The Peacemaker (1 Samuel 25:23-26, 32-33) Mission Blessings

David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me

Good morning! Here is today’s word of blessings for you.
1 Samuel 25:23-26, 32-33

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. 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. 26 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.
32 David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.

Today’s title is “The Peacemaker”

What makes people angry? There may be a lot of different things. But I believe there is one thing that will make most people angry. That is when someone or something hurts people’s self-esteem. A few will somehow manage to contain the anger. But many will burst in anger when his self-esteem is violate no matter how low it is. That was what happened between David and Nabal. Nabal was very wealthy man who had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep. David’s people were with Nabal’s shepherds at Mt Carmel. They treated the shepherds in a friendly manner. David and his people happened to hear that Nabal was shearing sheep which is like a harvest time for the owner of the sheep. David who had a responsibility to feed several hundred people that are with him sent ten young people to Nabal with a friendly message to request some help. To the friendly request, Nabal answered David’s servants, “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?” David’s young servants reported back to David. David exploded because Nabal ruthlessly violated his self-esteem. He said to his servants, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David”. Terrible bloodshed and destruction was looming. The we see in today’s passage, Abigail who is Nabal’s wife steps in to prevent such bloodshed. She was totally opposite to Nabal. She was full of respect for David. When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. Then she earnestly pleaded David to stop the revenge that he was going to do. She was talking as if she knew what was going on in David’s life. “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.” David who was blinded by the anger came to his sense. He said, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.” We do not know whether Abigail indeed had known what David was going through or not. But she certainly had God-given wisdom. She saved a lot of lives and David. That’s the typical role of a peacemaker. God called all Christians to become peacemakers who will reconcile people, save lives, and save God’s people. Are you fulfilling such call of God like Abigail?