Introduction
Not that often, but every once in a while I feel like I have done something right. The worst part is that it seems all too soon after that I do something stupid and sinful. The only consolation I find is that I have a lot of company in my spiritual state. I think first of Peter, the first disciple to blurt out the right answer to our Lord's question, "Who do you say that I am?" (Mt. 16:13-20). For this our Lord commended Peter, and yet within a few moments, our Lord rebuked Peter with these words, "Get behind Me, Satan!"(23) for attempting to talk him out of dying on the cross. Later on, Peter assures his Lord that even though all the other apostles deny him, he will be faithful (Lk. 22:31-34). Only a few verses and a few hours later Peter denies his Lord, not once, but three times (Lk. 22:54-62).
In the Old Testament, we see the same fickle faith and obedience, even in a man as highly esteemed as David. Chapter 24 of 1 Samuel is certainly one of the high water marks of David's faith. King Saul stops at a cave to use it as a restroom, and unknowingly puts his life in the hands of David and his men hiding at the back of the cave. David refuses to raise a hand against the king and forbids his men to harm him. He even regrets his act of cutting off a portion of Saul's robe. Finally, he puts himself at great risk by revealing himself to the king to show the king that he is a faithful servant, and not a criminal waiting for the right moment to take the king's life.
One chapter later, David loses his temper because he is insulted by a foolish man. David is ready not only to kill this rich fool, but every male in his household. It is a wise woman who, at her own risk, acts in a way that spares her husband's life and keeps David from acting foolishly.
I. David Suffers a Great Loss, 1.
A. This note concerning Samuel's death is repeated in 28:3, which suggests that the author is not merely reporting a historical event in its proper chronological sequence, but that the death of Samuel plays a part in the drama that follows.
B. Samuel has been one of the central personalities in this book.
1. He was the one who designated and anointed Saul and Israel's first king, chpts. 9 -10.
2. He was also the one who informed Saul that his kingship was going to be taken away, chpts. 13-15.
3. Samuel anointed David as Saul's replacement, chpt. 16.
4. Samuel was a man to whom David could flee when he was being pursued by Saul, 19:18-24.
5. And now, Samuel is dead.
a. David had met with his beloved friend Jonathan for the last time, chpt. 23).
b. His wife Michal, who is also Saul's daughter, has been given to another man for his wife, 25:44.
c. On top of all this, David's parents have been placed in the care of the king of Moab, 22:3.
d. This must be a lonely time for David.
C. David, along with many other Israelites, goes to Samuel's home at Ramah where he mourns for this great man of God.
D. After this time of mourning, David once again goes into hiding in the wilderness of Paran.
1. This is the wilderness where Hagar and her son Ishmael lived after being sent away by Abraham and Sarah, Gen. 21:21.
2. It is also the place where the Israelites camped after leaving Mt. Sinai, and from which the 12 spies were sent to spy out the land of Canaan, Num. 10:12; 13:3.
II. Two Important Characters during Sheering Time, 2-8.
A. We are introduced here to two very important characters in our story, a man named Nabal, and his wife, Abigail.
1. Nabal is a very wealthy man (3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats), 2b.
a. His home is in Maon, and his livestock are kept in Carmel, a very few miles away.
b. It is near Carmel that David and his men have been hiding for some time.
2. The name Nabal means fool, which is a very apt name – he is harsh and evil in his actions, 3.
3. His wife is a refreshing contrast – Abigail is a wonderful blend of good looks and good thinking.
B. It is the time of the year when the sheep are sheered and there was usually a great festival accompanying the sheering of the sheep, 4-8.
1. The 10 young David sent call Nabal's attention to the fact that it is sheering time, reminding him that their presence has not been detrimental to him, but they have performed for Nabal a very beneficial service.
2. David and his men have protected Nabal's flocks and shepherds.
3. They very politely ask Nabal for a gift, waiting patiently and expectantly for his response.
III. No Gift, Just Rudeness, 9-13
A. Nabal has several options as to how he is going to respond to David's request.
1. He can send these men back with a word of thanks and a generous gift.
2. He can politely thank them and gently remind them that he did not ask for their help.
3. He can send David's servants back to him without any gift, and insult them at the same time he declines to give – and foolishly he chooses this one.
