Scripture
32David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. 34For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.” 35Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.” 1 Samuel 25:32-35
Observation
Up to this point, David’s M.O. has been to pray and ask God for direction and confirmation before going to battle. This time around though David took matters in his own hands and was ready to defend the honor of his men when Nabal insulted them as well as his own reputation. David was offended and was about to sin against the Lord by letting anger take control. If not for the incredible wisdom and timely intercession of Nabal’s wife Abigail many would have lost their lives that day and David would have ruined his reputation instead of defending. In the words of Abigail, offense promises relief but instead becomes “a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance.” (vs. 31) In today’s reading, He was attacked once again by the Pharisees. Instead of retaliating in offense, He shows the only way forward is mercy, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ (Mt. 9:13) James 2:13 puts it this way, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.” Jesus was teaching his disciples then and now that we can take up offense or take up the cross but we can’t take up both. Mercy is a two-way street. If we want it we need to give it. Because Jesus chose to forgive the unforgivable we can choose to be unoffendable.
Application
It’s amazing how many opportunities are presented to me every day to be offended by those I say I love the most. My family knows my buttons and, after almost 40 Days in the same house together, we have had many buttons pushed and many chances to respond harshly. What David and the Son of David are teaching me is that where there is offense there is a fence. Every time Cyndi rearranges the dishes in the dishwasher because I didn’t “do it the right way” or my boys don’t pay attention to the video sermon when I’m preaching because they’d rather watch Disney Plus, I have a choice. Will I walk in mercy or build a fence? Sadly, I’ve had to tear down a few fences in my home lately because there’s no room left when I’m stuck in offense. I’ve had to ask my wife and my boys to forgive me for a cutting remark or a raised voice and when I do, that fence of offense gets demolished. Offense is like an automatic weapon. Once we pull the trigger it keeps shooting. When we are offended we are fighting the wrong battle and friendly fire becomes the norm. When I realized offense was a choice and not some unavoidable response it really changed my perspective. I want mercy to triumph in my home. When I find that I am curt in my responses when I am holding on to an offense from the day before I bring it to the Lord as quickly as possible. No more fences. No more friendly fire. I’m choosing daily to remain unoffendable and there’s a lot of freedom in that!
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for putting limits on Your love. Forgive me for forgetting how much you have forgiven me of and how much You have loved me through so many difficult attitudes. Forgive me for choosing to quarrel over showing The Cross. For choosing defensiveness over developing relationships. For wanting to be right instead of doing what’s right. I’m pretty disgusted with how shallow my love is at times and I’m thankful for this chance to address that as You heal my heart. You said, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” (Mt. 17). I’m tearing down the fences between my family and me by owning up to my part in the division. I’m putting a guard over my mouth so that the words that come from mouth actually build up instead of tear down.
Comments