All of us REACT when we are angry; we don’t RESPOND with wisdom and sense. When we are in a rage, we do crazy things.
• We’re going to see one rare moment in David’s life when he was driven by anger, in 1 Sam 25.
• It can happen to any one of us, me included. I have a very short fuse, those who knows me will know.
• David was in need of food, for himself and his men, and sought out the help of a very rich man NABAL who stayed nearby and owns a large flock.
This was not an unreasonable request as NABAL’s flock has been receiving David’s protection from bandits and robbers. David’s presence nearby has been a blessing.
• Moreover it was sheep-shearing time and customary for the rich to bless the needy.
• But David’s request was harshly and rudely turned down!
• This angered David and he reacted with vengeance. He took arms and brought 400 of his men to fight Nabal to get what he wants.
Read 1 Sam 25:1-13.
Don’t let rage drive you. Nothing good can come out of it. The opposite is true, it leads us to do foolish things.
• The best thing to do when you are angry is to take time out – not to say anything or do anything, until that rage is over.
When Abraham Lincoln was still a lawyer, he was once approached by a man who passionately insisted on bringing a suit for $25 against a poor debtor. Lincoln tried to discourage him, but the man was bent on suing this man.
When he saw that the man would not be but off, Lincoln agreed to take the case and asked for a legal fee of $100, which the plaintiff paid.
Lincoln then gave half the money to the defendant, to settle out of court. The defendant confessed to the debt and paid the $25!
What amazes Lincoln was that this plaintiff agreed and was satisfied with it.
Daily Walk, 22 May 92
It’s foolish, but he is not seeing it. The passion to get even blinds us.
• Rom 12:17-19 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.”
• We are to DO WHAT IS RIGHT and this does not include TAKING REVENGE.
• Our number one concern is not JUSTICE. It is to show love and kindness, to extend mercy and grace, to seek unity and peace.
Read 1 Sam 25:14-19.
The moment she was informed by her servant, 25:18 says “Abigail LOST NO TIME.”
• She sized up the situation and came up with a plan.
• She pulled together an impressive array of goods for David and his men, the best she could offer in that short notice.
That’s propitiation (atoning sacrifice) – the offering of a gift to turn away wrath.
• 1 John 2:2 [Jesus] “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)
• 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
She was driven by the desire for PEACE. It’s not about who is right or just.
• We read in Rom 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
• Prov 16:7 “When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
Abigail was not trying to defend Nabal’s actions. The author starts off telling us clearly in 25:3 that Nabal “was surly and mean in his dealings”, harsh and wicked.
• His servant testified that Nabal is a wicked man who listens to no one (25:17).
• Later when Abigail spoke to David, she herself says Nabal is wicked man (25:25).
She is not trying to defend Nabal. She is seeking for PEACE, not justice. She is a PEACEMAKER, not a judge of her husband.
• Rom 12:17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.” We are to be peacemakers.
SEEK TO BE A PEACEMAKER
• Matt 5:19 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Any guarantee of a success in this? NO. But you cannot fault her for not trying.
• Most of us fail at this point. We don’t even try. It’s too difficult, to come against a group of 400 men. Who am I? Just a housewife.
• But Abigail did what she could. She showed confidence in God.
Read 1 Sam 25:20-31.
Abigail showed her respect for David. She honoured him and reminded him of God’s help in his life and God’s plan for his life. He is going to be the future king.
• Committing such a “needless bloodshed” would be a big mistake. Such wisdom!
• Her words disarmed David and quenched the rage.
Reminds me of these words HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.
• Prov 25:21-22 “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”
• Paul mentions this also in Rom 12:17-21 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
In those times, they keep warm and cook with burning coals. When you run out of coal, you have to borrow from your neighbours.
• If the coals run out and your enemies come to ask for it, don’t turn them away or give them just a few.
• Be generous enough to give them a heap, so that they have to carry them over their heads (the way the carry stuff in the Middle East).
• And don’t just give coals, give them burning ones so that they can go back and use them immediately, to bake their bread!
Bible Knowledge Commentary: “Sometimes a person’s fire went out and he needed to borrow some live coals to restart his fire. Giving a person coals in a pan to carry home “on his head” was a neighbourly, kind act; it made friends, not enemies.”
• That’s what Abigail did. She gave them ample supply of food. She showed them respect and kindness, and spoke with wisdom and grace.
SPEAK TO BUILD OTHERS UP
Nabal speak to tear David down, Abigail speaks to builds him up.
• “God is going a great thing in your life and you will be the future king!”
• We don’t usually do that. We usually speak FOR ourselves. We speak to show people how smart we are. We speak to impress. It’s all about me.
Eph 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
• It’s all about the LISTENERS. We speak only what is HELPFUL to BUILD others up according to THEIR NEEDS, so that they can BENEFIT from it! That’s the only goal!
• If we study the Scriptures on this subject of speech – look through verses with the words like mouth, lips, words, tongue… we’ll come to this one conclusion. We speak to EDIFY AND BLESS, we speak to BUILD UP AND ENCOURAGE.
In other words, if our words cannot BENEFIT or BLESS anyone, don’t even say it. Don’t be an AMOS YEE.
Abigail’s words changed history. A massacre was avoided and lives were saved.
• Prov 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word (Nabal’s) stirs up anger.”
• Prov 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
• James says in James 3:5-8, that if we use our tongue unwisely we can burn down a forest and cause great destruction. Use it with godly wisdom we can save lives.
No wonder the author started off this passage telling us that Abigail was “intelligent and beautiful”.
• She is, and I believe this “beautiful” does not refer only to her looks.
• From the way he penned this encounter, the author wanted us to see her beautiful character.
• She is wise and humble, quick-thinking and resourceful, diligent and persuasive, sensible and capable, patient (the way she deals with Nabal) and not impulsive.
Abigail sees the big picture (the godly picture) and persuaded David to see the same.
David was saved from this potential agony of committing a foolish act because someone cared; someone cared enough to speak up.
• We do not need a title to play a significant role. We do not need a position or status to have an influence in people’s life.
• Wealth and status does not make us, kindness and grace does. We are most like Christ when we show kindness and grace.
Read 1 Sam 25:32-35.
David was moved by her wisdom and kindness. He knew God has sent her.
• God sent her to stop him in his track. Or to put it more correctly, to set him back on the right track.
• David tells her, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.” (25:35).
Again we see David’s receptive heart towards God. This is God stopping him through Abigail. David is always open and receptive to God.
• This is a good reminder for us. No matter how right we think we are, we want to stop and listen to God and the counsel God sent.
Learn from Abigail and be a game-changer.
• Be a peacemaker. And be the ultimate peacemaker by reconciling man to God.
2 Cor 5:18-21 “18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
• Speak up to build lives. Help others understand God’s will for their lives and get back onto the right path.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for speaking to us, to warn us, to direct us and to guide us. May we be quick to listen and slow to speak. Help us think before we speak. May we be moved by the Holy Spirit, to speak the truth in love and with wisdom, to build up and edify, to help shine the light of your truth and help others get back onto the right path. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus Name, we pray. Amen.
