Unfinished Business

Have you ever felt stuck in life? Is there something left incomplete that has kept you from moving forward. No matter how hard you try, you are just stuck.

The same thing happened with King David. Although David has been described as a man after God's own heart, he often found himself in the middle of some pretty big messes. It is now the latter part of his rule as King. His son Absalom is dead. After years of undermining his authority and causing dissension among the people of God, he has been killed. David then returns to Jerusalem with plenty of unfinished business to attend to.

During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death." 2 Samuel 21:1

Through the ups and downs of life there is one thing David had learned how to do and that was to seek the face of God. What the Lord revealed to him that day was that God's blessing was not upon Israel because of the sin of Saul and his household. One thing is for sure, God expects His people to be a people of their word.

Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. Ecclesiastes 5:5-6a

Saul had entered into a commitment with the Gibeonites to spare their lives. But instead he had chosen to try to annihilate them. Many years later, the people of Israel were suffering for the prior kings rebellious acts. God was calling Israel into account for their actions.

In order for the blessing of God to once again be upon His people, the people had to make things right with the Gibeonites. When David asked what could be done to make amends, the Gibeonites asked that seven male descendants of Saul be put to death and exposed before the Lord at Gebeah.

David did as they asked. The seven grandsons of Saul were put to death on the first day of the harvest. The skies opened up and it began to rain.

How do we deal with unfinished business? How do we deal with things left undone?

• First, we must repent. We have to admit that we have done wrong.
• Second, we must recommit to fulfilling our vow.

Do you have any unfinished business in your life? Is there a broken relationship that needs to be mended? Is there someone you need to forgive or who needs your forgiveness? How about a commitment that you have not fulfilled? Do you feel like the blessing of God has been removed from your life? As the Bible says, examine yourself. Do you have unfinished business?

Beth Moore says, "Rebellion inevitably leads to a famine in our relationship to God. A new beginning is as close as the fresh smell of rain".

It's beginning to rain- hear the the voice of my father-
Saying who so ever will, come and drink of this water-
I promise to pour My spirit out, on your sons and your daughters-
If your thisty and dry, look up to the sky, it's beginning to rain!