Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.1 Kings 1:1-4 KJV
The stress of years of running from King Saul in the wilderness and that of many battles fought against the Philistines, the emotional trauma of seeing two sons die; the second being the result of rebellion against his kingship and many more troubles in the life of David were now visible in his body. His body could not bear the pressures now at old age. His body was always shaking, shivering even though it was summer. Day and night he was seen shivering from cold from inside of him. His chiefs and attendants tried all they could to alleviate his suffering by putting many blankets on him, and other suggestions were applied but the situation did not change. Finally, it was suggested that a young beautiful girl (virgin) should be sought to lie in his bossom to keep him warm. It seemed a good idea to many of the chiefs and thus the search began.
Let us not think that Abishag was the first person approached to be employed for this task. Perhaps so many other young virgins had been contacted who rejected the thought of being linked with such a task. For some it was unimaginable, others could not lower their dignity to that level. In reality it was not a fanciful service; there was nothing to boast about that kind of job- the ministry of ‘lying in the king’s bossom to keep him warm.’ It was very odd and unattractive. Don’t let us think it was an easy task. As long as the King was shaking, the service was called upon. We cannot quite speak exhaustively about the depth of this service except with our imaginations we project what it would have required. Through experiences with old men or women, we may also be able to deduce some of the things that may have been required from whoever accepted to do this service. The task was not a noble one.
At last, a young woman agreed to this task. Why didn’t she unlike others refuse? I think, unlike many others, the focus was not herself or the task but the King. Many who considered the nature of the task refused it. Those who considered themselves also rejected the thought. Only those who think of the King have a chance of taking up the charge. Those who remember the love of the King for the nation and how he defended the nation from its enemies. Those who remembered the peace and the freedom the king brought to the nation because he had risked his own life while contending with hostile nations could contemplate such an idea.
Oh, how many saints today have forgotten the sacrifices of Jesus Christ the King and are rejecting His call to serve Him when and where He may need them. The love of Christ constrains us… the Bible says, and this should be the motivation for our service to our King. It is not the challenges the task poses that should scare us, our love for our King surpasses that. It is for the sake of our King, we will go anywhere, we will give anything, we will serve any how, just to meet His needs.
This I think was the heart of Abishag. Her consideration was the King. She remembered the labours and sacrifices of the King for Israel, that became an example and a motivation for her. Although she would be scorned by her friends- when others were arrogantly talking about their vocations and receiving applauds (because their minds are set on earthly things), Abishag might not be bold to speak about her own pursuit. Yet in the records of God, Abishag could not be set aside.
What then is the lesson to be learnt from Abishag and what is God communicating to us? I observed that if the Holy Spirit had omitted verses 1-4 of this chapter and the story had started from verse 5, the story would still have seemed very fitting. But these verses could not be omitted because of the significance of this kind of service that Abishag did to her King.
Abishag reminds us that:
- The service that is acceptable to God is usually most despised by men.
- Christian service must be done not in consideration of the task or the servant’s reputation but the King to whom we offer the service.
- True service satisfies the heart of God and meets the need of men
What is your own consideration for serving the Lord (if you are)? Is your service such that God cannot but record in His books? It will only happen because it meets the criteria of God for commendable service. Amen.