The Influence of Faithfulness

Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness

Sabbath School Lesson for
Nov 27, 2010
Presented by Larry Evans

Some Background Information

Rizpah (rĭz̀pȧ). . . .A concubine of Saul. After Saul’s death Ish-bosheth accused Abner of taking her, and rebuked him for it, fearing that Abner planned to usurp royal power. Being offended, Abner deserted to David, but then lost in his life through the treachery of Joab (2 Sa 3:6–28). During David’s reign Rizpah’s sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth, were put to death, with 5 other descendants of Saul, to expiate a crime committed by Saul against the Gibeonites. Rizpah watched over their bodies and protected them from beasts and birds until David, upon hearing of her deed of love, had their remains gathered and honorably buried in the family sepulcher of Saul’s house (ch 21:1, 8–14). (p.944, SDA Bible Dictionary)

Concubine. An inferior wife in the system of polygamy. Concubines were sometimes taken from among slaves (Gen 16:2, 3), and could be divorced more easily than regular wives (ch 21:10–14). Their sons were also considered inferior to those born to the full-fledged wives (Gen 25:6; Jgs 8:31; 9:18; cf. vs 14, 15). (SDA Bible Commentary, vol 8, p.233)

The Value of Faithfulness
“The present is a season of solemn privilege and sacred trust to the servants of God. If these trusts are faithfully kept, great will be the reward of the faithful servant when the Master shall say: "Give an account of thy stewardship." The earnest toil, the unselfish work, the patient, persevering effort, will be rewarded abundantly; Jesus will say: Henceforth I call you not servants, but friends, guests. The approval of the Master is not given because of the greatness of the work performed, because many things have been gained, but because of the fidelity in even a few things. It is not the great results we attain, but the motives from which we act, that weigh with God. He prizes goodness and faithfulness more than the greatness of the work accomplished.” {2T 510}

Reflective Questions for This Week’s Lesson
Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness

1. Those with a royal lineage are the only ones in Bible history who played an important role. (2 Sam.21) True or False?
2. Biblical characters whom God blessed were those who lived above cultural norms and practices. (2 Sam 5:13) True or False?
3. Rizpah lived up to the meaning of her name, “live coal.” (See Isa. 6:6 for associated meaning; 2 Sam 21:9, 10) True or False?
4. Faithfulness is a virtue but is not necessary when it is not beneficial for us. (1 Samuel 21; Joshua 9:15-21) True or False?
5. The pay-back system practiced in some cultures today is sanctioned by David’s execution of King Saul’s sons. (2 Sam 21:2-9; Matt 5:38-42) True or False?

Commentary on Questions

1. Those with a royal lineage are the only ones in Bible history who played an important role. (2 Sam.21) False

The story of Rizpah is the story of an outsider playing an insider’s role. Rizpah exists on the edge of King David’s story. As a woman and a concubine of former King Saul her options looked quite bleak. As a concubine she was a lesser wife and then with the loss of both her husband and her sons she was destitute. At the low point in her life, when the support system she had been taken from her she was tested. She was faithful to the end and by so doing impacted the nation.

2. Biblical characters whom God blessed were those who lived above cultural norms and practices. (2 Sam 5:13) (Not always—some cultural vestiges that were not within God’s plan remained) False

We sometimes forget that Biblical personalities lived within cultures that are not only different from ours but were at odds with our own moral understandings. The whole issue of multiple wives and concubines is one such phenomenon. Then later in the lesson we will be introduced to God withholding his blessings with a famine being the result all because Saul broke a pledge with the Gibeonites. It wasn’t until David listened to the Gibeonites and followed through with their request to have 7 individuals from Saul’s family killed and buried that the famine would end. What’s going on here?

