When Hope Smiles on Us

The following is the manuscript of Rev. Jill Hudson's homily on the following Scriptures: 1 Sam 25, Psalm 25:4-12, 1 Cor 13:11-13, and Matthew 5:38-42.

I used to be a high school math teacher in Alabama.  Two of my favorite students fell in love in my classroom and are now more of grown ups and are getting married next Sunday.  I’ve been invited to their wedding and really want to go so I’ve been thinking about them and their wedding a lot lately.  When I think of weddings, I think of the love chapter in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13.  It’s read a lot at weddings.

We are using it this morning too but just the last bit of it.

Faith, Hope, and Love…these three remain.  And the greatest of these is love.

Agreed.  Love is the best.  But hope is there too.

Hope is the one that isn’t pretty.

Love is pretty.  It comes in and saves the day. Love is the hero.  Love is flowers and sunshine and warmth and a much-needed holiday.  Love sacrifices.  Love overcomes.  Love is a child skipping through a flowery meadow.  Love is roses and chocolate and hugs and peace of mind.  Love is a warm embrace inside of familiar arms.  Love is a delicious memory of a perfect moment.

Faith is steadfast and true.  Faith is constant and ever-present.  Faith is unshakeable.  Faith is grounded and rooted.  Faith reminds us that we are part of the firm and unshakeable kingdom of God.  Faith reminds us that the Kingdom is not in trouble and that neither are we.  Faith knows who has already won the battle.  Faith is a strong face smiling into the sun.  Faith is steady.  You know what to expect with faith.

But hope is different.  Hope has dirt on her face.  She is in the trenches with you. She has mud under her fingernails and smells to high heaven.  When hope smiles at you, she has blood on her teeth and a swollen lip.  Her body is bruised and battered, just like yours.  Her hair is in tangles and she is holding both the goodness and the ugliness that is your insides together with hemp rope and duct tape.  Hope is raw and you better believe she is dangerous.  When Hope is with you, you start to believe that things can be different, better, more just, more fair.  Hope is by your side whispering the truth that Everyone Belongs.

If we are to compare these three attributes, faith, hope, and love, to the Trinity: faith is Parent, love is Son, hope is Spirit.

I’ve taught about the Trinity many times to children using a methodology called Godly Play.  In that framework, we say the Parent is the Creator, making water, animals, humans, the world we can see.  That is faith.  In that framework, we say that the Son, Jesus, is the Redeemer, the Light of the World, saving all of humanity.  That is love.  In that framework, we say that the Spirit is the Sustainer, the Wind on which the dove rides, the Scent of perfumed oil.  That is hope.

Hope is not tamed.  Or tame-able.  Hope goes where she wills, is unpredictable, and sustains us through the times we think we will be broken.  Thinking of God as Hope reminds me of the Jason Isbell song 24 Frames  “You thought God was an architect, now you know.  He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow.”  When Jason is writing about God, he is writing about Hope.

I want to start our dive into Scripture this morning with the story from 1 Samuel 25

about Abigail.  At Re:imago, we have specifically chosen to use a resource called A Woman’s Lectionary for the Whole Church from which to pick our Scriptures for each week

and from which to give the homily.  This lectionary, written by Dr. Wilda Gafney, focuses on texts where women are to give us a better sense of where women are present in the Biblical narrative.  If we don’t specifically choose to use resources like this one, we can lose the thread of women’s theological work both in Scripture and throughout history.  So today we are going to begin with the story of Abigail.

In the story from 1 Sam 25, David is currently on the run from Saul.  David has been anointed as king of Israel but has yet to assume the post.  Saul is the current king and is not happy at someone else being named king.  So David is on the run with a large group of people who are his supporters.  They are basically living in the wilderness and keeping peace on people’s lands in exchange for food, drink, and other basic needs from the owners of the lands that they are keeping safe from roaming thieves and bandits.

David and his troop have been traveling west of the Dead Sea and in this story, are on the land that belongs to Nabal. They have been keeping his backcountry land safe and so David sends some of his men to Nabal to collect his payment.  Now Nabal’s name literally means “Son of Worthlessness” so if you are the original hearer of this story, you can kind of see the writing on the wall of how this interaction is going to go.  But just so we aren’t confused, the Scriptures also tell us that Nabal is a vile person, a nasty drunk, and an abusive husband.  This interaction is going to be disastrous.

