Pointless Acts of Love

“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.” (2Sa 21:10 AV)

While Saul was king, he broke a treaty with the Gibeonites made by Joshua and slew many of them.  For this, the LORD sent a famine among Israel.  When David enquired, the LORD told him seven descendants of Saul had to be hanged for the curse to be lifted.  Among them were two sons of Rizpah.  These seven are hung but left on the gallows.  Rizpah, being the loving mother she is, takes her sackcloth, a garment meant to be worn, and constructs a tent.  She then dwells there day and night to keep the birds from mutilating the bodies of her two dear sons.  Interestingly, no other mother did as she did.  She remained there until it was told to David.  To which, David had the bodies removed and given a proper burial.  Once the bodies of the seven men were interred along with Saul and Jonathan, then the LORD sent rain again.  When I meditate upon this, I cannot help but be moved at the depth of love and devotion Rizpah had for her children.  Her sons were not to blame for the actions of their forefather.  Yet, there they hung in disgrace for the choice of another.  The Bible does not indicate how long Rizpah camped out there.  Probably only a matter of days.  But still, she lived in the wilderness under a garment draped between stones to protect the honor of her sons.  That is love!

There are acts of love that may seem pointless.  Oft times, these are the greatest.  It brings to mind the many times I have gone to visit someone who was very near the end of life.  To some, it may seem pointless.  There is nothing that can be done.  That is exactly how one feels sometimes.  What does someone say as they breathe out their last breath?  What comfort can be given as they writhe in pain?  When I was in my twenties, my grandmother passed away.  She was in a coma for a few days before she passed.  My brother and I were the only ones at the time who had surrendered to God’s plan of salvation.  We so badly wanted to give my grandmother the plan of salvation.  But how do you do that?  She cannot respond.  Up until then, there was great debate as to whether a person in a coma can hear and process what happens within earshot.  We didn’t know any better.  So, my brother and I would give my grandmother the plan of salvation over and again.  How pointless, someone would say.  She cannot hear.  She cannot respond.  Whether she could hear or not wasn’t the point.  We had faith in God our efforts were not in vain.  It was a few years later when I came across an Anne Landers advice column.  In that column, a writer had shared how they could hear and process everything that was said in her hospital room while she lay in a coma!  What a comfort to my heart!

Rizpah showed great love for her sons and because of it, David was moved to bury the bodies.  When he did, and only when he did, the famine ceased and rain came.  This mother’s pointless act of love resulted in the saving of a nation.  We may think our efforts don’t amount to much.  We may fear ridicule by our “pointless” acts of love.  But that doesn’t matter.  If the LORD has directed you to share the love of Christ in a way others cannot understand, so be it.  Love is never pointless.  There is always fruit by it.  Even Saul and Jonathan benefited by this mother's pointless act of love.  In a world that is becoming more and more self-centered, love is in short supply.  We stand on opposite sides of the aisle rooting for the other side to suffer.  Wear a mask.  Don’t wear a mask.  Wear gloves.  Don’t wear gloves.  The opinions don’t matter.  We have forgotten how to love.  Maybe you don’t see the point.  That doesn’t matter.  Sacrifice.  Put your own feelings aside and perform a pointless act of love.  It just might change a nation.