V.1-14 This section proves a very important point — that God is holy, and although something done long ago is forgotten by the people, God remembers it and it must be paid for “God requireth that which is past” (Eccl. 3:15). To understand this chapter, we must first read Joshua 9:3-21. A promise was made that these people, though they had deceived Joshua, would not be destroyed. But king Saul, many years later, in his pretended zeal for the Lord, kills some of them. Now, many years later, God sends a famine for 3 years. David asks the Lord and is told why. There is a danger in thinking that what is past is past. We may go on in a Christian fellowship and not inquire how it came about. Just shutting our eyes to it will not do. It must be judged and separated from if we are going to be blessed of the Lord. David inquired of the Lord. Luke 22:9 is a good question for us all. The balance of this chapter tells us of the feelings, energy and strength of David’s people as his own physical strength declines.