Rizpah, a Dedicated Mother – by Camille Stahl

Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 15 – 16; Proverbs 8; Psalms 36 – 40)

Scripture Memorization for April –  Verses I commonly use when sharing the gospel.

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 25

Read the “0408 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?”  (2 Samual 3:7)

Rizpah not even a wife, a gentile concubine of Saul, was a great example of a mother who would do anything for her children.

An example of:

Devotion – There was a famine in the land. Rizpah may have known it was caused by Saul’s sin when he broke a treaty with the Gibeonites.  It caused God to send the drought and famine. If she knew this she may have also realized the sons of Saul would be required as a sacrifice by the Gibeonites. She did not want her sons to die. If they had to die she wanted them to have a place of burial.

Rizpah loved her sons and did not shun them in their time of need.  Her devotion caused her to stay with them during the months of their shame. Family is always needed in time of need.

Then later we see her keeping the birds of prey and the wild beasts from devouring the bodies of her sons. It was the intent of the Gibeonites to have these sons of Saul ripped apart by the vultures and wild beasts.

A thought. As mothers we to should protect our children from the vultures and wild beasts of drugs, promiscuous sex, alcohol, ungodly music, and so on.

Dedicated – She had a true mother’s heart.  And the text says that Rizpah stayed with the dead bodies of her sons “from beginning of harvest until it rained on them.  The Bible tells us the bones of the sons were buried, therefore it had to be a long time since only the bones were left.  She made a personal sacrifice because she wanted a burial place for her children.  When David became aware of what was going on, he not only gave them a royal burial but he cared for the remaining son Mephibosheth.

A thought.   How much time are you willing to give to your children? How dedicated are you willing to be? Things right now, may not be as you wish with your children, but the final results are not in yet.  Rizpah didn’t succeed in a month or two, but her dedication led her onward.  Mothers, DON’T GIVE UP HOPE; continue to be dedicated to the ongoing task of Motherhood.

Thank You

l John 5:13