The civil war in Israel was about to come to an end. Saul’s side had been soundly defeated and opposition to David’s reign had been eliminated. But a famine spread across the land for three years. God would not let the land be the land of “milk and honey” until David buried the hatchet.
In this passage we see another wise woman’s actions that promoted peace in the land of Israel. Rizpah, the concubine of Saul, was attempting to protect the fallen remains of her family. We read, “When David was told what Rizpah …had done, David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in the tomb of Kish his father. After that God responded to the plea for the land.” The famine was averted.
Isn’t this true in our lives as well? God will give us no peace until we bury the hatchet, unstring the bow, empty the rifle, holster our guns, and set aside all hostilities. The Puritan Thomas Watson put it this way: God the Son is called the Prince of Peace. He came into the world with a song of peace: “On earth peace.…” He went out of the world with a legacy of peace, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” Christ’s earnest prayer was for peace; He prayed that His people might be one. Christ not only prayed for peace, but bled for peace: “Having made peace through the blood of His cross.” He died not only to make peace between God and man, but between man and man. Christ suffered on the cross, that He might cement Christians together with His blood; as He prayed for peace, so He paid for peace.
No Christ, No peace! Know Christ, Know peace.