Servants, unknown and unnamed people who often play important parts in God’s plans. 1 Samuel 25
‘Now’ Samuel died and all Israel mourned 1 Samuel 25:1 ‘Then’ David moved down to the Desert of Maon. V2
Samuel had died and Israel mourned him but for David and his 600 men, life moved on in the desert again. While David was in the desert he heard that Nabal, whose shepherds and flocks he’d protected, was shearing his sheep. He sent ten of his young men to greet and bless Nabal and ask for a gift at this festive time, but Nabal (whose name meant fool or folly) insulted them and David. They reported back to David and he told 400 of his men to put on their swords, he was going to attack Nabal and slaughter his whole household. David had held back from harming King Saul, but Nabal was going to feel the full force of his wrath.
14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, ‘David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. 1 Samuel 25
One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s beautiful and intelligent wife what had happened.
17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him. 1 Samuel 25
They warned her that something needed to be done immediately to avert disaster. Abigail gathered up a substantial gift of food and wine for David and his men and set out to meet him and appease his anger. We read this account and applaud Abigail for stopping David from shedding the blood of Nabal’s family. The first person to become aware of the danger, however, was the watchful servant. That servant sounded the alarm that saved the whole situation.
Similarly, in the healing of Naaman by the prophet Elisha, it was a young Israeli slave girl who told her mistress where her master could be healed. 2 Kings 5 Events unfolded with a miraculous cleansing of Naaman’s leprosy after he humbled himself before the prophet and the Lord. The position of the young servant in Naaman’s house was vital to his healing.
Jesus first miracle at the wedding feast in Canaan, when the water turned to wine, it was the servants who understood what had happened.
4 ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’
5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ John 2
8 Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realise where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. John 2
Servants and those with servant hearts get to be on the inside and to know things that God has done or will do. ARE WE WILLING TO SERVE IN ORDER TO SEE GOD’S PLANS UNFOLD IN OUR DAY? He’s still the God of miracles and His greatest ones may still be ahead of us.
God bless and keep you today.