(1) Where do we see the foolishness of Nabal and the wisdom of Abigail
25:3a The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail.
(NET) The name נָבָל (Nabal) means “foolish” or “senseless” in Hebrew, and as an adjective the word is used especially of persons who have no perception of ethical or religious claims. It is an apt name for this character, who certainly typifies such behavior.
25:25 My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish!
They had totally opposite views of David.
They had totally opposite views of David.
a. v.10b-11b “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters! ...I don’t even know where they came from!”
Nabal knew who David was because he knew that he was the son of Jesse and the fact that David was fleeing from Saul. However, he did not see that David was the one that was fighting for the LORD. He despised him.
b. 25:29 When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the LORD your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling’s pocket!
耶和華必拋去，如用機弦甩石一樣=Abigail used the language of the shepherds. She knew David was a shepherd and she heard of how David used the equipment of a shepherd to kill Goliath. Most importantly, she knew that David fought the battles of the LORD v.28-29.
耶和華必拋去，如用機弦甩石一樣=Abigail used the language of the shepherds. She knew David was a shepherd and she heard of how David used the equipment of a shepherd to kill Goliath. Most importantly, she knew that David fought the battles of the LORD v.28-29.
the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the LORD your God=(NAC) In many relatively primitive societies something of the same sort of record keeping prevails even today. In certain cultures an illiterate shepherd will keep in a bag or bundle of some sort a small pebble representing each of his sheep. When he acquires a new sheep by birth or purchase, he will add a pebble to the bundle. When he loses a sheep, he will remove a pebble and throw it away. Thus, even though the shepherd may not be skilled at counting larger numbers, and even if he may lack the knowledge of how to keep a written record of his total number of sheep, and even if he might at any given time (especially during lambing season) have trouble remembering the exact number of sheep under his control, he can always refer to the bundle to find one pebble for each sheep alive in his flock
The logic of her argument is like this: For sure God would establish you as the king because you fought the battles for the LORD v.28. Therefore, your life was protected while your enemies would be killed by God v.29. If you took the matter in your hands now and took the innocent lives then your conscience would be overwhelmed with guilt v.31. Why would you do that?
In summary: Abigail was wise, because unlike her husband, she recognized that David would be the king. Also, she presented her case from the perspective of David's accountability before the LORD.
Reflections:
a. Do we recognize the leader in our lives like Abigail? Or do we ignore them like Nabal?
b. Do we argue with the perspective from God's perspective? Or from our own perspective?
c. Do we take things in our own hand? Or do we trust God who will vindicate us (v.29,33,39)?
In Abigail logic, it is a matter of faith that whether people take things in their hands or leave it to God. In faith, we know that God would revenge for us.
(2) The other foolishness of Nabal
v.17b He is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!”
Why did he have such a character?
v.2b This man was very wealthy; he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats.
25:36 When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king.
He was foolish and not hearing from others probably because he was very wealthy. He could afford to hold a banquet like that of the king.
He was foolish and not hearing from others probably because he was very wealthy. He could afford to hold a banquet like that of the king.
Reflection: Are we blinded by our material abundance? It is common that when people have money they stop listening to others. Are we ?
Audrey
Audrey
2024
v.1-13
B:
1. David just faced the death of Samuel, the person who anointed him as king and the place that he ran to when he was in trouble. v.1.
2. Then his servants was refused for food or got paid by this wealthy and harsh man, Nabal. v.2-3. Not only that, he also repaid David gentle and reasonable request v.5-8, with an insult v.9-10.
(EBC) One of Nabal’s servants would later confirm to Abigail the claims of David (vv.14–15; cf. also v.8) and would express his gratitude for the protection provided by David’s men (v.16; cf. also David’s complaint in v.21)...David is simply requesting for himself and his men “whatever” supplies (primarily food; cf. v.11) Nabal might be willing to give them, since they depend on the generosity of others for the protection they provide (v.16).
