David Righting Wrongs - The Book of 2 Samuel

In this Bible Story, we witness the continued bravery of David even into old age. He continues to wage war against all who would threaten the followers of God. As a result, David becomes weary, but doesn't lose hope in the Lord. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 21. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 21:3 from the King James Version.

Episode 110: Famine was in the land of Israel, and this led to hard times for the people. So David sought the Lord and asked what he should do. God showed him the reason for the famine and commanded him to make peace with the Gibeonites for the sins that Saul had committed against them. David called the Gibeonites to him and gave them their request, the life of Saul’s sons. After this, the famine eased and Israel once again flourished. However, this flourishing would draw out more enemies of Israel and more battles, battles that David was too old to fight in.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. Wherefore David said, under the Gibeonites, what
shall I do for you? And wherewith shall I make
the atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the
Lord Second Samuel twenty one. Three to day, Lord, I
thank you that you are the God of the Encore.

(00:21):
Through Second Samuel twenty one, I see again and again
your faithfulness to protect King David, because he continually seeks
to do what is right. With this same spirit and mindset,
I will live a life dedicated to making sure that
I do what is right, and if possible, I will

(00:42):
live at peace with all people. When I have the
ability to do a wrong, Lord, give me the insight
and resources to make sure that restitution is felt and received.
If I have wronged any one in my past, Lord,
give me the ability to make it right, because I

(01:02):
know that when there is drought in my life, the
correction of a past wrongdoing can open the door to
my greatest harvest season. Like David and the children of Israel,
thank you, Lord for second chances and for allowing me
to reconcile my past with my future. In Jesus' name, Amen,

(01:27):
thank you for making prayer a priority in your day
To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story,
brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
David righting wrongs. In our last story, we saw the
end of Sheba's rebellion. Sheba had spread lies all throughout
Israel about David's character. Eventually, the people began to see
his evil for what it was and helped Joeab take
off his head. In this story, we learn about David's
leadership through a time of hardship and continued struggle with

(02:10):
other nations. David, even as he advances in years, perseveres
through the chaos of kingship. Inspired by Second Samuel.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of
the Bible in a Year. In yesterday's passage, we learned
how Sheba's insurrection was quickly snuffed out when the people
saw through his lives and killed him, preventing a bloody
battle with David's army. Today, we'll turn our attention back
to Jerusalem, where King David, now advancing in years, continues

(02:44):
to rule through hard times both internally and in conflict
with neighboring nations. We'll see the perseverance of a king
who continually seeks God's will and the best for his people.
Let's listen now to today's scripture.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
David walked the city streets with his head held low.
He felt his heart sinking deeper and deeper into his chest.
He could hardly watch his people hungry. He felt helpless.
As with many countries, Israel had experienced a famine in
the land for over three years. Their reserves had run
dry sooner than anticipated, and now many children were forced

(03:23):
to beg on the streets. David did all he could
to help, but there was still scarcity. He fell before
the Lord and listened. He wanted anything to help. Instead
of a plan to restore the reserves of Israel or
change the irrigation for farming, God gave David a different command,
go and care for the Gibbonites. Saul and his family

(03:45):
were guilty of murdering their families without cause. David was
confused at the Lord's request. How could he show generosity
to a people group when his people were in so
much need. Nevertheless, he summoned the leaders of the Gibbonites.
The Gibbonites were not a part of Israel, However, Joshua
had made a covenant with them to protect and care

(04:07):
for them. This promise was broken by Saul, and he
treated them like animals. David brought the Gibonites into his
home and had them sit. He offered them what little
food he had, since times were hard and food was
scarce even for the king. David sat down and looked
at them compassionately. How can I make amends for what
Saal did to your people years ago? The question surprised

(04:31):
the Gibonites. They had lived as victims of Israel for
so many years that David's generosity seemed out of place.
Still angry yet pleased with David's heart, they said no
amount of money or resources could repair our broken people.
We are down to a few families with almost no
hope of restoration. His words hurt David's heart. He clenched

