[Sorry, due to technical difficulties, the audio recording for this lesson is not available. -MRW]
Highlights from previous lesson about Abigail and David
David sends men ahead to ask Nabal for some help.They’re snubbed, David and lineage insulted.David determined to avenge the insult via mass capital punishment.Abigail finds out and intercedes, David relentsAbigail tells Nabal the next day and he goes catatonic – dies 10 days laterDavid takes Abigail as his wifeDiscussion
Don’t procrastinateBe honest and don’t hide things from husband, wife, family member, etc.Don’t seek vengeance, leave it to God – Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30Could David’s throne have been destroyed by his transgression just as Saul’s throne had been?Saul’s reaction to sinDavid’s reaction to sinIt is good and right for a woman to be decisiveCourage is facing real fear rather than running from itYou can respond to a fool without dishonesty or manipulationSpeaking diplomatically can work better than being brashYou can do so respectfully rather than patronizinglyAbigail did not rely on her beauty to bail herself outGot on her knees and put her face in the dirtHer gentle, humble, respectful honesty dissuaded a young, brash warrior from an ill-conceived fightWhen action was the right thing to do, she disregarded the dangerCould have just run offCould have thrown Nabal under the busHer mainstay appeal was God’s righteousnessYou can do right no matter your marital or familial situationA woman can function properly and righteously in any situationHer beauty is mentioned, but it does not play into any real part of the situationOnesimus
Philemon 1:1-25What we know:Has Roman (Latin) name – maybe given that name as a slavePhilemon’s slave – who’s run awayMaybe took something from Philemon or owes him (Philemon 1:18-19)Was converted in Rome by PaulWas Paul’s valued helperAs for Paul:Makes no excuses for Onesimus – realizes he did wrongAll things must be made rightWhat to do is up to PhilemonOnesimus is now much more than a slaveHad become useless to PhilemonHis usefulness is by proxy nowPaul defers from his authority to Philemon’s heartWhat are the implications of Paul’s letter?
Converted slave – new kind of servitudeService to Christ is better when unhinderedI Corinthians 7:21At the same time, not impossible or wrongSlavery was very much a fact of life in Rome during the first centuryHow did one become a slave under Roman law?
Being captured during warfare and soldBeing captured by pirates and soldSelling oneself into servitude to pay a debtBeing born into slaveryOnce a slave, what was the job?
Found in every endeavor – household, government, businessDomestic help was the most commonEducated slaves taught childrenSome were cooks – specialtyEven hairdressersSome took civic positions (just as Jews in Babylon)LibrariansGovernment AdministratorsAt the other end of the scale
Some did hard manual laborJobs around large estates (senatorial class)Ag workMine workers – high “turnover”Construction workers – like Israelites in EgyptThe most unfortunate were pressed into work as prostitutesBoth male and femaleRoman law enforce slavery – favored the owner over the slave
Masters – life and deathRunaway – harsh punishmentsAssault or kill masterOften, deathAlso, deaths of associated slavesHow were they treated?
Made economic sense – treat fairlyMany gained allowances (peculium)MarryingEven made willsProperty holdersSome became close to master’s family membersCicero and Tiro – personal secretaryCicero’s brother: “I am truly thankful for what you have done with regard to Tiro, in judging his former status to be below what he deserved and preferring us to have him as a friend rather than a slave.”
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