13 David asked him, "Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?"
He said, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. 14 We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag."
15 David asked him, "Can you lead me down to this raiding party?"
He answered, "Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them." (1 Samuel 30, NIV)
David met a stranger in need and took care of him. The stranger had been abandoned but wasn't quite ready to trust David alone. He is recorded as knowing that an oath by God is a powerful agreement. Both men got what they needed from their "fear of God" and David's compassion.
33‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not [k]do him wrong. 34The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34, NASB)
Most of us have been told as children not to talk to strangers. It's true, that we must be careful of who we trust. It was as a hockey coach that I first learned the concept of practicing "Two Deep", which is pretty much the same as the buddy system. I guess I learned that in swimming lessons as a child! I do like in the Chosen, episode 2, which is actually someone else's quote: "There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met." William Butler Yeats
No matter who we meet, where they're from, what they've done, or what they have. we may share a past with them - perhaps our heritage or previous circumstances - but we should only embrace that as part of bettering ourselves and each other. Otherwise, each day, our past is behind us, each of us, and we should all seek a better future, together. It is what God has called us to do, both in the Old and the New Testament.
"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18, KJV)
I try to include the KJV often, as some people rely on it exclusively. This is unfortunate as this particular verse, for example, some will reject it because it says to live peaceably with all men, as an exclusion to women. Even more unfortunate is that the KJV isn't even accurate with this translation. Checking the original "lexicon" or original language, Koine Greek, it translates as "everyone", not "men". I am so thankful that we have the lexicon with definitions, AND multiple translations easily available to us today, that we not be led astray.
everyone.
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's Greek 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.