3. Then David responded with something that he had never done to the people of Israel. He told his men to strap on their sword v.13. While David could held off not to kill Saul, but he could not held off to kill Nabal.
I:
Every one has emotion and David was no exception. We do not see David inquiring God any more in this passage. Without Abigail, David almost did what he would have regretted later. How important to be a wise person, male or female. Even though David's killing was reasonable, but it would also be something that he would have regretted later. Reasonable may or may not be wise thing to do.
Pray that I will not be driven by my emotion. And pray that I will be like Abigail and help people around me who is overcome by their emotion.
v.14-35
B:
1. The details of the previous meeting of David's men & Nabal, v.15 he screamed at them (BDB) scream, shriek. v.16 Both night and day they were a protective wall for us the entire time we were with them, while we were tending our flocks.
2. r.w. quickly
Abigail quickly prepared the food to send to David v.18, she got down from the donkey quickly when she met David v.23, and David told Abigail that "if you had not come so quickly to meet me, by morning’s light not even one male belonging to Nabal would have remained alive!” v.34
3. Abigail separated herself from Nabal and she even cursed him.
v.25b He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent
v.26b Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal.
Why? Perhaps, she realized that Nabal had violated the anointed one from God.
Then she mentioned what the LORD had done to David to keep Him. v.26. The reason she asked for forgiveness was based on the promise of the LORD v.28. When David did no evil then the LORD will protect him securely v.29, and sling away his enemies v.29.
Conclusion: These are sound judgment and even David praised her for her good judgment v.32.
Not only she knows what the LORD did to David very well, she believed in the promise of the LORD, but she wanted to be included in that promise v.31.
I:
Abigail's quick reaction probably was due to her good judgment. In fact, she was praised for good judgment. Her good judgment was due to her knowledge of what God was doing in David's life. Also, she believed in that promise and she was committed to that promise.
Do I have good judgment? Do I know what God is doing? Do I believe in God's promise? And commit myself in it?
v.36-44
B:
1. The death of Nabal was unusual. His death brought encouragement to David. He knew that the words of Abigail was true and that was always been what David had done to Saul. But now, he saw the result. Left the vengeance to the LORD He would (and He had) repaid his enemies.
2. He credited what Abigail done as to what the LORD had done through her.
v.39b The LORD has kept his servant from doing evil
3. David's appreciation to Abigail was understandable, but he crossed the line and took her as wife. The passage is clearly indicated that David had 2 wives.
43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel; the two of them became his wives.
That was just the beginning of David's polygamy, which might be related to his sin with Beersheba later on.
I:
Both the faith and the failure of David were recorded in the same passage. If God is the One who had just stricken down your enemies, shouldnt we trust Him and obey His law? How many times have I experiences the help of God in my ministries and then I disobeyed Him and wasted my time in entertainment right the way?
Q:
1. His mom is faithful 1 Samuel 1:28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
God spoke through the God man that Samuel would be faithful to Him 1 Samuel 2:35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.
People testified that Samuel had never being bribed or taking anything from anyone 1 Samuel 12:4 “You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
2. David asked for "Please provide us—your servants and your son David—with whatever you can spare.” Nabal insulted David and said no to his request.
3. v.21-22 David wanted to revenge; 24:11-12, 17 he did not want to repay evil with evil, and just wait for the LORD to vindicate him. Probably he was facing the anointed one in ch 24.
4. She was both wise and beautiful v.3 with good judgement v.33; Her good judgment was due to her knowledge of what God was doing in David's life. Also, she believed in that promise and she was committed to that promise.
5. Although I do not thinking about revenge, but I do kept people's wrong against me for a long time. I think it is useless and should not be like that if I believe that vengeance belongs to the LORD.
38 After about ten days the LORD struck Nabal down and he died.
39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, “Praised be the LORD who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal! The LORD has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.”
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 25:38–39). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 25:3). Thomas Nelson.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, 1 Sa 25:8). Thomas Nelson.
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