(04:54):
his fist, angry at Saul's past cruelty. What can I do? Then,
David asked, with his head, hands open, just tell me
what would ease your hearts, and I will do it.
The men paused for a moment and whispered amongst themselves.
They looked at David and said, Saul was the one
who tried to destroy us. He took away our territory

(05:15):
in Israel, killed our family, and sent us into hiding.
Give us his remaining sons so that we may execute
them for their father's crimes. As harsh as this deal
might have seemed, it was customary and reasonable in the land.
David agreed, but did not allow them to have Jonathan's son, Mephibusheth.
Jonathan was his dear friend, and like a brother, he

(05:37):
would not allow his only son to be harmed. With
a heavy heart, David gave the rest of Sal's sons
and grandchildren up to the Gibbonites on a mountain overlooking
the desolate land where the Gibbonites once lived. They slew
the brothers shortly after the famine and the land subsided.
The ground became fertile once again as the rains came

(05:57):
rushing in through the wast Barley and wheat began to sprout,
and the fish returned to the shores of Jordan. David
wondered about the Ghibbonites, how reconciling a past evil would
bring prosperity back to Israel. He did not know. He
held these things in his heart and trusted God and
his goodness. The entire land surrounding Israel was blighted and

(06:20):
hardened from years of famine. Other nations watched as Israel
began to recover quicker than the others. The prosperity of
Israel drew the Philistines in like moths to a flame.
They wanted their food, resources and land. A hungry horde
of Philistines arose from the east, and soon David was
faced with yet another war. He assembled his mighty men,

(06:44):
now grizzled veterans of battle. His mighty men had sons
now able to fight, and the armies of Israel were stronger, younger,
and more agile than Ever, However, David was growing old.
His stamina was not what it once was, Yet this
not deter him from putting on his armor and sharpening
his sword. With his head held high, he led his

(07:06):
men into the valley between Israel and the Philistines. With
his sword held high, David ran into battle in front
of his men. Although this time his men passed him,
leaping into battle before him, David still fought with passion, skill,
and speed. He delivered blows to every Philistine in his wake. However,
with each kill, he lost more and more of his energy. Slowly,

(07:29):
David's strength began to wane and his lungs began to
heave for air. In the distance, David could see a
giant man hurling Israelite soldiers into the air. It was
ish bay Ebinop, the Philistine giant. His spear weighed over
seven pounds, but he wielded it like a small blade.
His sword was new, sharpened and sliced through his men

(07:52):
as if they were warm butter. David began to have
flashbacks of Goliath. He remembered his strong legs and hulking frame.
Ishbai Binob would feel the same wrath. David began to
run towards him. His legs were heavy and his arms
were growing numb, but he had to protect his men.
David rose his sword in the air to strike Ishbai,

(08:13):
but was swatted away like a bug. David flew through
the air and landed on his back. The air left
his lungs and the sides of his vision grew dark.
David looked up to find his sword, but only saw
Ishbai looming over him. He cast a large shadow over
David as he rose his spear in the air to
strike him down. David looked up, knowing he could do

(08:35):
nothing to save himself. This is where I die, David thought.
As Ishbai's spear began its descent, a sword burst through
the front of his chest. Ishbai's blood sprayed across David's face.
Ishbai cried out and fell towards David. David rode to
his side, just dodging the Philistine's massive body. Crashing to

(08:57):
the floor, the earth shook. Standing over David in Ishbai
stood Abashi. He grabbed the hilt of his sword and
pulled it out of the giant's corpse. Abishi grabbed David
and helped him to his feet. You are no longer
coming out to battle with us, Abashi said, we cannot
risk the light of Israel being snuffed out. A few

(09:20):
days of battle had passed and more giants had risen
from Gaff. David's men were fighting in the valley of
Job and a giant named sap arose. His biceps were
as strong as iron, and his hands could wrap around
a man's head. He was slain in a fiery duel
by Sibichai. Soon, the brother of Goliath rose into battle,

