Who was Rizpah?

2 Samuel 21:10

“Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of the harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens. And she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night.”

May 3, 2022

Who was Rizpah? What do you know about her? This individual is a very obscure biblical character. However, hopefully after today, this name will never escape you again!

Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah. What . . . is Aiah still not a familiar name? How about Saul, the first king of Israel? I figure that is a much more familiar name. Pariah was one of his concubines, and thereby the mother of a couple of Saul’s children.

Saul attacked the Gibeonites, the family/tribe who had made a treaty with Joshua. Saul attempted to rid them from the land . . . and now a famine was in the land of Israel. David was convinced that this famine was of divine origin. He consulted God and found that it was due to Saul’s actions. He sought the Gibeonites counsel for how to atone for Israel’s discretion under Saul’s leadership. The Gibeonites responded that seven of Saul’s sons were to be given over to be hanged. David took Rizpah’s two sons and five of Michal’s or her sister, Merab’s.

After her sons were hung by the Gibeonites, Rizpah stayed out keeping guard over the bodies of her sons day and night, sun or rain. After the death of Saul, Rizpah’s sons were her providers. Now, as far as we know, she had no other sons. She became their caretakers again . . . only, this time she was caring for them in death. She was not going to allow their bodies to be consumed by wild animals or birds. Again, she was sleep deprived and sacrificing herself on behalf of her sons.

In reading this story, I cannot help but think about the diligent care of mothers for their children. When children are little, mothers become sleep deprived, rising at all hours of the night to tend to the needs of their children. As they grow, mothers often keep up with when their children need new clothes and shoes. Mothers often keep up with the entire family’s schedule, making sure the children get to where they need to be, and making sure it is on time. And as Rizpah reminds us, even as children grow, to mothers, their children will always be their children, never too old for their care.

As we approach Mother’s Day, I must challenge you with appreciating your mother. She may be your mother by birth, by adoption, or the Rizpah provided by God through another “motherly” figure. Take a moment to thank your mother for her diligent care. If your mother has passed from this earth, thank God for the gift you had. God’s word says that we are to honor our father and mother why not take a moment to thank God for providing a Rizpah in your life, whether it be at home, church or school.