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DAVID, NABAL AND ABIGAIL
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
1 Samuel 25

Proverbs 21:10-15

 

“The soul of the wicked desireth evil:
his neighbour findeth

no favour in his eyes.”

 

DAVID, NABAL AND ABIGAIL
 
1 Samuel 25 is a diversion from David’s contention with Saul. For a long time, David’s men had been giving assistance to Nabal, a rich man of Maon “whose possessions were in Carmel” (1 Sam 25:2), and there he sheared his sheep. Nabal’s wife was Abigail. David sent his men to Nabal to ask for food provisions. Nabal refused and spoke rudely and proudly to the men of David. Upon receiving the report, David was determined to destroy Nabal (1 Sam 25:13). This matter was made known to Abigail and the Lord used her to save the situation by her wise action and counsel. David accepted her imploration and spared Nabal. Shortly, the Lord Himself smote Nabal and he died.
 
David and his men had protected Nabal’s property. When David was in need, it was natural for him to ask for assistance from the man he had assumed to be a friend. David thus sent his men to go and speak to Nabal in David’s name, to ask Nabal to give him and his men some food. At this time, David was disadvantaged, and was concerned for his men’s safety. He could not get his own resources to provide for his men’s needs because he was a fugitive. He had loyal friends who were sympathetic to his condition and they stood with him. Since he had assisted Nabal in Carmel, David did not doubt that Nabal would help, and so he sent his men to Nabal to make that request.
 
Nabal was uncooperative and spoke rudely to David’s messengers. “And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?” (1 Sam 25:10-11). Nabal pretended that he did not know David, but that was his way of saying that he did not want to give anything to David. The servants of David turned and went away, and they reported to David all the words of Nabal.
 
THOUGHT: The unconverted soul is insensitive to the truth.

PRAYER: Father, may I always treat my friends kindly.

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