Last week, we turned our attention to blessings and curses. On Friday, we considered a blessing based on a covenant of love between two people. Today we consider the consequences of breaking a covenant and how that leads to a curse that destroys generations and indeed a nation.
Specifically we look at what I call the Saul Curse. Saul was the first king of Israel and he got into trouble with the Lord for a variety of reasons. During his reign, he managed to break a treaty that had existed between his people and the Gibeonites for over a century. This agreement assured the Gibeonites of peace and protection. The covenant is the reason why Joshua and the fighting men of Israel marched all night to defend the Gibeonites when they were attacked by the Army of 5 Kings (Joshua 10).
Despite this, Saul took it upon himself to murder Gibeonites who'd been living amidst the Israelites for generations. This action not only violated the pact established between the two groups, it also violated the law of the Lord as stated in Leviticus 19:34 - The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. Another violated tenet was Exodus 22:21 - “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
The result of Saul's disobedience was a three year famine during the reign of King David, who only discovered the cause when he inquired of the Lord. He learned God was punishing the entire nation for Saul's decision. To reverse the curse, David asked the offended Gibeonites how his people could appease them. They wanted revenge and demanded the death of five of Saul's heirs. David handed over two of Saul's sons with one of his concubines and 3 of his grandsons. He did not hand over Mephibosheth, or his son, because of his covenant with Jonathan.
These individuals were killed to satiate the Gibeonites. The irony was that this sad event also brought an end to the famine in Israel.
This is a story of unfortunate circumstances but it contains a crucial lesson. Don't renege on your agreements and covenants. Keep your promises because if you don't, the consequences can outlive you. In this case, Saul broke a covenant that preexisted him. His people and his heirs bore the brunt of that terrible choice, enduring the curse of a famine. Think of all the innocent people who died, talk less of the five innocent heirs of Saul who lost their lives for something they didn't do.
Sometimes, in disobeying God's laws, we might open the door for the devil to afflict us with curses. This is why it is crucial to be the type of believer who listens to the Holy Spirit and readily accepts His correction and conviction. We must be like those who repent when we sin and commit to be better by the grace of God. Jesus, our High Priest according to Hebrews 4:14, helps us to break from our sin habits. And if there's a curse lingering in a family as the result of someone else's choice, such as was the case with the Saul Curse, Jesus, once again, provides the means to break free from every evil thing seeking to grab hold of our lives. He was and is the eternal sacrificial lamb, so no blood ever has to be sacrificed again.
Jesus died to set us free from everything that wants us bound, curses included (Hebrews 4:14). And so, in Him, we are free indeed (John 8:36). Nonetheless, although God is a loving Father, we must remember that He will curse three to four generations of those who do not love Him. Exodus 34:7 - maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Those who love Him are the ones who obey Him (John 14:15). Therefore, don't give satan room to afflict you by living in glaring or hidden sin. Galatians 5:1 - Freedom is what we have--Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again (GNT).
May we never be like Saul to renege on covenants and thereby bring curses upon ourselves and others, IJMN, Amen.
For more on Blessings & Curses:
Deuteronomy 28 Blessings & Requirements - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) September 24, 2021
The Blessing & The Curse - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 23, 2022
