27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27 : 17)
LET US FOLLOW :GOOD ADVICE FITLY GIVEN SAVES LIVES
Other readings :
While David was being pursued by Saul, he took refuge in the wilderness with some faithful friends. He met the herdsmen of Nabal, who had many sheep and others. Nabal was the husband of Abigael.
NABAL WAS DESCRIBED AS A FOOL.
Can a fool be a good mentor or a man with life saving words? Can a fool be an iron to sharpen iron? Your guess might be right.
According to the 1st Book of Samuel Chapter 25, Nabal (Hebrew: נָבָל Nāḇāl, “fool”) was a rich Calebite, described as harsh and surly. He was featured in a story in which he was threatened by David over an insult, and ultimately killed by God.
David had made a request from NABAL, who described David in his thoughtless words. Please follow:
25:10 And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
25:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be
David while in the wilderness with the herdsmen of NABAL had supported Nabal’s servants and when David was badly hurt by Nabal he said:
25:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
25:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
David was out for great vengeance against Nabal’s houeshold, but the wife Abigail intervened :
NOTES :
25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
25:24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
The speech if AbIgael sweetened the heart of David and he was bent to lay down his hatchet against Nabal and said :
25:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. (1 Samuel 25 : 10, 21-24 and 33.)
Abigael was iron to shapen the contenance of David.
BEWARE WHEN YOU RISE TO THE HEIGHT OF LIFE.
Yes many are quiet when they are at the bottom of the ladder, but when they rise from the buttom every one down there must be gullible.
Reading from 1 Corinthians 8 :
8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. (1 Corinthians 8 : 9 – 12).
People look at the seniors in the church or society as models, who should be emulated rightly or wrongly. If the people in ignorance follow the evil they do, they will not fail to be blamed by God.
Most senior people feel they need not listen to others speaking to them. But they need to be spoken to by others who are like iron like themselves..
Therefore the leaders in the house of God or governance of the land, or anywhere in the world, should hear others talk to them so they can be polished to be examples in advice and actions, because they ought to be models.
The k-legged man’s movement might be misconstrued and could be defined as moving in style. Those whose legs are straight might tend to walk like them.
The knowledge of God should supervise the behaviour of all men in the house of God.
I have always said that an educated church, Godwise, should be a problem free church. When people know the truth, no one can easily mislead them by smooth and deceptive word. Let us get sharpened.
MEDITATION:
Reason together with the word of God as a guide, which is capable of raising you up to sharpen or perfect the way of your friends to think God-ward.
Let not your position and how you are known, or perceived give you the liberty to misguide people around you.
Let no one presuppose, you are good enough to know right and wrong and follow you ignorantly. Think on this line and God will bless you.
Do not enslave those beautiful people, who Jesus has saved from sin, to returnn to error, because they trust you know enough to be their guide
Prayer :
Lord God, make me a vessel that will be a model to those around me. I will not want to go wrong and lead others into evil
Let the Holy Host occupy my heart Lord, to speak right at all time in Jesus name Amen.
Repeat this prayer with devotion.
Sermon from Miracle Valley @ Covenant Bethel, Umuehiri Umuele, Imo State, January 26th , 2025.
outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.