A Radiant Stone

There is a woman in the Bible who knew deep pain and brokenness. Her name is Rizpah.

Rizpah's father was Aiah. He came from a tribal people called Horites who intermarried with the Edomites, the descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:24; 1 Chronicles 1:40). Even though a relative of the Israelites, she was an outsider. A people who were not given the covenants and the Promise Land. Her life as a concubine made her an untouchable and deepened the shame.

She bore two of King Saul's children, Armoni and Mephibosheth. After the death of Saul, Abner, his commander-in-chief, took her as his wife. This resulted in a conflict between him and Saul's son and successor, Ishbosheth. (2 Samuel 3:7-8). She found herself as a pawn in a power struggle. Later King David ordered the death of King Saul's seven sons, including Rizpah's two sons.

In loving devotion it says, "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." (2 Samuel 21:10, KJV). For five months she held a vigil for her children and Saul's sons until the rains fell.

How the memories of her children must have flooded her mind and spilled in a torrent of tears and anguished cries. Who was to hear and why should they care? She was a dead king's concubine.

She thought of her son Armoni which means palatial. Palatial is spacious and splendid, resembling a palace. Perhaps she thought her son was secured in Saul's house. A good position, power and privilege. He was after all the king's son. How many of our dreams were birthed out of pain, a deep sadness and shame. We held to a flickering light of hope for a better tomorrow.

Then there was Mephibosheth whose name means dispeller of shame. Perhaps she thought of her life stained by shame. How many of us struggle against regret, fears and a foreboding sense that our lives have been reduced to some fateful mistake we can't undo. We long to dispel the gnawing sense of shame that eats away our peace and clouds our outlook in what might have been a promising future.

And then there is Rizpah's own name which means coal, a glowing stone. After all the loss and pain, her heart might have grown stone cold, blackened by shame and regret. The warmth and light of life reduced to dying coal.

Beloved God has a promise to everyone who is quickly losing warmth and vitality. Revelations 2:17 says, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (KJV).

Christ is our Rock who keeps are heart from being darkened and lifeless like a stone. Instead He gives us grace to overcome and keeps are hearts soft and teachable.

There is a white stone waiting for you with a new name with a new meaning.