After three years of famine, David sought the Lord. God told him there was bloodguilt because Saul put the Gibeonites to death, breaking the oath made to them in the day of Joshua (Josh 9). David knew that only blood atonement could cleanse the land of Saul’s sin and reverse the famine (Nu 35:33). So, David went to the Gibeonites and asked how he could make atonement. They asked David to give them 7 of Saul’s kin so that they could hang them before the LORD. David granted their request but saved Mephibosheth because of his oath to Jonathan. Later, after the deaths, David heard of Rizpah’s devotion to the dead and took the bones of Saul, Jonathan, and the slain and properly buried them. Thus, David atoned for the sins of Saul and restored justice in Israel for the Gibeonites—and the dead. Only then did God answer prayers for the land and the famine stopped. God hates injustice and oppression. He loves and desires justice in every nation and community.

During David’s time, he fought many successful wars against the Philistines. David was faithful to God’s call to rescue Israel from the Philistines. God used his mighty men to protect him, the lamp of Israel, and defeat four Philistine giants.
Application: Lord, you are the God of love and justice. Help us to work to restore your just rule on earth as we share the gospel with the perishing.
One Word: God loves justice and righteousness