Meeting Rizpah

Who was Rizpah? Here is her story:

During a three-year drought in Israel, King David sought the Lord for the reason for the drought. God revealed that it was punishment for Saul’s slaughter of the Gibeonites. To make amends, the Gibeonites demanded they be allowed to execute seven of Saul’s sons. David handed over seven of Saul’s sons, including Rizpah’s two sons.

The Gibeonites hanged the men and left their bodies exposed to the elements. Rizpah’s response to this tragedy speaks volumes about her character. Verse 10 tells us:

“Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.”

Rizpah was powerless to stop the execution of her sons, but she did what she could. For six months, she camped under the stars near her son’s bodies to protect them from being eaten by wild animals.

Finally, King David learned of her story and remembered that he had allowed the bodies of King Saul and his son Jonathan to remain publicly hanging in shame. He retrieved their bodies and those of Rizpah’s sons and gave them a fitting burial.

When we think of this story, we ought to realize the power of doing what we can, even when it seems hopeless. God will decide the outcome.

May God give us all hearts like Rizpah.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.