Year 4, Day 338: 2 Samuel 21

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: King

• King: This is the pinnacle of the Kingdom Triangle.  When we look towards God’s position in the universe, we acknowledge that He is an omnipotent king.  Authority comes from Him.  Power comes through His authority.  He is looking for representatives for His kingdom.

As I read through 2 Samuel 21, I was struck by the famine that comes upon the nation at the end of David’s reign.  I wasn’t struck by the famine.  I was curious about why it took God so long to bring about the famine since this is quite some time after Saul ever lived.  But what struck me most is that the famine comes because some “non-chosen” people – in other words, non-Hebrews – were dealt with in an unrighteous manner.

Here is why this is such a neat point.  In the ancient world, two things were assumed about “gods.”  First, gods lived according to their own whims.  Second, gods only cared about their people.  In other words, gods only cared about the people that honored them and sacrificed to them.

But here’s the thing.  The people who were slighted were Gibeonites.  They were non-Hebrews.  They didn’t worship God.  They weren’t part of the chosen people of God.  Yet God still cared for them.  He still cared that righteousness was done.

This shows God’s magnitude.  God isn’t just concerned about himself.  Nor is He just a god of a certain people.  God is over everything, even upholding people who aren’t His own while holding His own people accountable!  God is king over the universe, not just His special group.  God is concerned with righteousness, not just the success of His people.  God is a big God.

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