David Seeks Food
25:1-8
After the confrontation with Saul, David went south into the wilderness of Paran. He became aware of a very rich man who was shearing sheep in the village of Carmel. His name was Nabal, but we are not told his name first. Instead, we are told of his possessions. He had a large herd of sheep and goats. It is fitting to introduce him this way because he is all about his possessions. We meet him defending his possessions and he dies enjoying his possessions.
In addition to being rich, he was a descendant of Caleb, one of the two spies who urged Israel to go into Canaan. Thus, he had a great family pedigree in addition to great wealth.
The writer sets up the story by telling us that Nabal was harsh and badly behaved. His name means “foolish”. But his wife, Abigail, was discerning and beautiful. (3) She had good looks and good sense.
David sent ten men to Nabal with a polite request for food. His request was based on the fact that his men had not bothered Nabal or his livestock and had provided security for them. Normally, a person of wealth would express gratitude or such services with a gift. In addition, there was a feast scheduled, likely to celebrate the shearing of the sheep, which would lead to commerce in wool.
Nabal Being Nabal
25:9-11
Nabal refused David’s request. In addition, he belittled David, saying he was a servant who broke away from his master and implying that David was insignificant by asking who he was. He said he would not take meat meant for his shearers and give it to men that he did not know.
Notice the emphasis on ownership and possessiveness: Nabal says my water, my bread, my meat.
David’s Rage
25:12-13
When David heard of Nabal’s refusal, he went into a rage. He received Nabal’s words as Nabal intended: they were insults and David was insulted. He ordered his men to put on their swords, as he did. As Nabal says “my” three times, David says “sword” three times. He took 400 men to go and attack Naval, meaning to wipe him out.
In a way, David was on the verge of committing the same sin as Saul when he killed everyone in Nob for helping David. Now David means to kill everyone in Carmel because Nabal refused to help him.
We also see a bit of irony here. David was willing to apply the principle of refraining from vengeance where Saul was concerned. Yet, he wanted to take vengeance on Nabal. Saul had sought David’s death. Nabal only refused to share his goods with David.
A Wise And Helpful Servant
25:14-17
One of Nabal’s men went to Abigail and told her what Nabal did. He also vouched for the truth of David’s story, that his men had been protecting them. He advised Abigail to think this over and decide what to do, because David was coming to harm them and because no one could give advice to Nabal.
Abigail Makes Amends
25:18-31
Abigail quickly put together a bunch of food and took it to David. She did not tell Nabal she was doing this.
She presented the gifts and herself as Jacob had done with Esau. The gifts would appear first, then herself. It is a way to make the receiving person look at the giver more favorably.
Much like David had done with Saul, Abigail paid respect to David by dismounting and bowing to the ground before him. She admitted Nabal’s folly, but said she did not see what happened, implying that she would have done it differently.
But Abigail also told David that God had restrained him from bloodguilt by denying his attack on the man and his family. She asked for forgiveness and appealed to David’s good character. She said God would protect him from his enemies. And, when he took office as king, he would have nothing bad on his conscience if he spared them.
Finally she asked David to remember her when he received what the Lord had promised him and became king. (31) It sounds a bit like what the thief on the cross said to Jesus.
David Responds Positively
25:32-35
David recognized the wisdom of Abigail’s words. He said she was sent by the Lord. He blessed the Lord and he blessed her and her discretion. He realized that the Lord had indeed kept him from bloodguilt by sending Abigail.
We again see the principle David is operating under: he is not to avenge himself, but is to leave Saul to God. God has given him the kingdom, but not the right to take it by force. David is now reminded of that through God’s servant, Abigail.
David accepted Abigail’s gifts and sent her home in peace. He acknowledged her wisdom, saying he had obeyed her voice.
Nabal Dies
25:36-38
Abigail returned home to find Nabal partying and drunk. When he sobered up in the morning, she told him. He had some kind of catastrophic health event, went into a coma and died 10 days later. So, the Lord avenged David.
David blessed the Lord for avenging him, and for keeping him from doing wrong and avenging himself. He sent servants to Abigail with the message that he wanted to marry her. His wife, Saul’s daughter, had been given to someone else.
Abigail again acted humbly, bowing and stating her insignificance (only being worth washing the feet of David’s servants).
David also took another wife, technically his third, a woman named Ahinoam.
Takeaways
The doctrine of Providence is on display here. Providence is God providing for the needs of his servants, often in mysterious and unexpected ways. David and is anger needed to be restrained. Here God used Abigail to provide this restraint. God’s restraining action is mentioned four times in the passage (verses 26, 33, 34, 39).
Since most Bible stories involve men, she is an unlikely hero. But, God can use anyone, from the least to the greatest, to accomplish his will.
Sometimes God saves us from ourselves. He frustrates our plans. Or he sends someone to tell us what we need to hear.
No comments:
Post a Comment