Chapter 21 tells of a famine that lasted three years. I wonder why it took three years for God to respond to David’s plea for mercy? Did he not seek an answer from God any sooner? Was there any indication as to the source of God’s displeasure? When God passed on the reason for the famine David must have been shocked. When an oath is made calling God as a witness then God doesn’t forget the oath. Centuries had passed since Joshua made a covenant with the people of Gibeon and Saul rejected it. Perhaps Saul was seeking God’s favor, hoping that this display of faithfulness would persuade God to look favorably on the rejected king. In the end Saul’s descendents received God’s wrath instead. I think this is a picture of how important God’s name should be to us; whenever we make a pledge in his name he will remember that pledge until it has been completed.
I wonder if Israel was ever released from Joshua’s oath to Gibeon?
It took me 20 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart
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