Christian Living

---

May The Lord Save You in the Day of Your Severe Temptation

“Now since the Lord has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands .... Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God... When the Lord has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself....” 1 (Sam 25:26-31 NIV)

I hope you know the details of the above story; otherwise you may have to read it from the Bible for a fuller appreciation. (Major-General) David with his army had provided security for Nabal’s flock in the wilderness for a long time free of charge but when, during sheep shearing, David requested for some sheep for himself and his men, foolish Nabal rudely refused and accused David of rebelling against his master (King Saul)! David was so enraged that he VOWED before the Lord to wipe off not just Nabal’s flock but him and his offspring and workers from the face of the earth. Saying so, he mobilised his dreaded and battle-hardened desert army and set out for the operation. This is that David who had been so pure, so righteous, forgiving, forbearing, accommodating, harmless and spiritual that he chose to be a fugitive rather than waste even the blood of guilty King Saul. But now, he cast all restraints away and let out his pent up anger and violence and swore to a vengeful massacre. Everyone has his limit, even a spiritual person.

It was at his point that Mrs Abigail Nabal, who after learning of the foolishness of her husband, hastened to intercept General David and offered him the above quoted words. It was God that actually sent Madam Abigail to save General David. Do you agree? And David after listening to a woman he just met for the first time, she being the wife of his odious enemy, called off the operation in the following words: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." 1 Sam 25:32-34

I love to think of David and the marvellous way God saved him at the last minute from bloodshed that would have rubbished his longstanding testimony. I often think of his spiritual sensitivity that still allowed him in the heat of anger to discern the voice of God in a (mere) woman and stop himself from proceeding with his bloody plan and rather turning instantly into praise from hot anger. That is humanity suffused with spirituality. That is the model for those who would be sorely tempted to cast aside lifelong caution and virtue to satisfy the lust of the flesh in a moment of madness.

Everyone from time to time faces temptation that seems way above his tolerance level. When extreme kindness is rewarded with extreme wickedness wrapped with rudeness, any man can snap. So, now, may the Lord save you in the day of your PECULIAR and sore temptation. If it ever happens to you, may the Lord send you an Abigail to intercept you.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR