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MAY 25
“He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”The word “follows”
conveys the idea of someone who gives himself completely to the person followed. No half-heart-
ed followers exist in Jesus’mind (Matt.8:18–22;10:38,39).A veiled reference exists here to the Jews,
following the pillar of cloud and fire that led them during the Exodus (Ex. 13:21).

hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul,
May 25 whom the LORD chose.”
And the king said, “I will give them.”
But the king spared Mephibosheth the son
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2 Samuel 21:1–22:51 of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the
LORD’s oath that was between them, between
Now there was a famine in the days of David and Jonathan the son of Saul. So the king
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21 David for three years, year after year; took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons
and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore
answered, “It is because of Saul and his blood- to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daugh-
thirsty house, because he killed the Gibeon- ter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the
ites.” So the king called the Gibeonites and son of Barzillai the Meholathite; and he deliv-
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spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of ered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and
the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the they hanged them on the hill before the LORD.
Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn pro- So they fell, all seven together, and were put to
tection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in
in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.
the beginning of barley harvest.
10 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
21:1,2 Saul and his bloodthirsty house. By
divine revelation David learned that the did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them
famine was a result of sin committed by Saul; by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
namely,that he had slain the Gibeonites.There 11 And David was told what Rizpah the daugh-
is no further reference to this event. Saul was ter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
probably trying to do as God commanded and 12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul,
rid the land of the remnant of heathen in order and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the
that Israel might prosper (v.2).But in his zeal he men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them
had committed a serious sin. He had broken a from the street of Beth Shan, where the
covenant that had been made 400 years Philistines had hung them up, after the
before between Joshua and the Gibeonites, Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa.
who were in the land when Israel took posses- 13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the
sion of it. They deceived Joshua into making
the covenant, but it was, nevertheless, a bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they
covenant (Josh.9:3–27).Covenant keeping was gathered the bones of those who had been
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no small matter to God (Josh.9:20). 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
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Therefore David said to the Gibeonites,
“What shall I do for you? And with what shall after that God heeded the prayer for the land.
15 When the Philistines were at war again with
I make atonement, that you may bless the
inheritance of the LORD?” Israel, David and his servants with him went
And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have
4 down and fought against the Philistines; and Da-
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no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, vid grew faint. Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one
nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.” of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose
So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who
you.” was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill
Then they answered the king, “As for the David. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to
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man who consumed us and plotted against us, his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him.
that we should be destroyed from remaining in Then the men of David swore to him, saying,
any of the territories of Israel, let seven men of “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest
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his descendants be delivered to us, and we will you quench the lamp of Israel.”
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