35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought to him and said, ‘GO HOME IN PEACE. I have heard your words and granted your request.’ 1 Samuel 25
One woman, Abigail, turned back a small army and stopped David, Israel’s future king, from avenging himself and shedding unnecessary blood.
Abigail’s husband, Nabal, had incensed David and his warriors by the abuse he’d hurled at the ten young men whom David sent for a blessing after the shearing was complete. One of the servants told Abigail what had happened and urged her to do something urgently to prevent disaster.
16 ‘Night and day they (David’s men) were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 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.’
So Abigail hastily gathered provisions and sent her servants ahead of her with the gift for David and his men. She met David and his 400 men in a ravine, coming to destroy Nabal and his whole household. RAVINES ARE INTERESTING PLACES! I believe God brings us into RAVINES, SITUATIONS WE MUST GO THROUGH AND CAN’T GO AROUND. Abigail HUMBLED HERSELF AND INTERCEDED WITH THE KING ELECT IN THE RAVINE and prevented bloodshed and loss of life. When we are in confined places we are more apt to cry out to God for His deliverance.
Hannah, the mother of Samuel, wept and interceded before the Lord for a son. She promised God that she would give that son to the service of the Lord for his whole life. The priest, Eli, mistook her for an intoxicated woman and rebuked her.
15 ‘Not so, my lord,’ Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.’
17 Eli answered, ‘GO IN PEACE, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’ 1 Samuel 1
Haman, an army commander for the king of Aram came to Israel to have his leprosy healed. At first he was angry that Elisha hadn’t even come out to greet him, but told him to go and dip seven times in the Jordan. He wasn’t going to obey the prophet but once again it was the servants who convinced Haman to do this simple thing and be cleansed. 2 Kings 5:13, 14 Haman came back to the prophet’s house a different man (God works deep Change in us through problems and humbling) and this time Elisha did greet him. Haman had come to know and receive the God of Elisha through his humility.
17 ‘If you will not,’ said Naaman, ‘please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord.
19 ‘GO IN PEACE,’ Elisha said. 2 Kings 5
GOD IS WAITING TO HEAR OUR VOICES FROM THE RAVINE TODAY, TO BRING US PEACE.
God bless and keep you today.