CIRCUMSTANCES

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden; the God who is our salvation. Selah.  Psalm 68:19

For months, David had been running and hiding from King Saul. Then, Samuel died (1 Samuel 25:1). On top of that, David and his men were staying in the wilderness of Paran. During the time that they were there, they protected the servants of Nabal of Carmel and his possessions. However, in spite of their goodness to Nabal, he scorned them. For the entire historical account, read 1 Samuel 25.

An elderly saint was caring for her mother who had been in the hospital for 6 days. During that time, the uncle whom she was caring for also hit his head and it was bleeding. Then, her car wouldn’t start and wasn’t running well. Have you had a day like this? That was similar to David’s experience in 1 Samuel 25. David had made a request which was denied, and he became angry. When you don’t get what you want, how do you respond?

James 4:1 reads: “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures (desires) that wage war in your members? Too often when we don’t get what we want, then we get upset and demand it. Next, if we still don’t get it, we judge the one refusing to give us what we want as the person at fault. Lastly, we seek to punish the one who didn’t give us what we wanted. That’s what David was about to do to Nabal.

Here's the diagnostic question: If only __________, then I would be happy, fulfilled and secure. What will you put in the blank?

God intervened in David’s situation by sending Abigail. To whom will you turn when things aren’t going your way and you are not getting what you want? Seek God’s counsel from godly counselors and find out how you can avoid a disastrous situation and rather, turn it into a God-honoring event.

Ike Graham