In 1 Samuel 25, the biblical historian tells this fascinating story about David. Having lost favor with King Saul, David has become an outcast hiding in the desert, the mountains, the desolate places in Palestine. Over time David accumulates a small army of fellow outcasts who accept him as their unquestioned leader. David's little army hides out in the vicinity of the huge estates of a very wealthy man, Nabal. Whether it is land, or grain, or animals, or servants, Nabal has exceedingly more of it than any one family can need or use. The presence of David and his cohort protects Nabal's prosperity from the violence which is frequent here in the outlands. Even the wild animals have a hard time getting to Nabal's flocks because of the shielding presence of these soldiers. And, unlike most wandering bands of soldiers, they are scrupulous about not taking any of Nabal's livestock for their own consumption. Nabal is, after all, a fellow child of Israel.
There is peace until the time of the sheep shearing. Then Nabal has his wife Abigail supervise this feast that is literally fit for a king. Except there is no king, and there are none of the king's people. Just Nabal. Nabal has enough food to gorge for days, and enough wine to stay drunk through the entire feast. David sends his men to ask for some food as a sign of hospitality and as a gift of thanks for the protection that they offer. Perhaps Nabal thinks like many people who read this story today: David is only some Mafioso who wants protection money. David is some guerilla whom loyalty to the king demands that he not support him (but a person who is too dangerous to report). Nabal hastily rebuffs them. His wealth is his wealth. This answer makes David furious. Just before David wipes Nabal and his people from the face of the earth, Abigail brings 200 loaves of bread and five cooked sheep (and a lot of other food and delicacies) to feed David's people. In a pinch. In a hurry. She saves the day, even though she cannot save her husband from the wrath of God.
Why is David so angry? Is it because his will has been thwarted? Is he really just some thug whose gang has been dishonored? If this is all that it is, then why is God angry enough to respond in this way? Some readers of the text say that the historian is only trying to cover up for the David that later becomes the king. I don't think so.
Nabal violates two different basic principles of his culture and Torah: the principle of hospitality and a principle of social justice - those without food must be fed. First, when someone comes to visit us, it is only good manners to offer them food and drink; we will not let them go hungry but will offer them the best of whatever we have available. Second, how can we stuff ourselves to the point of nausea and let the excess rot when there are those who live only minutes away who are going hungry? How can Nabal do this? How can we do this?
At the same time, these principles are somehow connected with this celebration, this feast of Nabal. If this celebration had any religious content or background (we can't be sure, but if it didn't, it should have), then how can a person celebrate their thankfulness to God in such a lavish way and know that someone on their porch remains hungry? Surely such behavior would make God furious. These same principles explain why Jesus is so careful to see to the feeding of those who have come to hear him.
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Mt 15:32-39 - NRSV
Somehow, when we come together on the first day of the week to share communion, that solemn feast, that bread and that wine are connected with how we deal with bread the rest of the week. If we are to rightly celebrate this feast in the presence of God, wisdom and compassion (and perhaps even self-protection) require that we think about the needs for bread in our community and in our world. The Lord's Supper is a part of our weekly living, after all. It is sacred, but not separate. It is holy, but it is not wholly removed from how we live life.
Give us grateful hearts, our Father,
for all thy mercies, and
make us mindful of the needs of others;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
- Common Book of Prayer
God willing, we will talk more about this tomorrow.
For you I pray blessings, and the wisdom to use them wisely -
Ron
