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Genesis (God’s Love in Sacred Scripture)

Genesis (God’s Love in Sacred Scripture)

Genesis is foundational in understanding the plan, purpose, and love of Almighty God. This new series seeks to trace the work of God as a manifestation of the outpouring of His matchless love toward humanity to be ultimately perfected in the person of Jesus Christ.

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Grace

(by Sean McCallister)

God grant you an Abigail (1 Sam 25)

abigaildavid-copyConsider the winsome figure of Abigail who fleetingly flashes on the pages of the Bible as a peacemaker and mediator to the beloved David. The scripture affords her glowing words of praise as a “woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance” (1 Samuel 25:3) who was pleasant and humble despite being married to a nasty and brutish husband. That wicked man, Nabal, is depicted as one “harsh and evil in his doings.” Like many desperate housewives Abigail must have often asked God why her marriage was unfulfilled and empty. How many sorrowful tears ran down burning red cheeks still stinging from the hostile slaps of a heartless husband?

Somehow in the midst of persecution Abigail maintained a gracious God-seeking attitude not embittered by a seemingly pointless existence. However, one remarkable day the question ‘why?’ was answered  unexpectedly: her destiny was to be a godly restraining influence upon anointed future king David.

Let’s review the events of 1 Samuel 25: David has been endlessly running from the murderous hand of Saul. He is exhausted, mentally fatigued, and just a little bit testy. Months in the wilderness have ground down his tolerance and patience. Living in the pressure cooker had reduced David’s capacity to think spiritually and react morally. Indeed, in this account David does not come across as an enlightened spiritual servant of God; rather he is shown as a typical man– flawed, arrogant, and presumptuous.

Abigail’s graceless spouse Nabal provides a catastrophic flashpoint for Satan’s attempt to destroy David’s future. For some time David and his men have been protecting the wealthy Nabal’s flocks and herds. Tired of the dusty wilderness, David decides the moment had come for a little social reimbursement. David is ready to sleep in a comfortable bed with sheets and ruffled pillows, eat his food with utensils, and enjoy a hot shower. It’s time to wash off the dust and enjoy some merrymaking, revelry, and festivity. Surely Nabal will listen with reason to David’s messengers and respond with gratitude!

Waiting with anticipation for the news of acceptance and invitation, David is instead shocked to hear words of rebuff and rejection. Like a match to gasoline, David’s expectancy instantly morphs into hysterical rage. The affront of Nabal mandates aggressive action! Swearing that Nabal and all his males will die by morning light, David girds on his sword. With livid tunnel vision David mounts his horse and leads 400 warriors against the hopeless unsuspecting camp. Only minutes of time separate David from a murderous rampage which will forever mar his righteous standing with God the Father.

Then, at God’s prompting, beautiful Abigail enters the pathway of the vengeful David. Bearing many gifts she bows down before David and beseeches him to turn from his ruthless route of rage. She cries: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!” She begs David to spare Nabal and to accept her oblation. Consider the future, she entreats, and the days that are to come— will this violence and bloodshed be a reproach to David in later years? She reasons:

“And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself.” (vs. 30-31)

David’s wrath evaporates like moisture on noontime August concrete and he immediately recognizes the danger of his uncontrolled fury. He says: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” (vs. 32-33)

Isn’t it wondrous that David recognizes the words of truth that are spoken to him? What a gift to be insightful enough to change course before irreparable damage is done to self and others! We can learn from David’s near miss of willful fury. Spiritual though we may be, precarious is our position. We must take heed that we do not fall into presumptuous sin (1 Cor 10:12). God grant each of us an Abigail when we are set and determined upon a very human path of vengeance and retribution.

Pray for the insight of David to recognize the graceful intervention of one who comes across our expressway of hate and bows down with gifts. We should also reflect upon the truth that the number of divine intercessors sent into each person’s life is limited. Sorrowfully, like David, the day may come when rather than a restraining Abigail bowing before us in our path of lust, dishonesty, and murder, an accusatory and rebuking Nathan darkens our door.

And if you are an Abigail, God bless you! May God give us all grace to resist Satan.

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing…” Psalm 144:3-4

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace.” Romans 12:15




Bart Shaw, tbartshaw@hotmail.com, 5/09

The image at the top of the article is by Dutch artist Jacob Willemsz de Wet (1610-1675) “The Meeting of David and Abigail”.

What Grace Is

(by Allen Bailey)

Understanding Grace

  1. Until we first understand sin we will never fully understand and appreciate Grace.

  2. Understanding Sin (Ephesians 2: 1-13)
    1. Dead in trespasses (1)
    2. Dead in sin (1)
    3. Course of the world (2)
    4. Prince of power of the air (2)
    5. Children of disobedience (2)
    6. Lust of our flesh (3)
    7. Desire of the flesh (3)
    8. Children of wrath (3)
    9. Without Christ (12)
    10. Aliens (12)
    11. Strangers (12)
    12. No Hope (12)
    13. Without God (12)
    14. Far off (13)

  3. God / sin / mankind (Isaiah 59: 1-2)

  4. Illustration of life without Christ

  5. Sin Passages
    1. Romans 3: 23
    2. Romans 5: 12
    3. Romans 6: 23

    4. (Romans 1: 26-32) Worthy of death
    5. (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10) Shall not inherit kingdom of God
    6. (Galatians 5: 19-21) Shall not inherit kingdom of Christ and God
    7. (Ephesians 5: 3-5) No inheritance in kingdom of Christ and God
    8. (Revelations 21: 8) Lake of Fire which is second death

    One Way Street to Hell

  6. Understanding Grace
    1. (Ephesians 2: 4) “But God”
    2. (Ephesians 2: 4-8) Rich in mercy, love, grace
    3. Definitions:
      1. Mercy – Compassion
      2. Love – Charity
      3. Grace – Unmerited favor
    4. Grace and Truth
      John 1: 17 John 1: 17 Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ
      Romans 3:24 John 18: 38 Pilate asked: “What is Truth?”
      Ephesians 1: 7 John 8: 32 Truth shall set you free
      Ephesians 2: 5 John 14:6 I am the way, truth, life
      Ephesians 2: 8-10 John 17: 17 Thy word is Truth
    5. Please notice: It is not Grace or Truth but it is Grace and Truth.
    6. We have no difficulty understanding “and”, meaning both are equally important.
      1. “Worship in spirit and truth” John 4: 24
      2. “Believe and be baptized” Mark 16: 16
      3. “Repent and be baptized” Acts 2: 38
      4. “Believe and confess” Romans 10: 9-10
    7. Grace – No Law – Wrong
      Law – No Grace – Wrong
      Grace and Law is – Right
    8. The Cross of Christ (John 3: 16, John 15: 13, Romans 5: 8, Hebrews 4: 16)
    9. If we had been “Preaching”
      What we have been “Singing”
      We would have understood the truth on Grace a long time ago!!
    10. Book title “Putting Amazing back into Grace”.
    11. Songs: “His Grace Reaches Me” a beautiful song we often sing
    12. God’s Part We Cannot Do
      Our Part He Will Not Do
    13. Justice – When you recieve what you deserve
      Mercy – When you don’t recieve what you deserve
      Grace – When you recieve what you don’t deserve
    14. GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ Expense
    15. GRACE – God’s Riches At Calvary Expressed
    16. GRACE – God’s Great Gift Grace
    17. GRACE (written vertical) and HBRCB written side ways making a cross with the R of Grace for Repentance in The Plan of Salvation.
    18. Ephesians 2: 8-9 For by Grace are ye saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.
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