Originally posted: 12/12/2019
“Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God…” (25:29).
Here we meet David, who had faithfully trusted his God with the life of Saul, but is now ready to avenge himself over the foolishness of Nabal. But what rises to the forefront is not the hotheaded reaction of David but the evidence of God’s lavish love in keeping David close to His heart.
Rather than allowing David to move out in impulse, the LORD sends a humble woman to bring David to his senses.
“Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; 26 “Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, since the Lord has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be as Nabal… 30 And when the Lord does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel, 31 this will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord having avenged himself,” (25:25-26, 30-31).
And then this beautiful woman utters a profound truth.
“Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling,” (25:29 emphasis added).
Such lavish love and complete comfort… “the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God.”
I was curious what this Hebrew word for bundle actually meant. From Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
bundle – 6872. צְרוֹר ṣ̣erôr: I. A masculine noun indicating a bag, a bundle, a pouch, a purse. It describes a relatively large cloth bag used to carry a variety of items while traveling (Gen. 42:35; Prov. 7:20). It is used figuratively of a bundle holding persons’ lives in security (1 Sam. 25:29)…
The word bundle actually means bundle. And an image of a mother with a baby sling wrap came to mind; the nurturing protection provided as she holds her baby close to her heart, bound in the bundle upon her chest. Never for an instant would she consider slinging her baby from her chest.
And I can’t get away from this reality of being bound to His heart and carried with all the saints into our eternal destiny with Him. It is such a beautiful and comforting picture of Him Who Binds Us in His Bundle.
Consider Him Who Binds Us in His Bundle
- He Binds Us in His Bundle to restrain us from relying upon our own hand.
- “…since the Lord has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand…” (25:26).
- He Binds Us in His Bundle to accomplish His purpose.
- “…for the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil will not be found in you all your days.” (25:28).
- He Binds Us in His Bundle to secure our eternity with the saints.
- “Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling,” (25:29).
- He Binds Us in His Bundle to prevent regrets.
- “And when the Lord does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel, 31 this will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord having avenged himself…” (25:30-31).
- He Binds Us in His Bundle to hold us close to His heart of wisdom.
- Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, 33 and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. 34 Nevertheless, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, unless you had come quickly to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male,” (25:32-34).
How do we respond to Him Who Binds Us in His Bundle?
My daughter is the mother of twins and when they were infants she carried both babies in one sling wrap for several months. And as I am sure you can imagine, everyone involved was much more comfortable when both babies rested together in the bundle rather than wrestling or fighting against each other.
There are some definite lessons we can derive from my grandchildren bound together in one sling wrap, safely held upon their mother’s chest.
- We are not alone in His Bundle. We are bound in His Bundle of the Living. Since we are bound together in one faith, let us begin by loving the others He Binds in His Bundle.
- So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity, (Colossians 3:12-14).
- We are called to do all we can in order to be at peace with all men. When we are wronged let us trust Him Who Binds Us in His Bundle rather than attempt to take our own revenge.
- Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord, (Romans 12:17-19).
- Because we are securely held close to His heart, we can trust that He Binds Us in His Bundle for our good and His perfect purpose.
- “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,” (Jeremiah 29:11).
- He has promised to carry us in His bosom; may we grow in faith to completely rest in Him Who Binds Us in His Bundle.
- Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes, (Isaiah 40:11).
- Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,