Today's Friday, July 5, 2019, and here is your daily devote. If David took a oath not to cut all Saul's descendants, why did he later allow the Gibeonites to kill seven of them? Well, David's agreement was that he would not wipe out Saul's descendants as a way of cleaning house when he took over the kingship of Israel. That was the normal practice in the ancient Near East when a ruler established a new dynasty, that is a ruler of a different family line from the previous king.
It was done to eliminate other potential claimants to the throne. David not only kept his agreement, he invited a member of Saul's family line to eat at the royal table and restore a generous inheritance to him. Saul, in attempting to exterminate the Gibeonites, had brought great guilt on himself by violating the centuries-old agreement in which the Israelites had allowed them to live in the land. Because Saul, as leader, represented all Israel, his guilt led to the spread of famine.
To bring an end to God's judgment, David agreed to let the Gibeonites take limited revenge on the house of Saul as a remedy for Saul's homicidal actions. This life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth principle, was effective. God lifted his punishment from Israel. Have you given your light to Jesus?
If not, please do so today. It is the greatest decision you could ever make. Jesus says that all who come to me, I will not turn away. You can embrace the rescue of God by simply admitting your need to God, asking him to forgive you, trusting in Jesus alone to rescue you, and following Jesus Christ, the King of your life in faith from this day forward.