Day 3: Blessed are the peacemakers
Then David accepted from [Abigail's] hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request” (1 Samuel 25:35).
Jehovah Shalom, God of Peace, Prince of Peace, You are our peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers," You have told us, "for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
You have shown us the root cause of sin at the heart of all human conflict— jealousy and envy, greed and covetousness, selfishness and pride: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight… (James 4:1-2).
The story of humanity is a story of conflict, strife, and bloodshed. From the first murderer Cain, who murdered his brother Abel because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous (1 John 3:12), to the rulers of this age... [who] crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8) and all the others between and since— lusts and desires that battle within (James 4:1) have been the mainspring of every evil action.
But You have called us from the envy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every evil practice of the world to the pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive wisdom that comes from heaven. And You have promised that Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness (James 3:16-18).
You gave us the example of Abigail who, as a humble peacemaker held David back as he rashly rushed to exact his own justice for Nabal's ingratitude, rudeness, and slanderous accusations (1 Samuel 25:2-35). With the peace-loving wisdom that comes from heaven, she reminded David of his calling, his commission, and his charge:
“The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live.... When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing He promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself” (1 Samuel 25:28, 30-31).
O Lord, make us peacemakers, children of God who pour out words of wisdom and reason over recklessness, anger, rashness, and inflammatory rhetoric. Make us instruments of Your peace, like Abigail, who defused David's anger, righted his perspective and earned his gratitude:
David said to Abigail, “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” (1 Samuel 25:32-33).
O Lord, may we reap a harvest of righteousness for ourselves, for our households, and for humanity as we seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). May we surrender our Nabals to You, trusting that You will uphold our cause in whatever way You choose (1 Samuel 25:35-42).
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