren and did not give birth until the age of 90 years. Isaac’s wife (Rebekah) was barren. Genesis 25:21 says, “And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Jacob’s second wife (Rachel) also experienced barrenness. (Gen 29:31). Had each of them not cried to God, they may have ended up childless.
Some of the reasons why many of us are unable to recognize these evil patterns, even when the Holy Spirit highlights them to us is because we see them as mere coincidences.
and David inquired of the Lord. (2 Samuel 21:1)
David did the most sensible thing; he sought God in the face of chronic problems.
And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house because he killed the Gibeonites.” (2 Samuel 21:1)
David sought the root cause of the chronic problem that he was facing. He sought the real reason for the evil pattern being in place and the Lord answered him.
Even today, you can get an answer from the LORD through the Word, through a dream, through a message preached by a man of God, through a prophetic word etc.
In the time of Joshua, which was about 400 years before the reign of David, Israel made a solemn vow not to harm the Gibeonites, who were a tribe who lived nearby (Joshua 9). Despite the fact that the Gibeonites deceived Israel into entering the deal, God wanted Israel to keep its word and fulfil its obligations. Saul's offence consisted not only in the execution of the Gibeonites but also in the violation of this very old and significant covenant.
This highlights numerous essential principles:
but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah. (2 Samuel 21:1)
Zeal is good but misplaced zeal can land you into trouble as in the case of Saul.
John answered and said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” (Luke 9:49)
John was zealous for the Lord and in his misplaced zeal stopped someone from doing the work of the Lord. The Lord has to intervene and correct him of his misplaced zeal.
Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their misplaced zeal saying, “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24)
The Pharisees filtered their drinking water with a cloth so they would not mistakenly eat a non-kosher gnat but they ignored the more important part of the law, it was like they were purposely eating a huge non-kosher camel!
The zeal of the Pharisees was misdirected and even blinded them to the deep principles of God. If we are not careful, this can happen to us also. We could end up focussing on our way of doing things, our traditions, our systems, our policies and our procedures.
Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. (2 Samuel 21:10)
For nearly five months (from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured) Rizpah watched the suspended bodies of her children, to prevent them from being devoured by the beasts and birds of prey. It was a sad scene. This all happened because of the misplaced zeal of Saul. Misplaced zeal can have generational consequences
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. (2 Samuel 21:17)
When David’s strength failed, God protected him through the strength of others. This tells us why it is so important to be part of a team. This will also cause us to remain humble.
18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. (2 Samuel 21:18-21)
Now it happened afterward
This description of victory over Philistine giants showed that Israel could slay giants without David.
Sibbechai… Elhanan… Jonathan:
After David had concluded his battle with the giants, these men went on to do heroic exploits. When the leaders of one generation depart from the scene, God will continue to raise up new anointed leaders for the next generation.
Our present victory not only benefits us in the here and now, but it also passes on something meaningful for the generations who will follow in our footsteps.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. (2 Samuel 21:22)
The victory over these four giants is justly attributed to the hand of David and the hand of his servants, who were under his command. David had a role in this through his example, his direction, and his influence.
The famine was there for the first, the second and the third year as well. When David recognized that it was an evil pattern.
What is an evil pattern?
Recurrence of evil negative events or activities in an individual's life or a family or even a place. An evil pattern gives birth to a stronghold
Looking at the life of Abraham, Isaac (his son) and Jacob (his grandson), we find an evil pattern of delay in childbearing. Abraham’s wife (Sarah) was barren and did not give birth until the age of 90 years. Isaac’s wife (Rebekah) was barren. Genesis 25:21 says, “And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Jacob’s second wife (Rachel) also experienced barrenness. (Gen 29:31). Had each of them not cried to God, they may have ended up childless.
Some of the reasons why many of us are unable to recognize these evil patterns, even when the Holy Spirit highlights them to us is because we see them as mere coincidences.
and David inquired of the Lord. (2 Samuel 21:1)
David did the most sensible thing; he sought God in the face of chronic problems.
And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house because he killed the Gibeonites.” (2 Samuel 21:1)
David sought the root cause of the chronic problem that he was facing. He sought the real reason for the evil pattern being in place and the Lord answered him.
Even today, you can get an answer from the LORD through the Word, through a dream, through a message preached by a man of God, through a prophetic word etc.
In the time of Joshua, which was about 400 years before the reign of David, Israel made a solemn vow not to harm the Gibeonites, who were a tribe who lived nearby (Joshua 9). Despite the fact that the Gibeonites deceived Israel into entering the deal, God wanted Israel to keep its word and fulfil its obligations. Saul's offence consisted not only in the execution of the Gibeonites but also in the violation of this very old and significant covenant.
This highlights numerous essential principles:
- God expects us to honour the commitments we make.
- God expects nations to uphold their commitments.
- Our responsibility to keep our commitments does not lessen with the passage of time.
- It's possible that God won't punish us for our sins until a very long period has passed.
but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah. (2 Samuel 21:1)
Zeal is good but misplaced zeal can land you into trouble as in the case of Saul.
John answered and said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” (Luke 9:49)
John was zealous for the Lord and in his misplaced zeal stopped someone from doing the work of the Lord. The Lord has to intervene and correct him of his misplaced zeal.
Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their misplaced zeal saying, “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24)
The Pharisees filtered their drinking water with a cloth so they would not mistakenly eat a non-kosher gnat but they ignored the more important part of the law, it was like they were purposely eating a huge non-kosher camel!
The zeal of the Pharisees was misdirected and even blinded them to the deep principles of God. If we are not careful, this can happen to us also. We could end up focussing on our way of doing things, our traditions, our systems, our policies and our procedures.
Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. (2 Samuel 21:10)
For nearly five months (from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured) Rizpah watched the suspended bodies of her children, to prevent them from being devoured by the beasts and birds of prey. It was a sad scene. This all happened because of the misplaced zeal of Saul. Misplaced zeal can have generational consequences
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. (2 Samuel 21:17)
When David’s strength failed, God protected him through the strength of others. This tells us why it is so important to be part of a team. This will also cause us to remain humble.
18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. (2 Samuel 21:18-21)
Now it happened afterward
This description of victory over Philistine giants showed that Israel could slay giants without David.
Sibbechai… Elhanan… Jonathan:
After David had concluded his battle with the giants, these men went on to do heroic exploits. When the leaders of one generation depart from the scene, God will continue to raise up new anointed leaders for the next generation.
Our present victory not only benefits us in the here and now, but it also passes on something meaningful for the generations who will follow in our footsteps.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. (2 Samuel 21:22)
The victory over these four giants is justly attributed to the hand of David and the hand of his servants, who were under his command. David had a role in this through his example, his direction, and his influence.
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