As we approach the end of David’s life, we see that even a great king such as this suffered the indignities of old age. In 1 Kings 1:1-4, we read about the cold he felt which meant no amount of blankets could help him stay warm, and how the solution came in the form of a beautiful young woman named Abishag, who essentially became his personal carer, sleeping in his bed to keep him warm and tending to his needs (without being sexually intimate with him.)
Old age brings with it frailty and infirmity, and, just as a baby needs help with every area of life, at the end of our lives, we too may need much care. Such jobs lack glamour and are often poorly paid. We may well feel frustrated at needing help, and the indignity and loss of independence which old age can bring are often hard to bear. This passage reminds us of the value and worth of the individual: both the one needing care and the one giving it, a value which is often ignored in our modern societies. We may well feel our lives lack significance or value or that our service is unappreciated and unnoticed, but Abishag reminds us that the eyes of the Lord are everywhere (Prov 15:3) and that He sees everything we do; even a cup of cold water offered to someone is noticed. (Matt 10:42)
To all struggling with either caring or being cared for, do not lose hope but remember that when we do everything as to the Lord, He sees and cares
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