“In David’s time there was a famine that lasted three years, and David consulted Adonai. Adonai said, ‘It is because of Sha’ul and his bloodstained house, because he put to death the people of Giv‘on’.”-2 Samuel 21:1
So we’re told the famine lasted 3 years due to no rain.
This finally caught David’s attention.
A whole year without rain wasn’t unusual.
Even two years without rain wouldn’t necessarily raise eyebrows.
But a whopping 3 years?!
That was a bit too much.
David realized there must be a divine source behind this calamity.
So he inquired of the Lord.
This communication would’ve been done by the drawing of lots or through the Thummim and Urim stones.
Remember, the Lord did not communicate directly with David as He did with Moses.
So the Lord’s answer confirmed David’s suspicions.
There was indeed a divine cause for the 3-year-long drought.
It’s because of what Saul and his household did when they executed the people of Gibeon.
From a Torah perspective, the problem was blood guilt.
Take a look at this excerpt from Numbers 35:
“‘Do not pollute the land where you are.
Bloodshed pollutes the land,
and atonement cannot be made for the land
on which blood has been shed,
except by the blood of the one who shed it.
Do not defile the land where you live
and where I dwell, for I, the Lord,
dwell among the Israelites.’”
-Numbers 35:33-34
See, here’s the thing.
The land of Canaan was divinely set apart for God’s chosen people.
However, since God is holy, He cannot dwell with His people in the land if the land has been defiled by innocent bloodshed.
Ya feel me here?
Murder is the worst possible defilement that can happen in the Holy Land.
If the bloodshed becomes too excessive, the Lord would have no choice but to separate Himself from His people until the situation is rectified.
And how is the situation rectified?
Simple.
The life of the one who murdered must be taken as an atonement.
There is no other alternative.
Sacrificial animals won’t do the trick in this case.
Only the death of the murderer can cleanse the land that has been polluted by bloodshed.
So that’s the situation we’re dealing with here.
And this also leads to the takeaway, which is this:
If there is a persistent problem in your life, inquire of the Lord if there could be a divine cause.
Are you always struggling to make ends meet financially?
Do you always come down with illness in one form or another?
Does it seem like every relationship you get into with the hopes of marriage goes south?
Just as David thought there was more to the drought than seasonal weather cycles, so too, the adverse events occurring in your life could be far more than “chance” happenings.
Ya feel me?
If your problems persist, it may be time to see if there is some hidden sin you’ve committed or are committing regularly that is causing the calamity in your life.
See ya all next time.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not be deceived:
God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows.
Whoever sows to please their flesh,
from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit,
from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
— Galatians 6:7–8
“Whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord
in an unworthy manner
will be guilty of sinning
against the body and blood
of the Lord. Everyone ought
to examine themselves
before they eat of the bread
and drink from the cup.
That is why many among
you are weak and sick,
and a number of you
have fallen asleep.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:27–30
“Therefore confess your sins
to each other and pray for each other
so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person
is powerful and effective.”
— James 5:16
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