2 Samuel 21

2 Samuel 21:1

FAMINE FOR THREE YEARSChapter 21 opens with a period of famine in the land of Israel. The reason God gives for the famine is rather strange, but in it there is a lesson for us.

2 Samuel 21:2

THE GIBEONITES TAKE VENGEANCE ON THE HOUSE OF SAULThis is quite a remarkable passage of Scripture. To understand it we must go back to the days of Joshua when the Gibeonites deceived him and Joshua made a treaty with them (Josh. 9). Israel had been told by God not to make a treaty with anyone. A treaty in that day (which some folk consider “uncivilized”) was inviolate. When a treaty was made, the terms of the treaty were kept. Treaties were more than a scrap of paper. They were not made to be broken. In our day this matter of nations sitting around the conference table trying to make a treaty is almost laughable, because who will keep it? The average person has a right to be cynical about the way nations attempt to get along with each other. But when a nation is obeying God, its word is as good as its bond. Joshua made a treaty with the Gibeonites; but Saul came along and broke it. David attempted to make amends for Saul’s actions, and he succeeded. But the other side of the coin is interesting. God did not forget that Saul, representing Israel, had broken the treaty with the Gibeonites. Because the Israelites are His people, they are not going to get by with it. The three years of famine came upon them as a judgment. Now let me make this kind of an application to this incident, which I think is valid. You and I live in a day when it cannot be said that any particular nation is a Christian nation or a nation in obedience to God.

But God does deal with nations; he does judge nations. God holds nations responsibleit does not make any difference what nation it is. God judged Egypt. God judged Babylon. God judged Assyria, Greece, and Rome; and God will judge America. I am of the opinion (and will you follow me now very carefully) that we are in the process of dissolution as a nation.

There are several evidences of God’s judgment upon us. Let me mention several things. Since World War II it has been our intention to be a peacemaking nation yet to live in sin. Believe me, friend, after World War II Americans started plunging into sin. Also, we could not quit fighting. There has not been a moment since World War II that our troops have not been fighting somewhere. If it isn’t Korea, it is Vietnam. If it isn’t Vietnam, it is in Europe or on some other continent. We are talking peace today as we have never talked it before; yet there is no peace. Isa_57:21 says, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Another indication of this dissolution is that we have no great statesmen today. I recognize that there are quite a few of our boys in Washington who think that they are cleverand this type of thinking is not confined to any one party. Apparently they all feel that they could solve the problems of the world. Actually, it is rather pitiful to see this nation without great leaders. This is another evidence of God’s judgment. Do you remember what God said in Isa_3:12? “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” We see a continual movement in this direction in our own nation. Right here in Southern California we have become the center of pornography. Also many of the “cults” and the “isms” originate in Southern California. Not long ago God gave us quite a shaking. I am of the opinion that the earthquake was a judgment of God. Now I know that there is a scientific explanation for the earthquake. Beneath us is the San Andreas fault, and we have several other faults. In fact, we have a whole lot of faults out here! I believe God is beginning to judge America. America is guilty of lawlessness and gross immorality, and God judges nations for that. If there is one thing 2 Samuel 21 reveals, it is the fact that God judges nations.

2 Samuel 21:15

WAR WITH THE PHILISTINESNext we find that David is engaged in continual warfare with the Philistines. David is a great man, and his men know that there is no one to take his place. Now David is getting to be an old man; when he goes out to battle, he finds he does not have the stamina he used to have. He is easily overcomethat is an unusual experience for David! The leaders of Israel see that David is too old to engage in battle, and they tell him so. They tell him that he is needed more at home than on the battlefield. A great battle took place, and God gave the victory to Israel.

2 Samuel 21:22

The giant spoken of in this verse was Goliath. You will recall that when David went out to meet Goliath he took five smooth stones. I have heard it described vividly that because David thought he might miss the first shot, he had some stones in reserve. Those who teach the story that way say that the lesson for us is that we, too, should have a reserve. However, the explanation is that Goliath had four sons. They were part of the Philistine army. David knew that when he slew the giant the four sons might want to come out and fight him. Although David did not have this experience at that time, of course the sons would want revenge. If Abishai had not come to David’s aid in this his final battle with the Philistines, one of Goliath’s sons, Ishbi-benob, would have had his revenge. However, when David was a young man fighting Goliath, he had four other stones and was ready to take on Goliath’s four sons. He was deadly accurate with the slingshot. He probably practiced several hours each day. I imagine he could put a stone in the hollow of a tree that was not big enough even for a squirrel to crawl into. This chapter concludes David’s career as a warrior. In a marvelous way, God has delivered David from all his enemies.