1 Kings 1:1-4 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our Lord the king may keep warm.” Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

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Today Southern Baptist churches are meeting for the first time since the Sexual Abuse Task Force report was made public. The last week has brought painful news multiplied many times over. Powerful men have misused and abused women and children without accountability. 

This is evil.

Another gunman entered another school and killed innocent teachers and children. 

This is evil.

This is a day to grieve, lament, pray, and begin the hard work of doing whatever is necessary to move forward with integrity and Christ-like character. 

This is a day to provide healing and hope. This is a day to build safeguards of protection. 

This is time to heal. 

Abishag lost all control of her life at the hands of powerful men. She was not the first. She will not be the last. 

What is right, just, fair, and compassionate in this moment? Let’s do that. Let’s do that first time, every time, all the time.

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I will do what is right, just, fair, and compassionate.

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Our Father, our sin is great. So many have been so deeply wounded. So many are grief-struck this morning. Please bring healing, hope, and comfort to those who are feeling the full weight of their loss. Give us wisdom and fortitude for building protection against such evil. Amen.