New Life Baptist Church, Goose Creek, SC
  • ABOUT US
    • About New Life
    • Meet Our Team
    • Connect With Us
  • NEW HERE?
    • What to expect
    • Where we meet
    • What we believe
    • Next Steps
  • CONNECT
    • New Life Kids
    • The Link Students
    • Community Groups
    • Encounter
    • Titus2 Ministries
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar
    • Serving Those Who Serve
    • Fall Festival
    • City Serve
    • New Life Kids Camp
    • Photo Gallery
  • RESOURCES
    • New Life Blog
    • New Life Newsletter
    • Online Giving
    • Online Sermons
Keeping it Simple, Deep and Missional

Empty Promises and Consulting God

8/4/2021

 
Picture
2 Samuel 21:1

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
​Chapter 21:1 reveals many amazing truths about the God we worship. One that is specifically obvious is that our Covenants or commitments are serious agreements in His kingdom. The story of the covenant with the Gibeonites appears in Joshua 9. The Israelites were going through the land driving out the people as God had commanded. The Gibeonites trick Joshua, and unfortunately, he fails to consult God. Joshua finds himself in a situation where he must now honor the covenant he made with this group of Canaanites.

The people of Gibeon send a group of representatives incognito, to make a treaty with Israel to prevent their certain destruction. The had heard that all peoples of Canaan would be annihilated at the hand of the Lord God Almighty. They feared death and tricked Israel into preserving their lives. Joshua 9:14 reveals that under the leadership of Joshua, Israel conceded to the treaty without consulting God in the matter and ended up binding themselves in the name of YHWH to protect the people of Gibeon. These people would later be a thorn in Israel’s side.

Throughout this time the Gibeonites lived among the Israelites until Saul decided to try to eliminate these people. Here in chapter 21 of 2 Samuel, God brings judgement on his people because of the foolishness of Saul. Remember, Saul is dead and David now reigns as King. This event is also later in his kingship. The events with Bathsheba have passed and he has also escaped the attempted overthrow of his kingdom by his son Absalom.

There are so many lessons that we can discover from this passage: 1) God is not bound by time. He remembered the unfaithfulness of Saul and sent a famine on the people while David was serving as king 2) He knows and cares about the affairs of His people. To support the previous point, the events with the Gibeonites were initiated with Joshua as the nation entered into the Promised land. The events between Joshua and David are around 200 years. 3) In God’s economy, covenants are a big deal. Ecclesiastes 5 (written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit by king Solomon) is a strong reminder that we should be careful with promises or covenants that we make. 4) As we make decisions, it is important to consult God for wisdom. In this story we see that Joshua failed to do this- so have I.

I am amazed however at the faith of the Gibeonites and how their faith caused them to devise a plan for protection. I am also reminded from this story that God has always intended to bless the nations- we see that truth clearly demonstrated in this passage. The Gibeonites are incorporated into the Hebrew nation. In the book of Nehemiah following the Babylonian exile, these people show up contributing to the laborious work of rebuilding the wall.

I want to be thoughtful at the promises I make and covenants that I have before God- I have cried out for His help and protection during times of distress. I have made countless empty promises with the God of the universe and with others. The Bible teaches that this should not be the character of those who follow after God. Numbers 30:2 states: If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. It is equally important to look to God and consult His wisdom before I make a promise.

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Our Pastor writes most of the blog posts we publish, however, occasionally some of our other church leadership (some staff, some volunteer) who also contribute to the New Life blog. 

    Their thoughts are compiled here to help provide an insight into the various ministries in which they serve, as well as a glimpse into their personal walk with the Lord. 

    Our prayer is for you to be encouraged along life's journey.

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018

    Categories

    All
    Acts
    Advancing The Gospel
    Annie Armstrong
    Anniversary
    Baptism
    Care
    Christ
    Christian Life
    Christian Nation
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Family
    Church Growth
    Church Health
    City Serve
    College Students
    Colossians
    Community
    Community Groups
    Core Seminar
    Corporate Worship
    Discipleship
    Early Church
    Easter
    Easter Offering
    Elders
    Eternal Life
    Evangelism
    Faith
    Family
    Fellowship
    Follower Of Christ
    Glory
    God At Work
    God's Grace
    God's Spirit
    Good News Club
    Good Samaritan
    Gospe
    Gospel
    Grace
    Groups
    Growth
    Hope
    Hospitality
    Humility
    Influence
    Jesus
    Joy
    Justification
    Letters From Jesus
    Life
    Life Together
    Love
    Luke
    Messiah
    Missions
    Neighbor
    New Life
    Next Generation
    Obedience
    One Night
    One Year
    Parables
    Partiality
    Prayer
    Psalms
    Revelations
    Role Models
    Romans
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Send Relief
    Serve
    Serving
    Simple
    Simple Christmas
    Sin
    Spiritual Gifts
    Spiritual Growth
    Strangers
    Suffering
    Suffering Well
    Sundays
    Talents
    Titus2 Ministries
    Transformational
    Unity
    Worship

    RSS Feed

 ABOUT US      NEW HERE?      CONNECT      EVENTS      RESOURCES      GIVE  
NEW LIFE GATHERINGS
Sunday Worship 9:30 AM | Sunday Worship 11 AM

​
​
111 Old Moncks Corner Road, Goose Creek, SC 29445
All rights reserved.  Copyright © 2020
​Realm Member Login
​
My NLBC Login
  • ABOUT US
    • About New Life
    • Meet Our Team
    • Connect With Us
  • NEW HERE?
    • What to expect
    • Where we meet
    • What we believe
    • Next Steps
  • CONNECT
    • New Life Kids
    • The Link Students
    • Community Groups
    • Encounter
    • Titus2 Ministries
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar
    • Serving Those Who Serve
    • Fall Festival
    • City Serve
    • New Life Kids Camp
    • Photo Gallery
  • RESOURCES
    • New Life Blog
    • New Life Newsletter
    • Online Giving
    • Online Sermons