Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

LEAVING A BETTER LEGACY

The way people live is important. The lifestyle of every generation influences not only those around them, but the next generation as well. Perhaps there is no better illustration of this reality than what is found in the ancient pages of the Old Testament, an unusual and sad story that is related in 2 Samuel 21.

God visited the children of Israel with a famine for three years. Upon inquiry to God by King David, he learned it was because of the unrighteous killing of Gibeonites by King Saul. King David sought peace with the Gibeonites, and learned that the price would not be silver, gold, or any such thing, but seven sons of Saul delivered to them for execution.

King David delivered the seven, carefully omitting Mephibosheth whom he had spared for his dear friend Jonathan’s sake. It was not an easy task. Delivering these seven men up for execution when they had done nothing wrong had to be hard, but in those days everyone understood that wrath was visited upon offspring to the third and fourth generation as stated in Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Num. 14:18, and Deuteronomy 5:9

The Gibeonites hanged the seven men. However, there is more to the story. Rizpah, a daughter of Saul, and mother of two of the seven men, took sackcloth and spread it upon a large rock, and watched after the hanging corpses from the beginning of harvest time to the rainy season. She suffered neither birds nor beasts to defile the dead bodies. It was then that King David commanded the bodies to be buried together with the bones of Saul and Jonathan. After that, God was entreated for the land.

The love of this mother for her sons was a strong love. It was far from pleasant to be the guardian of hanging corpses. But it should be noted that not a word is written about her attitude other than being a caring, loving person. Doubtless there were tears of bitterness as she witnessed the terrible price of a bad legacy. It should cause everyone to rejoice that they may leave an exceedingly better legacy for those who follow. Those who may look backward to godly parents and grandparents, should continue in thanksgiving for such a godly legacy.

As the pointers of the close of the age appear, so much more is the reason for building and leaving a godly legacy for the offspring of the third and fourth generations. Dear reader, are you working on that?

FOR THOUGHT: What is the legacy handed to you? A great Christian one will bring joy to your heart. If it is less than that, what are you doing to change it for those who follow you?

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