Helping the Helpers (David and Abigail)

So Dave was on the run...the guards had his spear-gun...and right about then it was time to have some fun...

So last we left David, he had defeated a giant and circumcised 200 grown men! The king, named Saul, was still upset at him and had David on the run for his life.

During this time...even though he was running for his life, David kept on fighting battles against the Philistines!! That's right, even though the king was trying to off him, David kept fighting for Saul! Talk about dedication!

At one point, David and his men are hiding in a cave as Saul's army passes by...and Saul has to use the bathroom. So where does he choose to relieve himself?? Yep...right in the cave!! David is encouraged to kill the king, but instead, he sneaks up and cuts away a corner of his robe...later presenting it to Saul as proof that David could have killed him.

Now...I'm not sure about you...or what kind of business the king was taking care of...but if I am in a dark cave using the bathroom, I am fairly sure that my spider-senses would be on high alert!! David must've been an Israeli Ninja or something!!

Then comes Nabal...a harsh dude that had many shepherds that traveled around. At one point in the past, they had encountered David's small army and the army had protected them for some time. As David and his army crossed into Nabal's land, David sent a gentle request for some aid in payment for the help they had given Nabal's shepherds. Nabal not only refused...but did so very disrespectfully!

Now...in most of our minds this plays out like some scene from The Godfather, but remember the time period...Sheep were extremely valuable! Protection was an extreme luxury! And...what David asked for was almost customary in most cases when people visited your lands...

When David heard what Nabal's response was, he looked at his men and said "Suit up boys! This guy and his whole crew dies before sunrise!"

As they marched towards Nabal's estate, they were met by a young woman named Abigail. She brought with her many gifts of food and supplies in addition to begging for her foolish husbands life. She reminds David that he is the chosen king of Israel and that God is with him.

David suddenly realizes that he is about to sin and sends Abigail back to her husband and his estate in peace. Ten days later Nabal dies of a heart attack and David asks Abigail to be his wife.

"She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master's servants." - 1 Samuel 25:41

I love the fact that even while David was being pursued by his Earthly king, he kept serving his Heavenly King by fighting the Philistines!! How easy it would have been to just step back and let them go at it...

The fact that David was enraged and about to take vengeance himself is a HUGE relief to someone like me!! I mean...David was about as close to walking with God as any man before him! It just goes to show that WE ARE ALL SINNERS!! It is in our nature to be sinner's...no matter how closely we walk with God, we cannot fully escape it!

Finally, the scripture I quoted above really hit me. "...and wash the feet of my master's servants."! Wow...WOW! How many times have I been so concentrated on being the good servant and not taken time to serve the Master's servants!! Wow...

Thanks for reading!!

Love your neighbor as yourself!!