I have always loved the story of Abigail, always wondering why David searched any further for any other woman when he seems to have found the "perfect" woman for him in her.
Her first husband is a fool and everyone who knows him knows it, including her. It could have been easy for her to pull into her own cocoon of dashed hopes and unmet longings for what she lacked in a husband. We see no evidence of this attitude in her. Instead on the day of perhaps his greatest folly when he basically "spits in the face" of the man who is largely responsible for preserving all the lives of the people of Israel and in the words of the people has "slayed his ten thousands," she maintains complete presence of mind. She intercepts the warrior David as a woman with no weapons and as the wife of the one who has offended him exceedingly. She in turn saves the household, her own life and the lives of all of the servants and stewards of the house. Certainly, Abigail is a heroine in the great stories told in the pages of Scripture.
What I never saw until recently are the words Abigail offered David to encourage his soul and to pronounce Divine Promise upon his life. She speaks to David words of great faith and hope in God recognizing that he is not fighting his own battles but the Lord's. (I Samuel 25:28) She goes further and speaks beautiful words of promise "...the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God." (v. 29)
David had been running from Saul who chased him all over as he sought to undo the inevitable future. He knew David was going to be king. He still pursued. David has already been anointed by Samuel but much fleeing from his enemies has ensued since that anointing. We know from the Psalms that David was full of anguish and great doubt at times. He was tired and now this ridiculous Nabal was daring to deny a meal to men who had protected him and the lives of his workers. Aside from the rage that now was sure to consume David, he must have wondered if the things Samuel spoke would really come to pass. Perhaps he would indeed die before he ruled as king.
This beautiful picture of being bound in the bundle of the living reflect an ancient custom of binding valuables in a securely and in such a way so that they would not be harmed. The protection was certain because of how they were bound and the valuable items were so arranged because they were precious.
David's life seemed anything but precious to so many others. He had little value as a nomad and not yet king. On this day, he had no concern for his reputation. He was exhausted and hungry and did not feel like he was safely bound anywhere. Yet, here is this woman of grace not only turning aside his rage and sparing her own life and the lives of her household but pronouncing promise to David that his life would be kept safe despite what things seemed around him.
We have that same protection as children of the living God. David was the man after God's own heart who would conquer all of God's enemies and finish the work that God had marked out for him as warrior and conqueror. There is work that God has for each of us. There is so much to fear in this world but we have a secure promise to make our own here. Our lives are kept safe as the ancient valuables were. "We are invincible until our work on earth is done." (Spurgeon)
Hallelujah!
Whom shall we fear?
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
The Day In Between
The anticipation of the day of His rising is brimming all around us ... about to bubble over in Hallelujah after Hallelujah. It's not hard for us on this side of the resurrection to feel excitement at the anticipation of a day that marks His triumph over that last enemy... even death itself. But have you ever pondered what this day inbetween held for those closest to Jesus?
His nearest friends, the disciples, couldn't even keep their eyes open as he had directed them to pray lest they fall into temptation. To be fair, this was not the fatigue we feel from long days of busyness or the malaise of the "blah" we may feel on a given day. The Bible says it was from sorrow they slept. Stumbling from the guilt of their slumber, they watched as Jesus was arrested. Though he had told of the hour of His betrayal, the shock was still real and each forsook and fled his own way. They didn't run away together that they might be comforted with the reminders of their time with Him and the words He spoke. What a time of great despair this must have been. Did any think of running away as far as they could or even despaired unto death as the psalmist speaks of? Similar to the psalmist however, they had not been left without hope. If they could just believe that what He said would come to pass... that He would rise from the grave on the next day.
Or what of our Lord's mother? We know she stood at His feet as he breathed His last. Jesus was her son but moreso He was her Saviour. Could she muster up the hope that He would live again, in the face of her overwhelming grief? Or Martha who had been told by Jesus Himself that He was indeed the resurrection and the life? She and her sister, Mary, had witnessed tbe raising of their brother, Lazarus, on the 4th day after his death. And what about Lazarus himself? Surely he could set the record straight and declare his utter expectation that Jesus would rise. But no such declaration is recorded. Little is written about the activity of Jesus' nearest and dearest on this day in between His death and resurrection.
Are you weak in faith today? Do you wonder how things that seem unclear will ever be made clear? Is there a hope in you that is rising with anticipation at all the promises He will yet fulfill? Or are you dull to all of this, bogged down with tbe cares of your busy days and nights? Does anything matter more than the anticipation of seeing that empty tomb and knowing that all the powers of hell and earth could not hold Him? Do you live in hope and expectation that He will indeed come again to judge the earth and all who love His appearing through all the ages will be with Him forever? We know that on this day in between the disciples felt a wide range of emotions. One thing is certain to me, once they saw their Lord, it was the most amazing hope fulfilled in their lifetime. Doubting, despairing, feeble and frail ones, will you look to Him for the hope you desperately need? For indeed each and every one of His promises will come to pass.
His nearest friends, the disciples, couldn't even keep their eyes open as he had directed them to pray lest they fall into temptation. To be fair, this was not the fatigue we feel from long days of busyness or the malaise of the "blah" we may feel on a given day. The Bible says it was from sorrow they slept. Stumbling from the guilt of their slumber, they watched as Jesus was arrested. Though he had told of the hour of His betrayal, the shock was still real and each forsook and fled his own way. They didn't run away together that they might be comforted with the reminders of their time with Him and the words He spoke. What a time of great despair this must have been. Did any think of running away as far as they could or even despaired unto death as the psalmist speaks of? Similar to the psalmist however, they had not been left without hope. If they could just believe that what He said would come to pass... that He would rise from the grave on the next day.
Or what of our Lord's mother? We know she stood at His feet as he breathed His last. Jesus was her son but moreso He was her Saviour. Could she muster up the hope that He would live again, in the face of her overwhelming grief? Or Martha who had been told by Jesus Himself that He was indeed the resurrection and the life? She and her sister, Mary, had witnessed tbe raising of their brother, Lazarus, on the 4th day after his death. And what about Lazarus himself? Surely he could set the record straight and declare his utter expectation that Jesus would rise. But no such declaration is recorded. Little is written about the activity of Jesus' nearest and dearest on this day in between His death and resurrection.
Are you weak in faith today? Do you wonder how things that seem unclear will ever be made clear? Is there a hope in you that is rising with anticipation at all the promises He will yet fulfill? Or are you dull to all of this, bogged down with tbe cares of your busy days and nights? Does anything matter more than the anticipation of seeing that empty tomb and knowing that all the powers of hell and earth could not hold Him? Do you live in hope and expectation that He will indeed come again to judge the earth and all who love His appearing through all the ages will be with Him forever? We know that on this day in between the disciples felt a wide range of emotions. One thing is certain to me, once they saw their Lord, it was the most amazing hope fulfilled in their lifetime. Doubting, despairing, feeble and frail ones, will you look to Him for the hope you desperately need? For indeed each and every one of His promises will come to pass.
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