Nabal has a cultural obligation to provide hospitality to David and his troops, but not a legal one.  We know from earlier in the chapter that Nabal is very wealthy.  Nabal has the means to be generous with David and his supporters, but David is not king yet.  And so brutish and mean Nabal in all of his wisdom refuses the request of David’s men.  They return to David and report the refusal and David in all of his wisdom prays deeply over the decision and asks God what would be the best course of action.  Wait, nope…David in all of his wisdom reacts and reacts poorly instructing his people to strap on their swords and 400 of them head out towards Nabal’s house to kill him and all who live there.

Okay so that’s what all the men in the story were doing.  Now let’s talk about Abigail.  First, Abigail is named in this story which is something we should perk up and pay attention to.  Whenever a woman is named in a Biblical story, that is significant. Instead of being referred to as Nabal’s wife, she is named.  Her name is Abigail. She has her own personality and worth and agency apart from simply being the wife of a man in the story.  This is the first remarkable part of Abigail’s story.  The next remarkable part of Abigail’s story is that she is given descriptors.  She is described earlier in chapter 25 as intelligent and as good-looking.  I’m like - Alright, Abigail - we see you!

Here’s something else significant too that I don’t want us to miss.  In verse 14, a young shepherd came and told Abigail what had happened.  Don’t skip over this. A young shepherd, a real nobody in their culture, knew things were going south and going there quickly.  So he took action.  Probably because he didn’t want to be slaughtered.  It’s a good motivator I would imagine.  And when he decided to take action, it was to tell Abigail what had happened between her husband and David’s men.  At first read, that seems so bold, so brazen.  This young shepherd was scared to death and went to Nabal’s wife and tattled on Nabal.  What was that conversation like?  “Um, excuse me, Ms. Your husband, the brute, well he is at it again.  He has just pissed off the next king of Israel and his 600 men and I don’t think it’s going to go very well.  ‘Do something quickly because big trouble is ahead for our master and all of us.’”

Upon second read, I remember how Abigail was described - intelligent - and I start to get the sense that Abigail must have been known for being the person to make situations better.  Can you imagine for a moment what it must have been like for Abigail to be married to a man who did evil things?  Nabal was likely abusive to her.  Domestic abuse would have been no easier for her to take way back then than it is for a woman today to bear.  I hate this marriage for Abigail.

And on top of the abuse, Nabal definitely does not make wise decisions about his dealings with people as evidenced not only by how he treats David’s men but also by the fact that this young shepherd knew exactly who to go to in order to get things done.  So in all likelihood, Abigail is quite a bit smarter than Nabal.  There must be days for Abigail that feel impossible to bear.  There must be moments that she feels trapped, desperate, something like a caged animal.  I don’t want us to miss these things in the text.  It’s there.  We just have to pay attention.

When Abigail hears the report from this young shepherd, the Message says “Abigail flew into action.”  Abigail understands what is at stake, how many lives are about to be destroyed by the actions of these two men.  Instead of feeling powerless or freezing up in fear, Abigail springs into action.  You know why?  Hope.

Hope is right beside Abigail, sweating and working, gathering up bread, wine, meat, cakes and cooking supplies.  Hope saddles up with Abigail onto the smelly donkeys and sets out along the uncertain path to find David.  Hope rides with Abigail keeping the fear of impending doom from rising too far up into her throat.  Hope reminds Abigail that the path forward is the only life-saving option.  When Abigail first sees David, Hope keeps the rush of anxiety and adrenaline at a manageable level.  As Abigail dismounts her donkey and kneels at the feet of the one who has come to kill her, Hope keeps Abigail’s insides tied together with hemp rope.  Hope is down in the dirt with Abigail, groveling in front of another man who holds her fate.  Hope’s fingernails have mud underneath them just like Abigails as she digs into the mud trying to steady herself and to keep from vomiting from fear.  Hope smiles at Abigail.  Hope has blood on her teeth, a swollen lip and tangles in her hair.  This smile from Hope gives Abigail the courage to speak.  Because of Hope, Abigail believes that things can be different, better, more just, more fair.  Hope’s words feel dangerous coming out of Abigail’s mouth.

“My master, let me take the blame! Let me speak to you. Listen to what I have to say. Don’t dwell on what that brute Nabal did. He acts out the meaning of his name: Nabal, Fool. Foolishness oozes from him.  When God completes all the goodness he has promised my master and sets you up as prince over Israel, my master will not have this dead weight in his heart, the guilt of an avenging murder. And when God has worked things for good for my master, remember me.”

