Rizpah, a diamond in the Old Testament

The following comments and questions are based on a Bible study program available online at no cost to you.

1. A nation builder. References in Scripture to Rizpah are scant, but after studying this week’s lesson, do you believe there is sufficient evidence to give Rizpah credit for being a nation builder? If you were constructing a resume for Rizpah, what would you include? Do you agree with commentators who state that Rizpah suffered more than any other woman in the Old Testament?

2. Family life. Imagine growing up in a family with many wives and even more concubines.  How would men fit into such a family? Do you think Rizpah would have chosen this lifestyle if she’d had a choice? Why didn’t she try to escape the suffocating atmosphere? Have you ever felt that you were bound by circumstances beyond your control? How does the devout Christian react to even the most restrictive conditions?

3. Sons of promise. Do you think that Rizpah’s mother love for her boys helped her enjoy glimmers of happiness as they grew up under her care? What happened to her joy as a mother when her two sons were sentenced to be executed for a crime they weren’t even accused of committing? She couldn’t change the actions, but what was one act she could carry out to show her love? Can you imagine the love this mother had for her sons? Picture her keeping their dead bodies clean and hoping for a decent burial for them.

4. What’s fair? Was it fair for the seven sons of Saul to be executed because King Saul didn’t treat the Gibeonites as promised? What right did the Gibeonites have to plead to David for justice because of their treatment by the former king of Israel? Why did David agree with them so quickly? What gruesome deed did the Gibeonites require to put the events of the past behind them?

5. Changing history. Be sure to read the notes for Thursday in the lesson guide to understand how this loving and unselfish act of Rizpah in caring for the bodies of her sons apparently changed the course of history. How do you think David learned about Rizpah’s brave stand? How did he feel? What did he do? What happened in nature immediately after an appropriate burial site was dedicated to the men’s bodies? Did the story of Rizpah influence the thoughts of David? How did this have an impact on the future of Israel? Does God long to be involved in your church, your life, your family? Are you ready to “do the right thing” no matter how lonely and helpless you may feel?

Joyce Griffith

(email me!)

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