B. At first glance, it seems from Nabal's words that he does not even know who David is, 10a.
C. That's not the case, though.
1. Not only does he know that David is a "son of Jesse," he is also well aware of the tension between Saul and David, 10b.
2. Hi wife knows that David is the one chosen to reign in Saul's place, 30-31.
3. Yet, Nabal speaks only of David as a servant who has fled from his master, as though he were a mere runaway slave.
a. I don't think Nabal refuses David's request out of fear of payback from Saul, knowing what happened to Ahimelech and the priests.
b. His message to David is one of pure selfishness and meanness.
c. He will not share with David and his men anything that is his – note the repeated myin v. 11.
D. The final words of refusal Nabal speaks are noteworthy, 11.
1. He is here revealing his own arrogance and snobbery.
2. Nabal is a "Calebite."
a. He comes from an outstanding family.
b. David and his men, on the other hand, seem to come from obscure or unknown roots.
c. Why should a man of Nabal's standing give anything to such riffraff?
d. The irony of this is that David and Nabal come from the same root, Judah.
E. David's men return to him empty-handed, only with Nabal's words to David, 12.
F. As a result, David completely "loses his cool," 13.
1. "Grab your swords, boys, we are going to kill every male in that fool's house" "Strap on your swords!" 21-22.
2. David is angry because his actions have not brought about the result he expected.
a. He has dealt kindly with Nabal, and now it is time for Nabal to deal kindly with him.
b. Instead of giving a blessing to David and his men, Nabal insults them and sends them away empty-handed.
c. All of his good works are for nothing, David concludes.
d. If Nabal will return evil for good, David is now justified in returning evil for evil.
3. Think for a moment about David's reasoning:
a. I did good toward Nabal and all his household.
b. I expect Nabal to respond in kind, and instead I receive nothing but an insult.
c. I now am justified in my intention to kill Nabal and every other male in his household.
1) All too often we reason the same way David does here.
2) The problem with that is that David is dead wrong to expect that the good he does will be responded to in kind.
a) David expects an immediate return on his investment of serving Nabal.
b) He expects the reward to come from Nabal, now.
c) He is not looking for a heavenly reward.
Mt. 6:1 – Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
d) How many of us minister to others with a measuring stick in our hands?
(1)We are willing to love and serve others sacrificially, but with a certain set of expectations.
(2)We expect that sacrificial love and service should be reciprocated.
(3)When in return for our doing good, our neighbor gives us evil, like David, we get hot under the collar and look for some way to retaliate.
(4)We forget that, like Christ, our words and actions may bring about persecution and suffering, rather than approval and gratitude.
(5)Our reward in heaven will be great, but there may be no such rewards on earth.
(6)Let us be careful to do our good works as to the Lord, looking to Him for our reward, and not the recipients of our sacrificial service. Remember that we don't serve in order to be promoted, but to be demoted.
Mt. 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
IV. Somebody Had Common Sense, 14-17.
A. One of Nabal's servants somehow knows that David is coming, and that if something dramatic is not done quickly, there will be trouble for all.
1. He also knows that Nabal is a fool, with whom he cannot reason.
2. So the servant does not speak to Nabal, but quickly explains the situation to Abigail.
B. It seems this servant has a great regard for Abigail and her judgment, which is the reason he seeks her out.
C. He does not suggest to Abigail what she should do, but simply tells her the facts and urges her to act with the wisdom she is known to have.
V. Dear Abby Saves Nabal and David, 18-31.
A. Acting quickly, Abigail gathers up generous portions of food, which she sends on ahead by her servants, 18-22.
1. Having sent the food gift on ahead, Abigail works her way down the mountain, out of sight to David and his men.
2. David also comes down from higher ground, only he is still grumbling about Nabal's insults and rehearsing what he will do when he gets his hands on this ungrateful fool.
B. Suddenly the paths of Abigail and David intersect, and Abigail promptly dismounts, falling on her face before David (just as David did before Saul in the last chapter), 23.
