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Quick To Judge - 2 Sam. 19
Quick To Judge - 2 Sam. 19
People often are quick to make judgments before they know all the facts of the situation. So it is with our reading today (2Sam. 21). Here we read of Saul's grandsons being put to death for the death of many of the Gibeonites. Many immediately conclude that David executed the grandsons of Saul for sins they had nothing to do with. Seeing that God caused the famine as a punishment for the crime against the Gibeonites, many conclude that God himself is being unfair to Saul's grandsons.
Some things are evident:
- The famine was divine judgment for what King Saul did in breaking a national covenant with the Gibeonites (vs. 1).
- The O.T. prohibits punishment of a son for his father's sins (Deut. 24:16; Ezek. 18:1-4, 14-17).
- Saul's family was in some way responsible.
- Saul's seven grandsons were put to death.
Some things are NOT evident in our reading.
- WHEN did this famine and execution of Saul's grandsons take place? We are accustomed to assuming that all events of the bible are recorded in chronological order. Hence, the events of this chapter are towards the end of David's reign. YET, that is an assumption that does not hold up with the way that the ancients wrote such historical narratives like 2 Samuel.
- Were the grandsons innocent of involvement in this incident with the death of the Gibeonites?
- What is the meaning of the phrase 'his bloody house'? How many of Saul's family were involved in this act? Which members of Saul's house were involved?
Without having all of the facts in this case, some yet are prone to decide that what David did concerning these grandsons of Saul was wrong. There is, however, no biblical indication that David did wrong in this case; that is, there is no reproving or condemning of David in this.
While all understanding of this story involves some assumptions, I would suggest we begin by assuming that God knew what He was doing and that God was indeed fair and righteous in His judgment.
As Abraham said of God: "Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Gen. 18:25).
Concerning God's judgments: "let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”
Concerning our jumping to conclusions too quickly: "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame" (Prov. 18:13).
In our era of news bites and shallow reporting, we watch daily as people conclude guilt or innocence without the facts. How many times have you done this while watching the evening news? Hugh DeLong
