“The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure” - Proverbs 14:16 (NIV).
Have you ever encountered a situation where soon after doing someone a favor, you too, had a need, only to be repulsed like vermin! This is what happened to King David who at one point offered protection to a one Nabal. David’s men night and day had a wall around protecting Nabals sheep (1 Samuel 25:6). But when David later sent his men to Nabal for a favour, he scoffed back, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where” (vv 10-11).
Of course it hurt! David swore to go out and teach this man some lesson. “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!” (vv 21-22).
What saved the day was that Nabal by a strange coincidence had married an “intelligent and beautiful woman” (vv 3). Abigail, on learning of the imminent attack, without wasting and even warning Nabal, hurried to prepare a gift which she went ahead to deliver to David in person.
“Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal” Abigail pleaded (vv 25). “He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you” (vv 25- 26).
This entreaty and gift cooled down David who rescinded and turned back. On Nabal hearing later what had happened, “his heart failed him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died” (vv 37- 38.)
The Bible has many passages where it warns us not being as foolish as Nabal. Here was a man who had once been helped only to hurl back insults when a simple request was made. His foolishness risked the death of an entire group of people under him. This is why Proverbs 3:35 says, “The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven, today I pray for the wisdom you liberally give and bless your servants with, to guide and lead me on, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
