Today’s Tasting: I Samuel 25–27 NLT: On his journey through the wilderness, David and his men protected the shepherds of a wealthy landowner named Nabal. Nabal was crude and mean, but he had a beautiful, smart wife, Abigail. Sometime later David sent messengers to Nabal, asking for food for the men traveling with him, but Nabal refused and hurled insults toward the men.
“Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants went to Abigail and told her, ‘David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed insults at them. These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us. In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep’” (I Samuel 25:14–17).
Abigail acted quickly. Without telling her husband, she gathered up food for David’s men and hurried out to meet David as he and his men were approaching.
“David had just been saying, ‘A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good. May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!’” (verses 20–22).
Abigail pleaded with David not to take revenge on Nabal, and offered him the provisions she had brought. She reminded him that he was doing the will of the Lord and that he should be careful not to shed blood without cause. So David spared Nabal and continued on his journey. About ten days later, Nabal died. When David heard, he said, “Praise the Lord, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin” (verse 39). Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to marry him.
David is fleeing for his life and yet he finds the time to show kindness to strangers. At the time, David did not expect anything in return. However, not long after, he needed food and supplies for his people. David thought it was acceptable for him to ask Nabal for some food to continue his journey. When Abigail heard that Nabal had refused David, she acted quickly to prevent David from retaliating.
Today’s Nourishment: As people who profess to be followers of Christ, we should always behave in a way that represents His teachings. Today’s lesson focuses on how we treat our neighbors. First, the Bible instructs us that, no matter how people treat us, we must respond to them in love and pray for them. This may not always be easy but God will not fight our battles for us if we do not. David accepted Abigail’s gift of food, then God dealt with Nabal. Ten days later he was dead. Imagine how different Nabal’s story might have been if he had chosen to send even bread and water to David.
The second part of today’s lesson shows that Abigail gained favor because of her kindness and later became a wife of David. We should treat everyone the way we desire to be treated. This allows God to fulfill His promises to us. Our attitudes and actions, whether right or wrong, always bear more of the same fruit in our lives. Remembering that our behaviors and actions affect not only us, but also those in our household and others around us.
I pray this for us today: Dear God, we ask you to forgive us for anything that we have thought, said, or done that does not line up with Your will and way. Help us to forgive others and bless our enemies while we pray for those who curse us. Guide our thoughts and actions so that we will never be surprised by what returns to us and so that our families and communities never suffer because of the deeds we render unto others daily. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Tomorrows Tasting: Psalms 17, 35, 54, and 63
Sonyita S. Connor-Clemons
Website: www.totallifeprosperityllc.com
Email: sonyita@totallifeprosperityllc.com
Twitter: @sonyitais & @mastermoneymgmt
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Sonyita, your statement, “Our attitudes and actions, whether right or wrong, always bear more of the same fruit in our lives” is so true. Whatever we sow, we reap. Whatever we judge, we will receive the same judgment. Have you ever found yourself judging something about someone in your mind, and find that months or years later, you are doing or going through the same thing? I have and know that judging like that isn’t my position. My position is to love and help restore others who have fallen. Lord, help me to walk in love.
Thank you for such a powerful word Sonyita! Each of us need to hear this word today. I’m definitely sharing and passing this on.
Yes good word. The fruit we bear and the attitudes we have must show the love of God in our lives in order for Christ to shine through our lives.