Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Wednesday, 18 April 2018 - "Think Before You Speak" by Grand Christy - 1 Samuel 25:1-13

The Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - The Global Church of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Wednesday, 18 April 2018 - "Think Before You Speak" by Grand Christy - 1 Samuel 25:1-13
"Think Before You Speak " by Grand Christy - 1 Samuel 25:
1
 Sh’mu’el died. All of Isra’el assembled to mourn him and bury him at his home in Ramah.
Then David set out and went down to the Pa’ran Desert. 2 Now there was a man in Ma‘on who had property in Karmel. He was very rich, having three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and he was shearing his sheep in Karmel. 3 The man’s name was Naval, and his wife was named Avigayil. The woman was intelligent and attractive, but the man was surly and mean in his actions; he belonged to the clan of Kalev. 4 David, there in the desert, heard that Naval was shearing his sheep. 5 David sent off ten young men with these orders: “Go up to Naval in Karmel, and bring him greetings from me. 6 Say, ‘Long life and shalom to you, shalom to your household, and shalom to everything that is yours! 7 I’ve heard that you now have shearers. Your shepherds were with us [for a while], we did them no harm, and they found nothing missing all the time they were in Karmel. 8 Ask your own men; they’ll tell you. Therefore, receive my men favorably, since we have come on a festive day. Please give what you can to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 On arrival, David’s men said all these things to Naval in David’s name. When they had finished, 10 Naval answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Yishai? There are many servants nowadays running away from their masters. 11 Am I supposed to take my bread, my water and my meat that I slaughtered for my shearers and give it to men coming from who knows where?” 12 So David’s men turned around, went back and came and told him everything Naval had said. 13 David said to his men, “Buckle your swords on, all of you!” Each one buckled on his sword, David too; and there went up after David about four hundred men, while two hundred stayed with the equipment.
(Complete Jewish Bible).
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The name Nabal means “fool” in Hebrew. Whether that was the given name of the rich man or was a later addition to the story, we soon find out that it certainly was a fitting name given his actions in 1 Samuel 25. David and his men provided protection to Nabal’s men while they were shearing sheep, and treated them fairly. In return, David sent a contingent of men to respectfully ask Nabal for some provisions as a simple gesture of gratitude.
Nabal had the means to provide provisions to David and his men. He certainly had a reason to be grateful towards David. Nabal, however, seemed to think that his wealth excused him from common decency and reciprocity. Nabal assumed his privilege entitled him to David’s protection. So without thinking, he speaks as if David is nothing more than a runaway slave. Unknown to Nabal, his thoughtless comments have invited disaster on himself. His careless words have created trouble where there was no trouble before. We must remember that words are powerful. We must take great care with our speech so as to not create needless trouble, for us or for others.
Hymn for Today: "I Would Be True" by Howard A. Walter.
1. I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare,
I would be brave, for there is much to dare. 
2. I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift,
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift. 
Amen.
Thought for Today: who remembers us whenever we are brought low,
for his grace continues forever; (Psalm 136:23)(Complete Jewish Bible).
Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Thailand.
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