I had to remind myself today that ALL scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, or training in righteousness. The Bible has some pretty rough stories in it. I was reading today in 2 Samuel 21 about when God sent the famine to Israel because of Saul's disobedience. The Israelites had entered into a covenant of peace with the Gibeonites, but during Saul's reign he tried to annihilate them, and so God sent a 3-year famine to the land of Israel. David inquired of the Lord, and God told him why there was a famine, and so David asked the Gibeonites what they wanted to repay for the wrong that Saul had done to them, so that God would once again bless the land. They asked for - and received - 7 of Saul's male descendants, so that they could kill them and expose their bodies in recompense for their people who had been slain by Saul.
The story literally sickened me. So much violence and bloodshed. It's true that the Gibeonites had not done anything to warrant Saul's sword, but neither had those poor seven men. But the Israelites had unfinished business to settle. A covenant had been made between them, and God expected them to honor it. God does not takes promises lightly. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says that "it is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it...do not protest, 'My vow was a mistake.'" The Israelites had been tricked into making a vow of peace with the Gibeonites - that vow should never have been made.
'
But once it was made, God expected it to be honored. How many promises have we broken on the premise that it was a mistake to make the vow in the first place? God doesn't like unfinished business. Until we right the covenants we have broken, there will not be peace in our lives. But, luckily for us, He is a God of mercy, and when we truly repent, He forgives. I challenge you today to seek restoration for any unfinished business or broken promises you may have in your life today.
The story literally sickened me. So much violence and bloodshed. It's true that the Gibeonites had not done anything to warrant Saul's sword, but neither had those poor seven men. But the Israelites had unfinished business to settle. A covenant had been made between them, and God expected them to honor it. God does not takes promises lightly. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 says that "it is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it...do not protest, 'My vow was a mistake.'" The Israelites had been tricked into making a vow of peace with the Gibeonites - that vow should never have been made.
'
But once it was made, God expected it to be honored. How many promises have we broken on the premise that it was a mistake to make the vow in the first place? God doesn't like unfinished business. Until we right the covenants we have broken, there will not be peace in our lives. But, luckily for us, He is a God of mercy, and when we truly repent, He forgives. I challenge you today to seek restoration for any unfinished business or broken promises you may have in your life today.
No comments:
Post a Comment