Covenant-Breaking and Atonement

A lesson on the seriousness of covenants, and the high cost of atonement. As we continue in our study through 2nd Samuel today, we encounter an epilogue which takes place outside the main account, wherein we witness the effects of a covenant Saul broke between Israel and the Gibeonites, which brought God's reproach upon Israel. It was up to David to settle the account; the cost of atonement being the death of seven of Saul's descendants. The lesson to gleam from this difficult passage is that God takes covenants seriously, and that the cost of sin and breaking of oaths is very high. But unlike us, God keeps His covenants perfectly and faithfully. And He Himself restores mercy through costly atonement, by the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.