There's also a king, but not a very good one. God has decided someone else should be king. There's a Not-Quite-King, but he and his followers are hiding out in the badlands because the king wants them dead. There's also a beautiful woman, the Not-Yet-Widow, who is both wise and courageous (and she's going to need every bit of that if she's going to save the Not-Quite-King).
Oh, I know stories are supposed to start with "Once upon a time..." or "Long ago and far away...." And this one certainly took place once upon a time, long ago, and far away. But I thought you needed to know about the fool right up front. He was a true fool; not only unwise, but lacking in virtue, as well. He was also quite wealthy by the standards of that long ago and far away place.
The trouble started when the young man who would someday be king asked the fool for a simple thing: hospitality. The fool refused. Now you may think, So what? No one is required to offer hospitality to someone else. And you would be right ... if you were thinking of our country and our time. But in that country, at that time, hospitality was expected of everyone, and especially of those who, like the fool, had much.
And yet, when asked by the Not-Quite-King to share his provisions, to provide some much needed food and water to them, the fool refused. And not only that, he sent his refusal with an insult to both the young man and to those who followed him. Now, recall that the current king was trying to kill the Not-Quite-King. You can understand that such circumstances could put a person on edge.
And, so, as happens sometimes, things escalated quickly.
The Not-Quite-King became very angry. His very reasonable request, very normal for then and there, was not only refused, but was refused with an insult. Tempers flared. To his fighting men he said, "Get your swords!" They did just that and then they headed across the badlands, intending to kill the fool and all his men.
It was not a measured response.
Now, perhaps you're thinking the Not-Quite-King needed saving from the fool. No. The fool didn't stand a chance against the Not-Quite-King and his 400 fighting men. There was great danger, but the Not-Quite-King couldn't see it.
Enter the Not-Yet-Widow, the sensible and beautiful wife of the fool. When she learned what her husband had done, she got busy! Food and wine were gathered, donkeys were loaded, servants were dispatched. Then she and her entourage made their way quickly to intercept the Not-Quite-King in the badlands.
It could have gone so wrong.
When she finally encountered the young man and his 400 fighting men, it was in a ravine. Once she revealed her relationship to the fool, he could have had her killed. There would have been no escape. And yet, by bowing to the ground, and taking responsibility for her husband's foolish behavior, she caught the Not-Quite-King's attention. She offered to provide all the supplies she and her servants had brought along. And that might have been enough. But it just as easily could have not been enough. So, though her life could have been forfeit, she did the only thing left.
She pointed out an inconvenient truth to the Not-Quite-King.
It could have gone so wrong.
But what she said, next, really pierced the young man's heart. You see, he was a believer in God. He made every effort to follow God's instructions. Perhaps she knew this, or perhaps she did not. In any case, she reminded the Not-Quite-King that he had been on his way to murder people, to seek revenge for the refusal of hospitality and for the insult. She reminded him of the teaching, that God has reserved to Himself the power of revenge. No human is empowered to do that.
By now, you may have figured out that the Not-Quite-King is David, the former shepherd boy. But you may not know the wise and courageous Not-Yet-Widow is Abigale, the wife of the fool, Nabal. What David says in response to Abigale's dangerous confrontation is key to understanding one of this week's Lectionary scriptures.
“David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day. And blessed be your discretion and discernment, and blessed be you, who has kept me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself by my own hand. Nevertheless, as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, most certainly by the morning light there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male.”” (1 SAMUEL 25:32-34 AMP)
David was on the verge of committing a terrible sin. Abigale saved him from himself.
Sure, that story is from the Old Testament, but it's no fairy tale. We are to "wait upon the Lord" in all things, and not least when we feel the desire for revenge. The Bible is clear on this: "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." Some things, certainly, have changed since the Old Testament days. Our relationship with God is different because of what Jesus did for us. But on the matter of vengeance, nothing has changed. And nowhere is that more clearly illuminated than when Peter declares, "When he [Jesus] was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly" (1st Peter 2:23 NRSV).
One of the most difficult things to do, especially in the heat of the moment, is to step off, to stand down, and to entrust ourselves to "the one who judges justly." But stories are supposed to teach lessons, and that is what we learn from this one.
Let's pray God will send someone, quickly, when we decide to seek revenge; to block our way at the opportune moment, to remind us that even Jesus "...entrusted himself to the one who judges justly"
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Fourth Sunday of Easter (May 7, 2017)
First reading
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm
Psalm 23
Second reading
1 Peter 2:19-25
Gospel
John 10:1-10
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Will you be there Friday morning for Lectionary Breakfast? The time is 8:00 and the place is the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant (corner of New Road and Franklin). We read, pray, eat, kick it back and forth, and laugh (not necessarily in that order).
Inconvenient truths are all part of the deal.
Blessings,
Steve
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