Our Daily Bread Military EditionSample

Peacemakers

Abigail was a remarkable woman! She was a true peacemaker whose courage spared the future king of Israel from committing a terrible sin. Here’s her story:

David had been forced to live in the countryside to escape King Saul’s jealous wrath. A group of about 600 men and their families had gathered around him. For several months they camped near Carmel where the flocks of Nabal (Abigail’s husband) were grazing.

David’s men had helped Nabal’s shepherds protect the sheep from robbers. Now the shearing time had come, and David sent messengers to request some compensation from Nabal, who was a
wealthy man. But he refused and treated David’s men with disdain.

In anger David rashly decided to kill Nabal and all the men in his household. When Abigail heard what had happened, she quickly gathered a large supply of food, intercepted David and his fighting men, and humbly apologized for her husband’s surly behavior. David immediately realized that she had prevented him from carrying out a vengeful decision, and he praised God (1 Sam. 25:32).

Are we as quick to resolve a conflict? Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). —Herb Vander Lugt

How blest are those who persevere
To bring a conflict to an end;
And if the peace of Christ takes hold,
An enemy becomes a friend. —D. De Haan

You can be a peacemaker if you have God’s peace in your heart.