Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* The Foolish One
* Scripture: Abigail said, "For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him!"
1 Samuel 25:25, NKJV

Chip on the shoulder, and very lightly balanced! Wouldn't take much to knock it off, or set off the wearer, for that matter. Some people are like that - primed to explode, and a short fuse to boot. Perpetually angry at the world and all within it.
Now I'm not sure that this description fits Nabal the Carmelite, but from the account in the book of 1 Samuel, he certainly lives up to his name, which means "Fool." (1 Samuel Ch. 25)
He was blessed with riches; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. His wife, Abigail, is noted as being a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance. Nabal was harsh and evil in his doings. Quite a contrast!
David and his band of men had been hiding in the wilderness of Maon and the strongholds of En Gedi. King Saul pursued David relentlessly, seeking to take his life. Saul unknowingly entered a cave in which David was hiding, yet David restrained his servants from harming the king. The opportunity was there; the sword was in David's hand, but he used it only to cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
After Saul had exited the cave, David made his presence known, and displayed the piece of cloth from the robe as evidence that his hand was not against the king.
Saul lifted up his voice and wept (24:16b)
Of such was the character of David. But Saul was not the only one he protected. David and his men provided security for the shepherds foraging their flocks in the wilderness, even the flocks and shepherds of Nabal.
David sent ten young men to Nabal, seeking presents for their protective services, coming in peace to "him who lives in prosperity." Nabal not only refused to pay from his largess, but also insulted David and the messengers. He has repaid David "evil for good.: (Vs. 21)
David set out to redress Nabal's foolish insult with four-hundred armed men. Caught between their scoundrel of a master and a revenging army, the servants alert Abigail to the coming danger.
Taking matters into her own hand, Abigail went out to meet David with food and wine. Apologizing for her husband, "The Foolish One", she convinces David to refrain from bloodshed.
Later, when Nabal had sobered up from the wine of the feast enough to understand what he had done, he suffered a stroke, and died ten days later.

"Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul." Proverbs 22:24, 25, NKJV
February 5, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Foolish
* Scripture: Paul said, “We are fools for Christ’s sake . . . 1 Corinthians 4:10a, NKJV

I have had a lifelong interest in, and appreciation for, the role of music in the church, and I have often written about music. Many people especially enjoy gospel music, songs that celebrate Jesus and extol the joys of the Christian life.
It is unlikely, however, that you have heard the following song, unless you dabble into strange song titles, nor will you likely find it in hymnals anytime soon. The opening lines go like this:

“I don’t care if it rains or freezes,
As long as I have my plastic Jesus
Stuck upon the dashboard of my car.”

And, yes, the song is Titled “Plastic Jesus;” you can find it with an internet search. Be prepared to be displeased with the rest of the lyrics, if you do. The words and intent are not exactly, shall we say, “complimentary” toward Christians.
Making fun of Christian beliefs and believers is not a recent phenomena, however, as various passages in the Bible illustrate. A search in a concordance or dictionary of biblical terms will show many uses of the words fool, foolish, or folly, many concerning foolish actions or choices, especially in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes, but let’s focus on the use as applied to believers by nonbelievers, representatives of “the world.” It is enlightening that the Greek word Paul used here, “moros,” also means stupid, and is given as the base for our word “moron” - definitely not usually taken as a compliment by most of us.
There are times, however, when we should accept the term gladly. Consider the times when you have been advised to take some illegal or immoral course of action, stealing or cheating, for example. Ever heard, “You are foolish if you don’t?”
And perhaps you could respond, “April fool is past, and you are the biggest fool at last.”
Yes, what may seem foolish to the those whose expectations greatly differ from the moral and godly minded, may in fact put them in peril. For example, Paul also wrote to the church at Corinth, “The cross is to them that perish, foolishness.” (1 Cor. 1:18)
Look at it like this; You are on a ship which begins to sink. Some people rush to the safe, and proceed to fill their pockets with heavy coins before jumping overboard, deriding the “fools” who elect to ignore the safe (pun intended) and go for the life jackets instead. At this point in the story the true fools are quickly separated from the wise and prudent.
Going one step further, when Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is making you mad.” In other words, “Paul, you are a maniac!” (Acts 26:24)
Such is the judgment of the world. So let them laugh, accept the term with grace. A time will come when God will determine who is foolish and who is not.
January 30, 2005