Read: 1 Samuel 25:23-35
If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. (v. 29)
Once, at the end of a summer camp backpacking trip, I received an awesome blessing. I had injured my knees during the week by wearing cheap boots and carrying a heavy pack. My hiking pace had gradually slowed to a painful shuffle. I felt defeated and alone with the last stretch of trail still ahead of me, knowing the group must be done and waiting. Then, one of the campers appeared on the trail ahead, and with kindness and generosity, offered to carry my pack.
In today’s reading, we learn that David and his men were still wandering through the wilderness, hungry, tired, and in need of some kindness and generosity. At the beginning of chapter 25, his men encountered Nabal, a rich man who was unfortunately neither kind nor generous. He rudely turned them away. The situation didn’t turn uglier only because Nabal’s wife, Abigail, offered them food and drink, an apology, and an awesome blessing. It was exactly what they needed to sustain their health, and the good word sustained their souls.
David lapped up Abigail’s words like cool water; a good word in season (Prov. 15:23). When the path through the wilderness is arduous, we crave kind words and generous actions. If you are fortunate to receive a timely, longed-for blessing, be like David who promptly gave Abigail an awesome blessing in return.
As you pray, seek words and actions to return a blessing in kind.
About the Author
Katy Sundararajan is a specialized minister in the Reformed Church in America. She has garnered her pastoral perspectives from posts as a college chaplain, a missionary, an international student advisor, and a higher education and leadership ministries program coordinator.
