Think before you speak.

I apologize for the disappearing act.  I spent the last several days in Arizona working at a magnificent Hotel/Resort that had no Internet connection. Of course, they advertise they have wi-fi, but neither my co-workers nor I were able to access it even after paying the $50 fee. Therefore, I could not post the new blog entries, but I kept a journal of them and so I could send them to you now.

1 Samuel 25: 20-35

After protecting and guarding Nabal’s livestock David goes to him and ask him for reimbursement for his men. However, Nabal dismisses David refusing to repay him. David vows to wage war upon the house of Nabal and to striking down ever male in his house by morning.

The interesting part of this story is that David, anointed by God as the next great King and one who is righteous, sets out to destroy not only a man, but also a village of people, all because of the inequities of Nabal. However, every time David had the chance to kill Saul, who was hell-bent on destroying David, he spares Sauls life, showing great humility and grace.  So, what is going on here? How can David feel justified in killing dozens of innocent children and men, but feel bad about killing one man in self-defense?

Is it because Saul was once a great leader and an anointed King of God? Is it because he fears that every chance he had to kill Saul was in a sneaky or dishonorable fashion? What stays his hand for one but not for many?

I will deposit that the answer lies within the way David believes in God. It seems to me he believes that God gives him the ability, even the right to destroy nations of people, because they are not the chosen ones. However, in the case of Saul, he looks at him as one of the Chosen few. He sees Saul as part of the special people, which is why, even though God delivers Saul to him twice, he is unable to bring harm to Saul, for fear that he may be going against God’s will.

I will go one more step further than David and say that I believe were are all God’s creation and because of that, we are all the special or chosen people.

Anyway, in the end of the story of Nabal, Nabal’s wife saves his life by paying homage to David, and begging for her husband’s forgiveness. Her words of kindness and wisdom stop David from destroying her village and the men in it.

This is the most important part of the story, because David the “righteous man” shows he possesses bad judgment. He believes he has the Lords blessing to slaughter those that oppose him, if they are not the chosen ones. However, David learns through Abigail that maybe it is not God’s plan for him to slaughter anyone who opposes him. That maybe God has more special people than David knows.

This really speaks volumes to me about the state of the world we live in. There are people (or Nation) who always seem to justify the slaughtering of another (Nation) by saying, “Hey this is what God wants us to do, and we are the chosen ones of righteousness.” Maybe it is time for more of us to stand up, take the Abigail position, and speak some words of wisdom into the ears of the David’s of the world.

Today, I will not be afraid to speak out when I see an injustice committed.

So, if your boss is bullying your co-worker, speak up!

If someone is laughing at or harassing the homeless guy on the corner, speak up!

If someone is making sexiest comments in the boy or girl’s club, speak up!

As we see in Abigail’s case, a little wisdom goes a long way.