21:1 The land of Israel is out of balance, experiencing a three year long drought, and David asks God how to rectify it. God answers that there is a relationship Saul destroyed as king that needs to be restored. Under his reign, some of the Israelites killed some of the Gibeonites (the Gibeonites had a treaty with Israel which was supposed to ally them).
21:2 God as always been clear that all people are accepted as His children if they choose Him. The Gibeonites chose God but Saul viewed them as outsiders, foreigners. He never accepted them as spiritual family. Saul became obsessed with creating an exclusive club. This is one of the most terrible of Saul's decisions as kings: he closed to door on God's children. God accepts and loves us all equally, regardless where we are from or which tribe we are descended from. But Saul decided only to accept Israelites.
21:3 Even though David did not cause the problem, he was humble enough to submit to God's will. David opens communication between Israel and the Gibeonites and asks them how he can restore their relationship on behalf of God.
21:4-6 The Gibeonites tell David that they do not want money or to kill any innocent people. Instead, they wish to have the people who killed their fellow Gibeonites to be killed: seven men in total who are related to Saul. David agrees.
21:7-10 David delivers the seven men: Armoni, Mephibosheth (not Jonathan's son), the two sons of Rizpah, and five sons of Michal. David was not punished for this decision by God which leads us to believe that these particular men were indeed guilty of crimes against the Gibeonites.
21:11-14 David finds out that Saul and Jonathon were never properly buried. He retrieves their bones and buries them. With the unresolved business of the past resolved, the famine went away (as God again heeded the prayers of the people in the land). As we righteously resolve the imbalances in our lives, restoring justice and implementing God's will, we become ready to have our prayers answered. For prayers are requests for new and different things. Before providing them, God teaches us to be responsible enough to have them and keep them. Showing Him that we can handle what we have now with faith and righteousness, allows Him to see that we can handle the new things we ask for.
21:15-17 The Philistines begin another war against Israel. David and his men fight against them and David becomes frail (he is beginning to feel his age). But in his moment of physical weakness, David is saved by Abishai. David's men ask him not to join the battle anymore because they fear that losing their king would be a worse defeat than Israel could handle.
21:18-19 The word "giant" is used in these verses. These were not actually giants but a people who tended to be tall and large. The battles continue against the Philistines.
21:20-22 A fierce warrior of the Philistines is killed by Jonathan, the son of Shimea (David's brother). The tribes of Israel are successful against their enemies because they have been steadfastly faithful to God's philosophy of righteousness.
