Bound in the Bundle of Life
David and his men
were hungry. So David went to Nabal, a wealthy rancher and requested some food
and provisions. Nabal, (whose name means, “foolish”) did not heed David’s
request but sent them away empty handed. As a result, David mustered his men
and prepared them to attack Nabal and his men. But then, along came Nabal’s
wife, a woman named Abigail.
Abigail, (whose name
means “the father’s joy”) brought joy to David and his men when she secretly provided
some food and provisions for them and pronounced a blessing upon them. Because
of her kindness, David called off his attack and left town peaceably. In the
course of Abigail’s blessing of David she said, “The life of my lord [David]
shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God.”
To
be “bound in the bundle of life” is to know that you are protected and
cared for deeply. When valuable items were transported during biblical times,
they were wrapped in cloth, cotton and other soft materials for protection.
They were then wrapped again and again to ensure safe arrival. They were
“bound” for their protection. So, when
Abigail says to David that his life shall be bound in the bundle of life or “of
the living,” she was pronouncing a blessing of safety and protection upon
him. In essence, she was saying, “May
the Lord wrap your life in bundles of safety and protection.” Abigail
recognized David’s relationship with “the LORD his God.” Accordingly, she invoked
a blessing of protection upon David, calling for him to be protected and deeply
cared for by the LORD. Abigail’s
reminder of God’s value and protection over him gave David the inner
strength to leave the matter in God’s hands.
As
a follower of Christ, your life is “bound in the bundle of life” as well. God wants you to know that He has wrapped
your life in many layers of care and protection and He cares for you deeply. His
protection over your life ensures that you, too, are safe from every attack and
in every battle you face in life. It is now up to you to have the inner
strength to leave the matter in God’s hands and trust His protection and deep
care for you.
In
David’s case, Nabal died shortly after this incident and Abigail became David’s
new bride. God turned the tables on a foolish man and blessed David in the
process as he was living in the care of the LORD his God.
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