One Body, Part 1

He rubbed his scruffy face. Tiredness overwhelmed him, and anxiety was starting to consume him. The heat from the day had cooled into a thick, muggy heat this evening. The weight of which settled on his shoulders like a certain coat of mail he had once worn.

He shook his head in mock amazement. That feels like so long ago... He sat with his back against a rock. Their camp was polka dotted with flickering fires and the flimsy tents that he, his men, and their families called home. His own tent waited patiently behind him, calling for him to claim sleep on his bed of rocks and twigs, covered with a thin, threadbare blanket.

"Six hundred plus men...." He moaned, and moved his hands to massage his aching neck.

Yahweh has never abandoned me before. He will provide food and provisions for all of us.

He stood up, ready to heed the siren call of sleep, when he heard horse hooves pounding their way into camp. Hopefully that was the return of his scouts.

He strode into the middle of the camp. Indeed his scouts, ten of his best, had returned. Their wives and children surrounded them, offering warm hugs. He stood patiently for a few minutes for the two men who had been put in charge of the expedition to notice him. Tsofeh, the older of the two saw David first, and motioning to Tsaphah, the two men hurried to join him.

They all walked out of camp quietly. No use in starting a rumor by talking openly within the camp. Once far enough away, Tsofeh spoke first. "We've good news." A huge grin split his face.

Tsaphah continued eagerly, "Nabal is shearing his sheep in Carmel."

David perked up. "Wait, this is the master of the shepherds we protected?"

Both men nodded vigorously.

For the first time in days, David felt his heart lighten. They had been protecting Nabal's shepherds and sheep while they had been in the wilderness together. While David hadn't done this to get something in return from Nabal, it certainly seemed this was a door the Lord had opened due to their help for the stranger.

"At dawn, you and the other eight will ride back to Carmel, and go to Nabal. Greet him in my name. Tell him, 'Peace to you, peace to your house, and peace be to all that you have. I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand for your servants and to your son David.'"

Yes, indeed! Yahweh had provided!

Based on 1 Samuel 25:1-8

David was a natural leader. God had given him such an ability to lead men and soldiers. However, as a leader, it wasn't just about the battles they had to fight. David was just as much a leader in the personal lives of these men. Because he was their leader, he was in charge of their well-being, and that included something as simple as food.

Or not so simple with over four hundred people depending on you for food in the middle of the wilderness.

I don't believe that David had his men protect those shepherds because he thought he could get something out of the deal. Even when David found out, and sent his men to Nabal, I still don't believe it was out of an I-did-this-for-you-so-you-owe-me heart attitude.

I believe it was because that was what people were supposed to do. They were supposed to share, help each other, and watch their neighbor's back.

"And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers day by day those who were being saved." Acts 2:44-47

They sound pretty happy...

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need." Acts 4:32-35

There wasn't a needy person among them. Everybody had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a heart full of Jesus. This is mentioned twice in the beginning of Acts. The early church was getting it right, and I can't help but wonder, when that stopped? When did out motto turn into, "Every man for himself," when it was always supposed to be, "All for one, and one for all!"?

In Matthew 25, Jesus is talking about the last days, the final judgement, and He said the King will tell the righteous to come to Him, because they fed Him, clothed Him, welcomed Him, gave Him water to drink, and visited Him when he was sick and needy. The righteous will say, "Lord, when did we do all that?" Jesus answers by saying, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

If helping the sick and needy, our own family in Christ, is like doing it for directly to Jesus, then why have we stopped? We are supposed to be one body, and a properly functioning body works together. The food nourishes all of it; The exercise strengthens all of it. Only you know how that applies to your life. It could be selling all you have like the early church, or it could be a ride to work or giving food to someone in need.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

Point is, we were always supposed to be there for each other. We were always supposed to be one.

V. Joy Palmer


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