Bound in the Bundle of Life
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Bound in the Bundle of Life?”
I discovered this phrase in the Old Testament book of 1st Samuel, chapter 25. The text reads:
If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life in the care of the Lord Your God.
To be bound in the bundle of life is to know that you are protected and cared for deeply. When valuable items were transported during biblical times, they were wrapped in cloth, cotton and other soft materials for protection. They were then wrapped again and again to ensure safe arrival.
In 1st Samuel, the phrase came from a wise woman named Abigail who was trying to protect David from ruining his future. David was about to kill Nabal for insulting him, but Abigail’s reminder of God’s value and protection over him gave him the inner strength to leave the matter in God’s hands.
David faced many difficult days, but the difficulty was part of God's plan to prepare a king. As I look back on my own life, I see difficult circumstances and relationships as a part of God’s sovereign plan to prepare me for what I am doing today. If I had resisted or taken matters into my own hands, I would never have been granted the privilege of starting Lamplighter Ministries. Have there been extremely difficult trials over the years? More than you can imagine. But the truth revealed in this verse is what protected me and convinced me to stay the course in my marriage, my work, and my trust in the LORD.
Like David, you too may find yourself today in a difficult situation that has caused great pain. Maybe you have been insulted, betrayed, stabbed in the back, misunderstood, abused or deeply wounded by one you love.
Wounded people will either flee or fight. David was about to fight when Abigail, God’s messenger of truth, reminded David that any act of self-will would jeopardize his future as king.
The key is remembering this truth. If you are one of God’s children, then you can cling to the faithful promise that you—yes you—are:
bound in the bundle of life in the care of the Lord your God.
We are kings and priests, joint heirs with Christ. Our Father, the Great King of kings and LORD of lords has our back. We will be brought safely to our designated destination, if, and I must reiterate, IF, we do not take matters selfishly or vengefully, into our own hands—for we have been bound in the bundle of life with the care of the LORD our God.
For more resources on trust in our great Father, I invite you to read from the following resources. As always, thank you for reading!
Blessings,
Dr. Mark Hamby
Lamplighter Selections on Trust!
Runaway Darling (Ages 6+)
Crew of the Dolphin (Ages 9+)
Manchester House (Ages 12+)
City Sparrows (Ages 12+)
