David, Nabal and Abigail

1 Sam. 25

1 Samuel chapter 25 is a very interesting story. Samuel, the prophet and judge of Israel, had died (25:1) and the Israelites mourned for him. David moved down to the wilderness of Paran with his 600 men as Saul was looking to take his life once more. Meanwhile, a man, a rich but haughty man was there in Maon, named Nabal. He had 3000 sheep and 1000 goats. He was a surly and mean man. His wife, Abigail was, however, clever and beautiful.

The time of shearing sheep had come – a time of prosperity and abundance, and Nabal was shearing his sheep. David also sent ten of his men to Nabal so that they would also be given whatever Nabal had at hand so they would also enjoy the feast day too. David and his men had protected Nabal’s flocks and had never touched them before. But Nabal refused saying, “Who is David?” Angered, David set out with 400 of his men to completely destroy Nabal and whatever he had.

Abigail did not know these things. But when she heard it, she immediately gathered food and gifts and put them on a donkey and went out to meet David. As she met David, she alighted from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground and asked David to forgive her husband.

David feared the LORD and immediately understood the situation and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand!” (1 Sam. 25:32-33).

This chapter teaches us so many things. Let us look into some of them:

1. With the death of Samuel, the guide, the mentor, the judge of Israel, Israel had lost a great man. The temptation to do wrong (bloodshed and bloodguilt) immediately fell upon David. The tempter is always there to do something in every situation.
2. Nabal was enjoying himself. There was no room for others in his life. It is easy to sin when we are rich and haughty.
3. David was wildly angry. He set out to destroy everything Nabal had. He was led by his anger. It is easy to sin when we are allowed to be led by our anger.
4. Abigail was a clever woman. She immediately took steps to save her husband and to soothe the anger of David. She understood David as the anointed king of Israel and that he is fighting the battles of the LORD, and saved him from having bloodguilt.
5. As soon as David heard Abigail’s words, he realised that this was the work of the LORD and praised Him and turned back. Discerning the signs of the times and works of the LORD requires a noble heart, a heart that seeks the LORD. There may be plans in the heart, but the ability to rescind that plan and to follow the LORD’s belong to people who have wisdom in the LORD.
6. David’s plan was to shed blood. But the LORD did not allow him to do that. Vengeance belongs to the LORD (cf. Deut. 32:25; Rom. 12:17-19). The LORD punished Nabal, releasing David from bloodguilt. Today, many of us are trying to take over the duty of avengement, burdening ourselves, our land and our people. It belongs to the LORD, not us.
7. Abigail may not know it. But when she went out to meet David, she became an important instrument of the LORD in preventing His servant from committing a crime. The LORD is never at a loss to use anyone for His purpose.
8. On the same note, the LORD looks after His people – even when they do not know it. David was like that. The LORD always provide a way out (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13).