Austin's Blog

I was reading a book for bereaved parents when the author mentioned Rizpah as a hero in the Scriptures. I thought, “Who?” She certainly is rarely if ever included in lists of biblical heroes. So, who is this woman? In 2 Samuel 21, Rizpah, the former concubine of King Saul, is depicted as a figure of profound loyalty and grief. After the Gibeonites execute seven of Saul’s descendants as retribution for his actions against them, Rizpah, a newly bereaved mother, vigilantly guards the bodies of her sons and relatives, preventing animals and birds from scavenging them. The passage says:

“Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of 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” (2 Samuel 21:10).

Her last act of love for her sons was to stand watch over their bodies and protect them from the elements and the animals. In her grief, she became a sentinel, remembering them, defending them, and keeping vigil over them in sackcloth and ashes. So much had been taken from her and yet, she still had love to give to her sons.

What was the outcome of Rizpah’s loyalty to her sons? Her dedication, spanning from the beginning of the barley harvest until rains fell, captured King David’s attention. Moved by her devotion, David retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan, along with those of the executed, and ensured they received a proper burial. Her actions led to the restoration of divine favor for Israel. The Lord responded to her watchfulness, her continued attentiveness, and her loyalty to her sons by blessing the nation and moving the heart of the king to action.

How does this apply to us today? As bereaved parents, a part of our calling is to remember our children, to steward their legacies, and to hold out hope concerning the goodness of God until we are restored to our children in the grand End of all things. Tim Challies writes, “Just as [God] calls some to proclaim his gospel in far-off lands, he calls some to bear witness to his goodness in grief. Just as he calls some to bravely face the fire of persecution, he calls some to courageously face the pain of bereavement. Just as he calls some to give generously and some to act mercifully, he calls some to grieve faithfully.” Our love certainly didn’t end with their earthly life. The task before us is to “stand watch” and testify to the goodness of God in the midst of loss.