(09:41):
demolishing several men in his sight. His spear pierced through
several men at once, and many men trembled at the
sight of him. A brave young man from Bethlehem by
the name of Elhini ran into battle against him. He
killed him with his spear. Another great philistine with six
fingers and toe those on each limb, was also fighting,

(10:02):
but was killed in battle by David's nephew, Jonathan. David
watched amazed as these brave young men of Israel rose
up to slay giants. At one point in time, he
was the only young man brave enough to face a giant.
Now there were hundreds of men willing to lay down
their lives for the sake of God's flock. God had
raised up a whole nation of young warriors thro the

(10:24):
leadership of David. His loving and courageous guidance inspired an
entire generation of people willing to slay giants for the
protection of their families. This is what God did with
David's slings in stones. He restored a cowardly generation of
past slaves into a nation of brave and noble shepherds.

Speaker 3 (10:49):
We begin today's passage with a famine that is plaguing
the land of Israel, not only in Israel, but all
the nations around. David's heart is grieving, it is heavy.
He is hurting for his people who are suffering under
the weight of such scarcity. And like he's done so
many times in the past, David seeks God and seeks

(11:11):
God's counsel. He is wanting to hear guidance on how
to serve and save his people. What he gets is
something else. Entirely. We find the answer in Second Samuel
twenty one and verse one. And the Lord said, there
is blood guilt on Saul and on his house because
he put the Gibeonites to death. Saul had broken a

(11:33):
century's old vow made to Joshua to protect the Gibeonites.
He had attempted to wipe them out, and for his betrayal,
there had to be a consequence. So when David asked
God how to deal with the famine, and the answer
was a charge of blood guilt, David knew that as
king of Israel, he must make restitution to the Gibeonites. Interesting,

(11:54):
isn't it. We sometimes deal with the consequences of the
sins of others. There may even be sins of our
fathers and mothers that affect us generations later, and God
may call on us as the agent of reconciliation, who,
like David, are charged with righting or wrong we had
no part in. So David calls the Gibeonites to him

(12:16):
and ask how he can make it right. The Gibbean
Kite elders tell him there is no monetary payment that
can make it right, but neither do they seek revenge
on Israel. Instead, they asked David to hand over Saul's
sons so they may avenge the wrong done by his
family by killing his sons. Harsh as this might sound,

(12:37):
and it is harsh, it was a much less bloody
option than the feuding and fighting that often went on
these days as a result of grudges and conflicts between
nations and families. So David agreed, but he spared Jonathan's
son Maphibishev, keeping the promise to his dear friend Jonathan
to protect his family. With the sin of Saul properly punished,

(13:00):
the famine began to fade, and Israel recovered more quickly
than other nations. God prospered his own people because of
David's faithfulness. Their prosperity could not go unnoticed, and soon
other nations, especially the Philistines, began to want what Israel had,
and so once again it was time for war. Israel's

(13:21):
army was very strong, however, and prepared to defend themselves.
King David, now old, prepared to join them in the battle.
Surely he remembered the sarah he had brought upon himself
and the nation the last time he set out a
fight and sinned with Bathsheba. But although he was still
a strong man, it soon became clear that he did

(13:43):
not need to join the fight. It would be a
foolish act to expose the king to death when so
many able soldiers stood ready to defend God's nation. David's
legacy of courage and strength lived on in the generations
that were coming. The king, who continually sought God's favor
and experienced God's faith and faithfulness in his life, had

(14:05):
built a nation that would show God's glory to the world. Heavenly, Father,
we thank you for the example of David, the man
you described as after your heart, the one who always
sought you for strength and courage and instructions and guidance
in life. Let us be like David. Men and women,

(14:25):
who seek you, who know you, and then who are
courageous and committed in all that you desire for us
to do that we serve you that we fight the
good fight of faith, eager to make your name known
in all the earth. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen.
Thank you so very much for listening to Today's Bible
in a Year podcast. We are so very grateful for

(14:47):
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(15:08):
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(15:29):
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