Edward’s QT
Warned by Ahimaz and Jonathan, David avoids Absolam by crossing the Jordan in the night with all his followers. They arrive in Mahanaim exhausted. They are supported and encouraged by Shobi, Makir and Barzillai, friends and foreigners, with food, dishes and bedding.
Have I ever supported someone the way David was? Have I ever been supported the way David was?
When my fortunes collapsed in the US and I had to return to Canada to find work and reflect on my misfortunes, it was my mother and stepfather and my sister who embraced me as Shobi, Makir and Barzillai did David. I lived with my sister while I searched for work. She was happy do it because she remembered the half year she and her infant son had lived with me when she was dealing with the consequences of an abusive relationship. I can only imagine what my mother thought of her fifty year old son ending up on her doorstep because of his life mismanagement. A professor acquaintance in the university, a sort of Barzillai got me a teaching position replacing someone on sabbatical.
The most spiritual support I received happened a couple of years ago from my mokjang. When they learned that I’d been dismissed from my position as principal, they made a cake for me. On it was my picture and written below was this: “Congratulations on being fired!” So perfectly Wooridle. Our community says “Repent” to someone achieving success and “Congratulations” to someone suffering a misfortune. We do this in order to keep us focused on what’s truly important, our relationship with the Lord, not the world.
Only my mission trips show me helping others the way Shobi, Makir and Barzillai helped David with practical support and spiritual encouragement.
Application: Keep going on mission trips.
Prayer: Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. Keep me mindful of those I can help and strengthen my resolve to do so. Let me not be so busy looking outside my home that I fail to see what I can do in it.
