From Tragedy to Triumph

Malcolm Calvert concludes our series Visible Women with a talk about Rizpah from 2 Samuel 21:1-14. The brutal back drop to this story is one where King Saul has caused great devastation to the Gibeonites, despite a promise not to harm them. Now that David is King he wants to offer atonement for Saul’s actions. The result is that seven of Saul’s descendants, are killed and hung out for all to see. Rizpah is the mother of two of these men and in her grief, keeps vigil over the bodies for six months. Malcolm uncovers how Rizpah’s response affected David and what her actions tell us about the nature, character and heart of God.