C. In addition to offering herself as a scapegoat for David's wrath, Abigail petitions David to listen to the words she wants to speak to him, 24-31.
1. In this regard, David is very different from Nabal, who does not listen to anyone, 17.
2. To his credit and his gain, David does listen.
a. She pleads with him not to take her husband Nabal seriously, 25-28.
b. She also shows David that it would be sinful for him to kill Nabal, and thus protects David.
1) She begins by pointing out that the Lord has restrained David from shedding blood and from avenging himself by his own hand, 26 – She is certain that if David leaves vengeance to God, God will deal appropriately with Nabal, as with all others who seek evil against David.
2) David is Israel's next king and how tragic it would be for David to have a dark cloud over that kingdom, a cloud brought about by his own impetuous acts of seeking vengeance and shedding innocent blood, 30-31.
c. Abigail assures David that God will bring about all the good He has spoken concerning him.
d. If God's plans are for good, why is David so intent on doing evil?
1) David is a man after God's own heart, so he will eventually regret the very things he is now so intent on doing.
2) David will grieve and have a troubled heart over what he is now setting out to do.
3) Why not end it all here and now by giving up this reckless anger?
e. Abigail is simply urging David to act according to his own standards, his own principles, as he expressed them in chpt. 24.
1) Abigail encourages David to deal with Nabal in the same way he dealt with Saul.
2) Leave vengeance to God, and do not shed innocent blood.
VI. Repentance Praises Wisdom, 32-35.
A. Abigail's words ring true to David.
1. What she says squares with all that God has taught David.
2. He knows she is right, and he now admits it by praising her before all of his men.
3. David recognizes that Abigail is literally a Godsend, and that by means of her words and deeds, God has kept him from wrong doing by taking vengeance against Nabal, and thus shedding innocent blood.
B. Had she not acted quickly, as she did, David would have carried out his plan.
1. She has saved David from folly and guilt, and at the same time spared the life of her husband and every male in her household.
2. Granting her request, David accepts the gift from Abigail and sends her home in peace.
VII. Nabal in the Hands of God, 36-38.
A. Completely oblivious to the stupidity of his actions, and how close he has come to death, Nabal is feasting like a king in his house when Abigail returns.
B. Because he is drunk, Abigail wisely says nothing to her husband about the day's events at this time.
C. As morning breaks, Nabal awakens with a clearer head, and so Abigail informs him of all that happened the previous day.
1. The color drains from Nabal's face as he begins to comprehend the magnitude of his folly.
2. Our text tells us that "his heart died within him, and he became like a stone."
a. This may mean that he had a heart attack.
b. Whatever it was, ten days later the Lord strikes Nabal dead.
3. How much better that this fool died at God's hand than at the hand of David.
VIII. Blessing and Marriage, 39-44.
A. When David hears that Nabal is dead, he responds with wonder and gratitude.
1. He praises God for pleading his cause and removing the reproach of Nabal.
2. He declares that God has indeed kept him from evil.
3. He sees how much better it is to have left vengeance with God.
a. The Lord removed Nabal, not David.
b. That is the way it is supposed to be, and it is all due to the wisdom of a woman, Abigail.
B. David marries Abigail, which is not condoned nor condemned, just is.
Application & Conclusion
Each one of the characters in this story can teach us something worthwhile, but for today we will conclude by learning one thing from Abigail.
Abigail is an illustration of God's provision for man's salvation. In wisdom and humility, Abigail steps forward, taking the guilt of all the condemned upon herself, offering herself in their place, 24. Is this not a picture, a prototype of our Lord Jesus Christ? Due to Adam's sin and our own, we have all been condemned to death.
The day of our doom hastens, but the Lord Jesus Christ (who was completely innocent and without fault) stepped forward, taking our sin and guilt upon himself. He offered himself in our place on the cross. He bore the penalty for our sins. And through faith in Him, we can enter into eternal life. And, in him, we become Christ's bride. Because of that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Abigail helps us see the sweet love of the Lord Jesus who stood condemned in our place, who willing bore the guilt of our sin, and consequently, the full wait of God's wrath, so that we can be infinitely loved by our heavenly Father.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2016/06/dear-abby-1-sam-25.html
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