A Dose of Perspective

28 “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. 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. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel,31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”
- 1 Samuel 25:28-31
 
Abigail intercepts a David intent on murder and turns him aside. She doesn’t use force. She doesn’t use intimidation. Instead, she offers David perspective.
 
Abigail keeps a cool head. Shows courage. And uses her voice. She doesn’t just respond to David’s anger (the presenting issue), she responds to David himself.
 
Look at her list:

  • David is a leader, worthy of respect
  • David is a fighter and a warrior (with a history with slings)
  • David is under attack but protected
  • David has been appointed future ruler of Israel
  • David has a meaningful relationship with the Lord.

 
Abigail sees past the “staggering burden of needless bloodshed” and challenges David to live into his larger identity. She invites David to connect with the Lord.
 
Earlier in the story, David invokes God in an angry, murderous oath. But David isn’t seeking God, isn’t looking to God for direction, and isn’t paying attention to God’s present activity in his life. Abigail changes that.
 
You don’t have to be muscular to be strong. You don’t have to be intimidating to be influential. The Lord can do mighty things in and through you if you’re willing to let him guide you in the use of your voice.
 
Apart from the Lord, Abigail has nothing to say. Snip the Lord out of her speech and there’s nothing left. Awareness of and connection with the Lord are the keys to finding your voice. If you’ve been struggling to speak up and to have the courage to make a confrontation for the sake of good, perhaps what you need is a change in perspective.
 
The Lord has good intentions for you. He’s at work in you to empower you so that you can join him in his good work in the world. There’s a place for you because that’s the kind of God we worship. He wants to make you brave.

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