Rizpah

2 Samuel 21:10

“And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.”

Yesterday, I heard and watched a retelling of the story of Rizpah.

Who, you ask?

I asked the same question.

Her part in scripture is not huge, and it’s easy to skim over. But I encourage you to read it in its entirety.

But as I listened to it be retold, and the challenge that was given with it, I honestly have thought of nothing else since.

The message that I heard yesterday was this; don’t let the enemy get to your kids, or kids in your life that you love and care for. Because one day, the king will come and hear your cries. The world around you may look dark and hopeless, but stay, fight the enemy off. Stay, and keep anything from touching your children until the king comes. And he will come. Don’t give up until he comes. It’s worth the fight, no matter how long it takes.

Rizpah stood guard over her own children, as well as the children of Michal. The days and nights were long, she had no shelter. Yet she refused to leave until the King came.

She never relaxed.

She never gave up.

She kept her vow to protect, not only her children, but the children of others.

Until the King came.

She had been there so long, but she never gave up believing that the King would hear her, and come.

Stand.

Stay.

Your children need you to do so.

The children of others need you to do so.

No one else will, if you don’t.

Protect them.

Guard them.

Keep anything from touching them.

Until the King comes.

Are they not worth you labor?

Are they not worth your focus?

The enemy is waiting for you to allow him to sneak around, and get to those children.

Stay vigilant.

The King IS coming.