BLESSED FOR HELPING A MAN OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“David said to Abigail, ‘Praise be to The Lord, The God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.  May you be blessed for your good judgement and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.’”  1 Samuel 25:32-33 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After the prophet Samuel died, David left Ramah and went to the wilderness of Paran. (1 Samuel 25:1)  There was a very wealthy man there by the name of Nabal.  David sent ten of his young soldiers to Nabal to ask him for food to feed his men. (1 Samuel 25:8)  However, Nabal insulted them, refused to give them anything, and sent them away empty-handed.  When David was told about this, he ordered four hundred of his men to take their swords and go with him because he planned to kill Nabal and all of his men. (1 Samuel 25:22)  But one of the servants told Nabal’s wife, Abigail, what happened (1 Samuel 25:14-17) and she prepared food for David and his men and took it to them. (1 Samuel 25:18-20)  David blessed her for her actions which kept him from killing her husband.  About ten days later Nabal died and David praised The Lord God for avenging him and keeping him from killing Nabal. (1 Samuel 25:38-39)

APPLICATION

The Lord God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to unfold.  He allows people to come into our lives for a reason, sometimes for a season, to be a blessing to us or to provide a lesson to us.  He allows some things to happen to block our plans in order to keep us from unseen hurt, harm, danger, or sin.  Things that happen to us which we perceive as bad at the time, may in fact be a blessing for us and work out for our benefit.  “All things work together for good to them that love The Lord God, and to them who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

HE THAT BLESSES OTHERS WILL HIMSELF BE BLESSED

Proclamation:

“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”  Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV)

Explanation:

This proverb, like all but the last two of the proverbs, was written by King Solomon under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The eleventh proverb of Solomon continues the pattern of presenting a series of seemingly unrelated sentences that compares and contrasts that which is good and righteous with that which is not.  After stating and apparent contradiction, one who gives freely, gains even more, while one who holds onto his, loses it.  Then he states that the generous person who gives to help others will prosper.

Application:

This very Christian principle is that you gain by giving.  “He that watereth shall be watered also himself.”  (Proverb 11:25 KJV)  In both physical and spiritual things, he who blesses others will himself also be blessed.  “Give, and it shall be given unto you …” (Luke 6:38)  If you want more of something, try giving more of that to others.  “As you sow, so shall you also reap.” (2 Corinthians 9:6 and Galatians 6:7)

BLESSINGS COME TO THOSE WHO BLESS OTHERS

Proclamation:

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."  Genesis 12:3 (NIV)

Explanation:

Abraham, the father of the faithful, was initially called Abram but The Lord God changed his name. (Genesis 17:5)  Abraham walked in the ways of The Lord and was obedient when God told him to leave his homeland without telling where he was going. (Genesis 12:1)  God said that He would bless him and make a great nation out of him and make his name great. (Genesis 12:2)  The nation refers to Israel.  The three great religions of the world, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, all hold Abraham in great respect.  God also said that He would bless the people who blessed Abraham, and that all of the people on earth would be blessed through him.  The earthly genealogy of Jesus, The Christ, can be linked to Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-16)  That is how all of the people on earth were blessed through Abraham.

Application:

When God said, "I will bless those who bless you ..." He was clearly talking directly to Abraham.  It can also be said, however, that He was talking to us today.  That would be consistent with the statement in Proverbs 11:25, "... and he that watereth shall be watered also himself" (KJV) or as stated another way, "... he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." (NIV)  He that blesses others shall himself be blessed.  Because we are believers, God will bless those who are a blessing to us, and He will bless us for being a blessing to others.

BLESSED IS HE WHO HAS COMPASSION

Proclamation:

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; The LORD delivers him in times of trouble.  The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; He will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.  The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness."  Psalms 41:1-3 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this psalm of David records the blessings and the sufferings of the people of God.  Those believers who are poor, weak, sick, down or depressed, will be blessed by The Lord God.  He will protect them, preserve them, uplift them, sustain them, cure them, and restore them.  David also said that The Lord will bless those who have compassion for others who are suffering and in need.

Application:

We are blessed in so many ways, most of which we take for granted.  The Lord blesses us when He protects us, preserves us, sustains us, and restores us from and through the things which confront us as the storms of life.  Some of the storms that we go through are for our benefit in order to strengthen us. (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-3, and 1 Peter 1:6-7)  However, He also blesses us for having compassion on those who are suffering and are less fortunate. (Proverbs 11:25 and 2 Corinthians 1:4)  When we have pity on the poor and less fortunate, we are lending whatever to The Lord, and He will repay us. (Proverbs 19:17)  Jesus, The Christ, said that as we treat the less fortunate, we are doing the same unto Him. (Matthew 25:40)  When we are a blessing to others, we will ourselves also be blessed.

BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED

Proclamation:

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed ..." Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Proverbs of King Solomon contain some of the best advice ever given, from the wisest man that ever lived. (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34)  Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, Solomon wrote that generosity would be rewarded.  He said that if they were a blessing to others, then they themselves would be blessed.  Solomon also said that if they went about looking for the good in others, then good things would come to them. (Proverbs 11:27)

Application:

As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Job 4:8)  What we give out is what we will get back.  And, one who gives will get back much more in return than they give out.  A seed which is planted produces not just another seed, but many times more seeds, often there is more than a one hundred fold increase. (Matthew 13:8 & 13:23)  That which we want more of, we should try giving more of that to others.  As we give to others, so shall we receive.   He who is a blessing to others, will himself also be blessed.  When we give to the poor we are actually lending to The Lord and He will repay us. (Proverbs 19:17)   Jesus, The Christ, said that it is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)   A generous giving person will be blessed for being a blessing to others.