“The Old Testament man was often violent; God had to meet him there and help him from there. The Old Testament reveals ‘approved’ customs that are nothing short of barbaric, but we can also detect the hand of God as he works through these customs to lead his people to higher ground. The human race had chosen the steep downward path away from God; the journey back must be via the same tortuous route. Going down is always so quick and easy; retracing one’s steps upwards is so painful and so slow. But the God of the Old Testament would not negate the law of life. Growth comes by choosing the right. Step by step, God led his people at a pace which they could manage. The strange laws for these strange people are a marvelous testimony to a kind and patient God and provide a fitting testimony to a kind and patient God and provide a fitting background for the God who would one day reveal himself in Jesus Christ.” –Alden Thompson in Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God, p.81

3. Rizpah lived up to the meaning of her name, “live coal.” (See Isa. 6:6 for associated meaning; 2 Sam 21:9, 10) True

Isa 6:6-9
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9 He said, "Go and tell this people:
What is a “live coal”? What impact does it have on the person and on others? Note how Ellen White uses the phrase
In order for the efforts of God’s workers to be successful, they must receive that grace, that efficiency, which He alone can give. "Ask, and ye shall receive," is the promise. Then why not take time to ask, to open the mind to the impressions of the Holy Spirit, that the soul may be revived by a fresh supply of life? Christ himself was much in prayer. Whenever He had opportunity, He went apart, to be alone with God. As we bow before God in humble prayer, He places a live coal from His altar on our lips, sanctifying them to the work of giving Bible truth to the people. {GCB, July 1, 1902 par. 5}

Did Rizpah, as a live coal, have a sanctifying effect upon David? Do we with others? How did God work within in this culture? What steps did He use to restore the principles of His kingdom? Why do you think he addressed one moral problem but not others at the same time?
2 Sam 21:8-10
9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.
2 Sam 21:11-14
11 When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land. (NIV)

4. Faithfulness is a virtue but is not necessary when it is not beneficial for us. (1 Samuel 21; Joshua 9:15-21) False

Keeping one’s word is an important part of personal integrity but it also true for the corporate body. This was the case with the neighboring Gibeonites despite their deceptive behavior.

Josh 9:16-20
16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel.
The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them." (NIV)
David was fully aware that Saul had broken the promise made in the name of the Lord. Despite the deception of the Gibeonites David still sought to protect the name of the God of Israel by honoring the oath. Note: 2 Sam 21:1-3
1:1 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."

2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to [spare] them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the LORD's inheritance?" (NIV)
Faithfulness and integrity were early values the Lord sought to instill in His people. Promises made were linked to a true understanding of the God who was leading this special movement—the Israel of God.

5. The pay-back system practiced in some cultures today is sanctioned by David’s execution of King Saul’s sons. (2 Sam 21:2-9; Matt 5:38-42) False

I have a question for you: If you were God why would you publish this story! What value could there be that was even greater than the life of these 7 “innocent” individuals who were slain at the request of a group that was part of the Amorites that were to have been driven out of the land? What platform was God establishing that was important for future truth to be added? Does Matthew 5:33-37 or 5:38-42 offer any insights? Does God try to make all behavior corrections at once? Should we? What did He try to establish first?

Matt 5:33-37
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (NIV)
And what if the words of Jesus below included the oaths made to the Gibeonites:
Matt 5:38-48
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

And what if the “neighbors below included the Gibeonites? What overriding value was Jesus trying to establish with His new kingdom?
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NIV)

Concluding Thoughts

The story of Rizpah is referenced ever so slightly within a cultural story of neglect, contempt and payback yet it is nevertheless told as an insert to reveal a God who is bigger than we. The love of God transcends the short comings of society yet the people of that society cannot, it seems, appreciate the eternal principles of His kingdom all at once. Rizpah, as with God’s remnant of all ages, is a sign of God’s kingdom although she too has cultural appendages that are not totally within God’s plan. The remnant of all ages, as imperfect as they may be, represents a kingdom that is not of this world. The implicit appeal through the example of Rizpah is for a standard that rises higher than human emotions of the moment. Faithfulness despite the circumstances at hand is a value upon which God can pour out His blessings.