In going through some older writings I came across a post that teaches us the importance of being a peace-maker. In 1
Samuel 25, we can read of the account of Nabal versus David. Nabal was a
very rich man married to a woman named Abigail. We are told that
Abigail was not only beautiful, but discerning, however her husband,
Nabal, was “harsh and badly behaved”. In this account we learn of
how David had been a wall of protection to Nabal's shepherds while
they pastored their master's flocks in the wilderness, but when David
sends some of his servants to Nabal to request some food for his men
in exchange for their kindness, David's servants are treated very
rudely and sent away empty handed.(vss.5-12) David is highly insulted
at Nabal's treatment and his response is to tell every man to strap
on their swords.. However, in God's providence, one of Nabal's young
men told Abigail, “Behold,
David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and
he railed at them. Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered
no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as
long as we went with them. They were a wall to us both by night and
by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now
therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is
determined against our master and against all his house, and he is
such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him” (! Samuel
25:14-17).
Then
we can read of how Abigail wisely made haste and gathered together
much food and laid it all on donkeys and then told her young men to
go before her and she would follow them. Before they completed their
errand, they were met by David and his men, who were also on an
errand, but one of a different kind, as evidenced through David's
comments, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this
fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that
belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. God do so to
the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as
one male of all who belongs to him” (1 Samuel 25:21- 22).
When Abigail saw David, she hurried down from her donkey and fell
at his feet and pled that he put the guilt of her husband on her as
she had not seen the young men of David's come with their request..
She then implores him to accept the presents she had brought and asks
for David's forgiveness, ending her speech with the following words,
“And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the
good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince
over Israel, my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of
conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking
vengeance himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord,
then remember your servant” (1 Sam. 25:30-31).
This
is David's response to Abigail's errand as peacemaker, “Blessed
be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this
day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! For as
surely as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from
hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by
morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” Then
David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to
her, 'Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice,
and I have granted your petition' ” (1 Sam. 25:32-35).
What
a great example of not only the importance of being a peacemaker, but
also of being willing to listen to the one who is
attempting to bring peace between ourselves and another who we may be
in conflict with. In Matthew 5:9 we are told, “Blessed are the peacemakers...” .
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