We hear that same hope in the words of the Psalmist.

“Make known to me your ways, Ageless God; teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation;

For you I wait all day long.”  Right there, waiting.  Waiting is hoping.  To wait is to hope.  To believe that things can be different, better, more just, more fair.

And do you know who wrote that Psalm?  David.  After he met Abigail.  Maybe years later.  But still after he experiences hope surging through the words and actions of an intelligent and beautiful and hope-filled woman named Abigail.

David learned an early lesson about how God works and who God is from the actions and words of Abigail.  Think about how she saved him from making such a huge mistake.  David says that to her back when they first meet.  From 1 Sam 25:32, “Then David said to Abigail, ’Blessed be the Holy One, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today!  Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from coming for blood and saving me from my own hand.  Surely, as the Holy One, the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by the light of daybreak, there would not have been left to Nabal anyone urinating against the wall.’”

Then years later David wrote this song, Psalm 25, which is overflowing with maternal language about God.  Which makes sense to me.  Listen to this translation and while you do, imagine what David learns from Abigail, a woman, about who God is.

“Remember your maternal love, O Womb of Life, and your faithful love, for they have been from of old. The sins of my youth and my transgressions remember not; according to your faithful love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, Gracious One.  Good and upright is the Fount of Wisdom, therefore she instructs sinners in the way. She guides the humble in what is just, and teaches the humble her way. All the paths of the Wisdom of the Ages are faithful and true for those who keep her covenant and her decrees.  For your Name’s sake, Loving God, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who are they that fear the Holy One of Old? She will teach them the way that they should choose.”

And right there at the end is hope again.  “She will teach them the way that they should choose.”  When Hope is with you, you start to believe that things can be different, better, more just, more fair.  Hope is by your side whispering the truth that Everyone Belongs.

Jesus is full of hope in the gospel passage for today.  “You’ve heard it said, one way, but I say another way.”  That’s hope.  Belief that things can be different, better, more just, more fair. But remember Hope is there with mud under her fingernails, blood on her teeth, a swollen lip, a body bruised and battered just like yours. Just like His will soon be.  Hope is raw.  And Hope is dangerous.  And Jesus’ words are full of Hope.  They also remind me of Abigail’s words. Listen closely, “Do not set yourself against evil. But when someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to them also. And when someone wants you to be judged and take your coat, let your other clothing go as well. And when someone forces you to go one mile, go the second mile too. Give to those who ask from you, and those who want to borrow from you, do not refuse.”

Do you hear Hope woven through all of these words?  Do you hear Abigail in them too?  “Do not set yourself against evil.”  As the kids say these days - that’s wild.  Who has ever heard that?  Do you understand how dangerous that is?  Who will settle all the scores? Who will give them what they deserve?  How will they know that I’m right and they were wrong? 

After I am beaten up, thrown out, gossiped about, rejected, lied to, lied about, stripped of community, used as a bargaining chip, been deemed not worth the trouble, I am then supposed to turn the other cheek?  Give away my other clothing?  Walk the next mile?  What??  How?!?!, I scream.

And through her bruises and her sweat-soaked clothes, Hope smiles at me with her swollen lips and says, “Live generously.  Remember…everyone belongs.”

It’s what Abigail did.  Abigail listened to Hope whispering, “live generously, everyone belongs.”  And it saved her life and the lives of all of those in her household.  Including Nabal.  And David. And David’s troops.  Both the evil and the just. Both the men and the women.  Both the young and the old.  All were saved.  Because of Hope.

Faith, Hope, and Love.  The Trinity.

Faith, the Parent, the Creator.  Steadfast and unshakeable.

Love, the Child, the Redeemer and Savior.  Heroic and like warm-honey.

Hope, the Spirit, the Sustainer.  Gritty, dangerous and raw.

Amen.

Benediction:

This week, may our faith root us deeply in the One who Created us from dust.

May we rest as Love sings a perfect melody of salvation over us and over all those whom we encounter.

And when Hope smiles on us, may we believe that the path forward will be different and better than we once thought possible.

Quotes:

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

― Nelson Mandela

“That is why, faith, wherever it develops into hope, causes not rest but unrest, not patience but impatience… Those who hope in Christ can no longer put up with reality as it is.”

-Jürgen Moltmann