August 9, 2012 - Thursday of the Ninth Week after Trinity

Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:1-22; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Then Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. (1 Samuel 25:10)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. David had been anointed as king over Israel but he wasn't on the throne just yet. But Nabal didn't care. He didn't want to help David. He figured big shots were a dime a dozen and so he ignored David's request for help.

It's the same in our day and age when the Son of David, Jesus, comes up. “Well,” people say, “Nobody knows all the truth. Jesus was just one of many good teachers. All roads lead to God.” And on it goes. Preachers and saviors are a dime a dozen.

For the sake of Abigail, the wicked Nabal's wife, David doesn't hurt him. Instead, God strikes him down. And there is a picture of our salvation. For the sake of His church, the Lord stays His hand. He doesn't destroy this world and all its sinners right away. Rather, He does what He came to do to save them: die for them on the cross. Be punished for their sin. Suffer for their iniquities.

The church pleads for the world. Even though we look around and see nothing but greed and corruption and violence and wickedness, we ask the Lord to spare the world for the church's sake. The time will come when the Lord will strike down this world and it will be no more. But until that day comes, we pray for the enemies of Jesus to be brought to repentance and faith in Christ.

Abigail looked to the mercy of David as the church looks to Christ's mercy and patience. After all, we were once like the world, walking in the way of unrighteousness and sin until rescued by our Lord. So we live in the promise of our being God's holy people—a promise made in baptism and confirmed when we hear Christ preached and receive His Holy Supper. And while we live in faith in Christ, we cry out for the Lord's mercy upon the world that those people, too, may be saved. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

O God, O Lord of heav'n and earth, Thy living finger never wrote That life should be an aimless mote, A deathward drift from futile birth. They Word meant life triumphant hurled In splendor through Thy broken world. Since light awoke and life began Thou hast desired Thy life for man. (LSB 834:1)

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