Shoo the Birds and Beasts

“So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the Lord. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.

And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.”

(II Samuel 21:8-14, NKJV.)

Background Context:

A famine had struck Israel, and David inquired of the Lord as to the cause. God revealed that the famine was a result of Saul’s actions, particularly his massacre of the Gibeonites. The Lord instructed David to seek atonement from the Gibeonites, asking them how Israel could make restitution. The Gibeonites requested neither silver nor gold but demanded the execution of seven of Saul’s descendants. Since Saul had few surviving sons, David selected two of Saul’s sons and five grandsons.

Points to Consider:

1. The Identity of Michal’s Sons: The Scripture mentions that Michal, the daughter of Saul, was the mother of five of the men who were executed. However, some scholars speculate that the woman identified as Michal (David’s wife) may have been her sister (Merab), based on other passages of Scripture:
   • II Samuel 6:23 mentions that Michal had no children until her death.
   • I Samuel 18 indicates that after David killed Goliath, he was promised to marry Saul’s elder daughter, Merab, but Saul gave Merab to Adriel the Meholathite instead.
2. Mephibosheth: The Mephibosheth mentioned in this passage is not the same as the son of Jonathan. Earlier in II Samuel, we learn that David spared Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, because of the oath between David and Jonathan. The name Mephibosheth was likely common at the time.
3. Capital Punishment: The Old Testament generally forbids capital punishment except in cases of murder. While it is unclear why these particular descendants of Saul were chosen for execution, it is possible that they were selected because they had been with Saul when he had slain the Gibeonites. However, Scripture does not provide a definitive explanation. David spared Jonathan’s son because of his covenant with Jonathan. Mephibosheth was likely not involved in Saul’s actions due to his disability.

The Role of Rizpah:

For whatever reason, David chose these individuals as sacrifices. There is no Scripture explaining what the mother of the five grandsons of Saul did, but we are told what Rizpah, the mother of the two sons of Saul, did.

She went to the field, spread a blanket, and remained near the bodies for an extended period. “And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.” The Bible tells us that she stayed from the beginning of the harvest until the late rains fell (verse 10). This period likely spanned several months, as the bodies had decayed by the time David learned of her actions and took action:

“So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged” (verse 13).

Lessons from Rizpah’s Story:

Rizpah’s actions serve as a powerful symbol for our prayers for lost loved ones. While we do not shoo physical birds and beasts away, our prayers protect the souls of those we love from spiritual forces. Scripture tells us that the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (I Peter 5:8). If we stop praying, evil spirits may have their way with those we love, just as birds and beasts would have preyed upon the bodies of Saul’s descendants if not for Rizpah’s vigilance.

The Takeaway:

We must never stop praying for the salvation of our loved ones. The story of Rizpah reminds us that we should persist in prayer until there is nothing more we can do. When is that? It is not a matter of months or years, but only three things should stop us from praying for a lost loved one:

1. Their salvation. When they are saved, our prayers will shift from petitioning for their salvation to protecting their faith.
2. Your own passing. If you die, new prayers for them will cease, but your accumulated prayers for them will live on (Revelation 5:8, Revelation 8:3-5).
3. Their passing. Once someone has died, we no longer pray for their salvation. David prayed for his son while he was alive, but once the child passed away, he accepted that there was nothing more he could do and moved forward with his life (II Samuel 12:16-23).

How to Pray for a Lost Loved One:

1. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you. Ask for His guidance to avoid feeling stuck in your prayers.
2. Pray Scripture over them. Identify their struggles and find relevant Bible verses to pray over them.
3. Ask God to surround them with godly influences. Sometimes, another person can say the same things we do, but their words have a different impact. Be thankful for those who influence them and be bold in sharing your faith with others—your influence might answer someone else’s prayer.
4. Pray for discernment and grace. When speaking to your loved one, ask God to give you the right words, said with sincerity, so they are more likely to listen.

Additional Lessons from Rizpah’s Story:

1. Intercessory Prayer: Rizpah’s vigilance not only protected her own sons but also kept evil spirits away from Michal’s sons. You may not fully know the extent of your loved one’s environment, but your prayers may also be protecting others they interact with.
2. Preserving the Bones: By preventing animals from scattering the bodies, Rizpah ensured that David could gather all the remains. She kept the bones intact until their relationship with the king could be restored. Similarly, your prayers can preserve the spiritual well-being of your loved ones, ensuring they are intact when God is ready to redeem them.
3. Honoring the Remains: David was able to honor the remains of Saul and Jonathan by placing them in a more dignified resting place, just as your prayers might preserve the spiritual lives of your loved ones until God can redeem them.

Do not grow weary in praying for a lost loved one. Someone once prayed for you, whether you were raised in the church or came to faith later in life. Your prayers can have a profound impact on the salvation of others.

Keep praying, for as long as there is hope, there is power in your intercession.