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THE CAUSE OF FAMINE WAS REVEALED
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
2 Samuel 21

Joshua 9:3,15-17

 

“And Joshua made peace with them,

and made a league with them…”

 

THE CAUSE OF FAMINE WAS REVEALED
 
The Lord told David that the calamity came about because of Saul who had slain the Gibeonites. They were the remnants of the Amorites that the elders of Israel had sworn in the days of Joshua not to kill them. That oath stood for the whole nation all those years. These people were made servants and they hewed firewood and fetched water for Israel.
 
When Joshua was campaigning to capture Canaan, these people were afraid and they tricked Joshua and the elders of Israel into making a league. King Saul knew of the league, but violated it by slaying the Gibeonites. The league was binding to the whole nation for generations. The Gibeonites also knew of it and Israel needed to pay for breaking such a vow. Such violation breaks the law of God which says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain…” (Exod 20:7). Saul had ignored this and the Lord had to avenge the whole nation because it was a national league.
 
When David knew the cause of the calamity on the nation of Israel, he took steps to seek for a remedy. He asked the Gibeonites what they wanted done. They asked for seven sons of the house of Saul to be delivered unto them to be hanged. It was a painful condition, but the transgression had to be paid. It had been many years or even generations since Israel and the Gibeonites made that league and it had not been revoked. Even Joshua himself had to honour that league even though he was tricked into it. God’s name had to be honoured.
 
The prohibition not to take the name of the Lord in vain is part of the Ten Commandments. This third commandment requires holy and reverent use of God’s name, titles, attributes, ordinances, word and works. It forbids all abuse of God’s name. Saul ignored that league made under Joshua, and the time of the visitation of judgment had come.
 
THOUGHT: Punishment for every sin comes at God’s appointed time.

PRAYER: Father, help me to depart from all sin.

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