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Zephaniah 2:5-7 Thoughts about the Cherethites - Day 344

Good rainy windy morning beloved,

This passage illustrates the principle that nothing in scripture is inconsequential.  It is there for a reason.

Blessings

Jeff

This passage made me wonder about the Cherethites.  The prophet is pronouncing woe upon them just before Judah goes into exile, but they had been a group of foreign mercenary soldiers serving as a bodyguard for king David; also executioners.  How did David come to have mercenaries as bodyguards? How did they go from the inner circle to just another bunch of pagans condemned by God?

Obviously, there is no clear explanation in Scripture, so it not really necessary to understand the how and why.  However, David did seem to collect to himself men who were not natural allies.  1 Chronicles 12 lists the 30 mighty men that came to him.  They were Benjaminites who should have been loyal to Saul their kinsmen.  Later Uriah the Hittite is listed as one of the 30.  So perhaps some of the Cherethites went over to him when they saw what a good leader he was.  They would have deserted their countrymen, so their loyalty to David was certain.  They couldn't go back home.  Much like when David joined the Philistines while hiding from Saul.

But on the other hand, the rest of the Cherethites who did not go over to David remained outside of the kingdom.

Possible application:

Children of Abraham are not limited to physical descendants.  It is a matter of faith.  Sometimes, it is the ones who seem to be the least likely that are brought into the Kingdom.  

Example of the "whosoever will" call of the gospel.  Sceptics often object to the "one way to God" message of the gospel as being exclusive.  Yet this one way is not limited to one ethnic or social group.  No one should say "God would never chose me, I have done too much wrong".  God made some Cherethites into David's bodyguard.  He can bring anyone into His kingdom.  However, bringing some does not imply that He brings all.

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