Spurgeon was preaching on the Old Testament character Nabal in the sermon that I was listening to as I doing lawn work this morning. I finished my chore and came in and picked up where I had left off in the new book that I bought the other day....a commentary on Jeremiah by well-known Pittsburgh area minister John Guest.....an older book....1988. It began where I left off with mentioning Nabal. Well that's all I need to come in and write a post on it.
David was on the run from Saul at the time. He was providing for his men and himself by protecting the farmers and towns from thieves and marauders. He asked supplies from a very wealthy Nabal....who wasn't going to contribute anything. David was incensed at the lack of gratitude and assembled his men to destroy Nabal. Enter....Abigail....Nabal's wife....who saw what was happening and took supplies out to David herself. David realized that God had intervened from letting him seek revenge and use violence....and kill....because he was offended.
That is the trap that evangelicals have fallen into in the past few years. We are no longer seeking God's righteousness....we are seeking our own righteousness! We are thus consumed with revenge....whether it be on Biden or his son or Fauci or whoever. We are going to lop off heads....just as David was going to.
I was somewhat surprised a few weeks ago while in casual conversation with a good friend. The subject of Trump possibly going to jail came up. My good Christian brother friend brought it up. I didn't even know how he felt about it....and I responded that whether it is Biden or Trump....I don't want to see a former American president actually put behind bars. It happens in other nations....but I would want to avoid that if at all possible. That drew a spark from my mild-mannered friend who asked me....quite rightfully....if the powerful should not also be subject to the law as the weak? I am vehement in that both of these men have stepped way over the line that politics has consistently moved back. Both men are curses upon all of us....also rightfully so....for we deserve what we have been given.
My point transcending this is that we have been drawn into a mob mentality. We....both sides of the political spectrum.... have become....as it were....both Nabal in his foolishness....(Nabal means fool)....and David in his anger. Our countenance has been drastically altered. We show little compassion....and less gratitude. Where is Abigail to come out to us to assuage our anger?
Samuel had just died previous to this....just as our legal system and judiciary has in effect died. The Democrat Party has long since become as Nabal....foolish at best...and a "scoundrel" at worst. They have neither understanding in how God has always protected us....nor would they care if they knew. Our self-righteousness has gotten the best of us....not realizing that Nabal truly offended God.
Our pulpits should be our Abigail. It has been said often....in fact John Guest used the phrase....twice as a matter of fact in the 52 pages that I have read so far of the 371 page book....concerning our pulpits and the men in them...."Ours is the business of afflicting the comfortable....and comforting the afflicted."
Note: The story on this book that I am reading is this....I stopped in a small Christian bookstore only a few days ago....absolutely thrilled to see it....and was set on buying something to support the owner. So without too much thought I picked up the John Guest book....and it appears to be a great blessing in its commentary on the prophet Jeremiah. Published thirty-five years ago....it applies the warnings that Jeremiah gave to Judah....to us also...and we are today eons beyond what we were back then in our rebellion to God....and in our idolatry....and in our dependence upon our own perceived power to defend ourselves.
Ref: 1 Samuel 25: 1-44
The book....still available....The Preacher's Commentary....Jeremiah/Lamentations....by John Guest. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
