Brown's Daily Word 6-8-10

Good morning,
Praise the Lord for the way He is at work in the world today. He rules and overrules. He is mighty to save. He is mighty to accomplish His divine purpose in the world. At times He is pleased to use people like us to accomplish His perfect plans. Our daughter, Sunita, is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with her work. She sent an e-mail that she arrived safely in Ethiopia after a long flight. She attended worship in an Anglican church on Sunday, worshipping the Lord with believers from various nations. It is exhilarating and a great thrill worship the Risen Lord.
I have been reading from 1 Samuel 25 this morning about Nabal and his wife, Abigail, mentioned in verses 2 and 3. Nabal was a very wealthy man; however he was both harsh and evil in his dealings. His very name means "fool". When David tried to get help from Nabal, he was dealing with a man who lived his life as if he never had to reckon with God. Abigail could not have been more different from her husband. Their marriage was a study in contrasts. Her name means "source of joy". Furthermore, her name even suggests God's ownership. Her appearance and character are also described, revealing that she was a woman of wisdom, intelligence, and elegance. She had beauty within and without. She was not ruled by her emotions, but remained balanced and prudent in a difficult situation. She became a key person to effect the Lord's plans in David's life. People of godly influence are invaluable provisions. They add value to others. The Lord uses people of godly wisdom to speak wise counsel into our lives that will keep us on course toward His kingdom purpose being realized. The situation in which Abigail found herself demanded a prudent response. It was a potentially dangerous, even explosive, situation which presented itself in Abigail's life, yet she didn't hesitate in her actions. Her resourcefulness placed her in a position to make a difference. She was able to rectify the situation with David's and his men and extend a stay of execution for her wicked husband. In the same similar actions should mark each of us who serve Jesus, and we are to extend grace to multitudes who might never know Him. In Ephesians 5:15 it is written, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Billy Graham said, "Unless our belief in God causes us to serve, then our faith stands condemned."
Abigail took upon herself much of the blame on behalf of her wicked husband, Nabal. It was her submission to David that earned her a right to appeal to him. Imagine the sight of such a spread of food and the humility of her approach. "David, my lord, I place myself on your mercy as your servant. Relent your anger." This represents a principle stated over and over again in Scripture. The way up in the kingdom is to first go down. It is modeled for us in Jesus, the good shepherd who leaves the 99 in order to pursue one that is lost, the same Savior who girded himself with a towel and a wash basin. We are never more like Jesus than when we don the spirit of servanthood. Integrity, by definition, implies whole-hearted devotion. It is in complete honesty that Abigail came to David. Abigail fulfilled her loyalty to her husband even though he was wicked and, by all natural observation, deserving of all that he had coming to him. We see no implication that she was scheming to rid herself from the relationship with Nabal. She was honest and forthright about the moral failings and weaknesses in Nabal. In somewhat of a humorous way she said, Well, what do you expect from a foolish man, whose name means fool? Nevertheless, her purpose is to avert certain death for her husband. It was her loyalty on display.
Consider for a moment that David could trust Abigail because of her integrity. His heart reasoned with her plea because he knew that he was in the presence of a woman of integrity. David could trust Abigail because she came to him in honesty. She came to him in the exhibition of undivided loyalty. She expressed faith in God's purpose and work in David's life. One of the great challenges today is to believe in people. We almost make a virtue out of not trusting, but true people of faith see God's possibilities in others.
Abigail expressed faith in what God could do in her own life. In verse 31, she acknowledges what God would do in David and requested that David remember her service to him. Our world desperately needs people of faith, influencers of faith. May God keep us as flexible and teachable.
In Christ our Lord,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