Bible Text: 1 Samuel 25 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: David: Committed Living
1 Samuel 25:1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.
Samuel was the restorer and reformer of Israel’s theocracy
Theocracy is about the rule and will of God as interpreted and carried out by the leadership of God’s people
1 Samuel 25:2-13 …Get your swords! was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
Do not make decisions in anger because they are dangerous and usually disastrous.
When conflicts arise we need to learn to seek the Lord and His wisdom!
Ephesians 4:26-27 …in your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
David tries to fix the problem himself rather than trust in the Lord
Failure often follows victory!
David is learning to wait upon the Lord
James 1:19 …but let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger!
David is learning to have God confidence rather than self-confidence!
Every day in every way we need to ask God for help
One day of victory does not guarantee victory the next day
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 These are all warning markers — Danger! — in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel — they at the beginning, we at the end — and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
Nabal (Hebrew) means fool or jerk
But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb is referring to the dog-like, or shameless, character of the man.
Jesus spoke of Nabal in Luke 12:16-21 …The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully …What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? …I will pull down my barns and build greater…  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you…So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
We need to learn trust, listen and wait for the Lord!
Psalms 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
1 Samuel 26:14-26 …These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us. In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep…
Abigail: (Hebrew) whose father is joy and grace;
Abigail is a word picture of the Spirit of God overcoming anger and the desire to seek revenge
Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
1 Samuel 25:1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.
Samuel was the restorer and reformer of Israel’s theocracy
Theocracy is about the rule and will of God as interpreted and carried out by the leadership of God’s people
1 Samuel 25:2-13 …Get your swords! was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
Do not make decisions in anger because they are dangerous and usually disastrous.
When conflicts arise we need to learn to seek the Lord and His wisdom!
Ephesians 4:26-27 …in your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
David tries to fix the problem himself rather than trust in the Lord
Failure often follows victory!
David is learning to wait upon the Lord
James 1:19 …but let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger!
David is learning to have God confidence rather than self-confidence!
Every day in every way we need to ask God for help
One day of victory does not guarantee victory the next day
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 These are all warning markers — Danger! — in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel — they at the beginning, we at the end — and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.
Nabal (Hebrew) means fool or jerk
But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb is referring to the dog-like, or shameless, character of the man.
Jesus spoke of Nabal in Luke 12:16-21 …The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully …What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? …I will pull down my barns and build greater…  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you…So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
We need to learn trust, listen and wait for the Lord!
Psalms 40:1-2 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
1 Samuel 26:14-26 …These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us. In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep…
Abigail: (Hebrew) whose father is joy and grace;
Abigail is a word picture of the Spirit of God overcoming anger and the desire to seek revenge
Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
1 Samuel 25:27-31 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way…But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! When the Lord has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!
David is reminded how important is to keep things in the hands of God and trust Him:
God will protect him and keep him safe
God will provide victory over his enemies
God will provide all that is needed
There are times when it is best to let go and forgive:
Proverbs 19:11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget
Do not form close relationships with angry people:
Proverbs 22:24–25 Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
1 Samuel 25:32-34 David replied to Abigail, Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.  For I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.
David stopped looked, and listened to the Lord.
1 Samuel 25:35-44 Then David accepted her present and told her, Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband. When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day. In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Praise the Lord, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin. Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife…And so she became his wife…
One of the battles we face today in the church is not only sin but immaturity
It is always God’s prerogative to take revenge!