3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but HER HUSBAND WAS SURLY AND MEAN IN HIS DEALINGS – he was a Calebite. 1 Samuel 25
We said yesterday that Nabal, the wealthy property owner was mentioned first in the Biblical account regarding David, but then when it came to character and demeanour, the order was reversed and Abigail was put first. We also said that when we leave this earth, character is the key thing that we will take with us into eternity. Nabal’s character and inclination to abuse people, completely unnecessarily, led to his downfall. Nabal didn’t guard his tongue and it cost him his life.
3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,
but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he (Jesus) did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, HE ENTRUSTED HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES JUSTLY. 1 Peter 2
A saying in this world is, ‘bite your tongue (to stop yourself speaking) and say nothing’. Even the world recognises that there are times when it’s better to be silent.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, ‘Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: “Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 1 Samuel 25
David sent ten of his young men to greet Nabal and bless him at the time of the shearing, when God was blessing their work, like the harvest festival. He sent his ‘young men’, so he didn’t intend for it to be a serious nor complicated matter. He was simply asking that Nabal bless them with a token of his abundance in appreciation for their protection of his stock. However, Nabal completely overreacted and insulted them and their master, David. (This happened to David more than once 2 Samuel 10, when his messengers were humiliated by Hanun, king of the Ammonites. Sometimes people overreact in unexpected ways and we need wisdom immediately to deal with it.)
David’s young men reminded Nabal how they’d protected his shepherds and livestock while they were near them in the desert, but he didn’t acknowledge their care of his men or stock. Instead, he sent them away empty handed and insulted David to his men.
10 Nabal answered David’s servants, ‘Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?’ 1 Samuel 25
Nabal spoke roughly to David’s servants and seemed not to care that his words would go straight back to David, a battle hardened soldier with six hundred fighting men. WORDS SPOKEN IN HASTE OR ANGER HAVE A WAY OF TRAVELLING MUCH FURTHER THAN THE IMMEDIATE RECIPIENT. WORDS MAY TAKE WINGS! Help us to remember this Lord.
the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.