David and Abigail

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 25:10-13

10 And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.
11 Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”
12 So David’s young men turned away and came back and told him all this.
13 And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.

A quick reminder of the three characters in chapter 25 that we are considering. Nabal is presented to us as a man who is rich in possessions, harsh in character and of bad behavior. When verse three in the previous passage speaks of bad behavior, the Hebrew word used there is often translated as evil, or wicked. Make no mistake, Nabal is not simply bad, he is a wicked, grevious hurtful man. This surely was very common knowledge for the populace in the region, for a wealthy man’s reputation usually proceeds him. David most likely had some knowledge of this man’s reputation and hoping for the best, approached him via ten of his soldiers, requesting a gift during harvest time. Abigail, Nabal’s wife, is in the wings, not yet knowing the circumstances that would catapult her from riches to royalty.

Last we got together, David’s men were waiting for a response from Nabal, and he doesn’t disappoint, for he comes out swinging. Instead of accepting the easily verifiable gift of protection that David and his men provided, Nabal comes out attacking David himself.

What a brilliant move on Nabal’s part, for he dodged his responsibility of recognizing David’s service to him, and thereby accepting a responsibility of providing a gift. No – immediately he started by attacking David. He attacked David, his family and his allegiance to the King.

Have you known one who is always on the attack? One who is critical of any action you take, no matter the motivation or benefits to others? Do you know someone who might attack you though you have only loved them, provided a service to them, given them some type of gift?

It seems so incredible, that someone would attack the person who is providing them a blessing. It just isn’t fair. I bless you. You are to bless me back. That’s the deal. It is a social norm, at least in the land I live in.

Nabal did not accept that social norm. His norm was “Eat or be eaten”, and he seemed to live it every day. I give to get, but if you give me somethin, I will take it and reject you. It is all about gaining and keeping!

Notice in verse 11, where Nabal admits to providing for his shearers, but he does so only to receive a benefit he is experiencing. He gives to get. But any benefit that he has already received, as in a protection provided in the past, is not to be entertained, for it directly impacts his profit margin.

How short sighted for a business man to be of such character. What is worse, how vile for a man who is associated with the nation of God to act so thankless, to attack instead of defend one who blessed him.

As mentioned above, the social norm is to be return good for good. Nabal rejected this norm for the sake of his selfish wicked life. He returned bad for good. The lowest type of reaction to our fellow man.

There is One who has returned good for bad, has broken the social norm, and rejected the vile mans ways, providing a life for us to mimic, giving us the strength, if we seek it, to provide good for bad.

May I remind my reader of when the Lord spoke of the social norm in Matthew 5:43, stating the norm as…. ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

He went a bit further though. If you know someone who has attacked you verbally, (or even physically), defamed your character, cheated you, damaged your property or reputation, we are directed to return good for bad.

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 

As mentioned a post or two back, this chapter does not reflect well on David, for though he was incredibly “saintful” (is that a word?) in his dealings with Saul, he falls down miserably in relation to Nabal.

Strap on your weapons men – we got some killing to do! Note that he doesn’t simply take the ten men who returned wit the report, he takes 400 men to Nabal’s location, ready to spill blood!

I often think of David and Bathsheba as a low point in David’s walk with the Lord. The Word clearly states the Lord was disappointed in David during that period. For this time of testing, David is to meet with a very unexpected person on the rush to do the killing. A person who through discernment and wisdom, was used of God to restrain David from this evil reaction to Nabal.

Truly good to see that God is active in our lives, even as we ventured off to seek sin. He is a merciful God, and it is for us to always be willing to listen to those we may not expect, to keep our ears open for God’s wishes.

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