Be Kind

417 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 2:4-7, “ Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul." 5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 6 "And now may the LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 "Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." ( 2 Sam 2:4-7) The brave men of Jabesh Gilead had rescued Saul's body from the desecration of the Philistines and gave him a proper burial. These men of Jabesh had been rescued from the Ammonites by Saul and they never forgot it. Now David, in his first act as the newly anointed king of Judah, fires off a message thanking them for the kindness that they had shown, asking the Lord to bless them with kindness and truth, and pledging to be kind to them in the future. Hmmmm. Kindness seems to be an emerging theme here. It's interesting to note that when David's son, Solomon died and the reigns of the government were handed over to Rehoboam, Solomons advisors gave the new king this instruction, “ 2Ch 10:7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever." Proverbs 19:22 also reminds us, “What is desired in a man is kindness. Kindness is also one of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Gal 5:22 and therefore a mark of the followers of Jesus. This kindness is to mirror the kindness that God has extended to us through Jesus and is earmarked by mercy. Jesus said in Lu 6:36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Father, help us to remember to be kind, never forgetting Your kindness towards us.