1 Samuel 25
1 Samuel,  2014 Bible Reading

1 Samuel 25

1 Samuel 25

Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 25

Prophet Samuel’s death marked the end of the period of the Judges and the beginning of the true monarchy rule purposed by God.

But during that time, David was still escaping from Saul and was living in the Wilderness of Paran. So while living there, David and his men became a protective wall for the cattle belonging to a rich man, Nabal.

But when David sent men to ask Nabal if he could share his food with them, Nabal refused. So this aroused David’s anger and he got his men ready to punish Nabal with bloodshed.

When Abigail, Nabal’s wife, heard about how his husband had responded rudely to David’s men, she knew that trouble was on their way; but she was wise and quick to come up with a damage control plan. Her plan worked and she not only resolved the “death penalty” meted out by David, but she also prevented David from shedding blood that might have caused the wrath of God.

This whole chain of event allows us to see that there are three respond choices towards people who have done either good or evil to us.

Returning Evil for Good

   Whoever rewards evil for good,

   Evil will not depart from his house.

   Proverbs 17:13

Nabal, a name aptly describing his character, was ungrateful for the blessing that was bestowed upon him. But I believe he was aware about David’s contribution in the protection of his wealth, he did not even say a word of thanks let alone to share his food with the men of David.

In our walk with God and the relationship with the people around us, have we also acted like Nabal? Have we often taken God for granted for all the unseen blessings that He is constantly showering upon us?

The food we have, the health that our family members and we have, and even the air that we breathe, are they not the constant unseen blessings from God? Have we ever devoted a prayer time daily just to thank God and praise Him for the abundant grace, love and mercy?

We have to be sensitive to the love and grace of God daily, to constantly and consciously thank Him for all that He has freely given to us. Not forgetting also to show our gratitude to God by laboring in His divine works.

As Christians, we must maintain an ever-ready attitude to help others in their times of need. There will be times when we need the help of others, so when we are being helped, never forget to show our gratitude in ways that we can.

   For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

   And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

   Hebrews 10:30

It is quite natural for people to harbor intentions of revenge when others hurt them, for this is how this world works.

David planned to eliminate all the men of Nabal because he was angry for protecting Nabal’s property for nothing.

But before this event, in chapter 24, David feared God and was willing to show mercy and spared the live of Saul who treated him far worse than how Nabal treated him. Here we can see how David loses his perspective in the heat of his anger.

So from David’s example, let us be reminded that we must not allow anger to grip us so much so that we lose sight of God’s words and His purpose for our lives. It is true that the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (ref. James 1:20).

Indeed, if Abigail did not stop David from shedding blood, he would have committed a grave sin in the sight of God.

So let us stay calm and think before we act when others hurt us with their words or actions. In all things that we want to do, do all to the glory of God; and returning evil for evil is definitely not glorious and not pleasing in the eyes of God.

Our part in Christ is to do His will and His works, and leave all vengeance to God, for He is the fair and Righteous Judge.

Also consider what our Lord has taught us in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5:38 – 39.

Overcoming Evil with Good

 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

   If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

   For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

    Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

   Romans 12: 20 – 21

God used Abigail to prevent David from becoming a murderer.

She admitted that her husband was true to his name, being a fool, and she also reminded David that he would suffer when he remembered this incident of bloodshed in the future.

Abigail has indeed taught us a good lesson on how to overcome impending evil from David with goodness. She stayed calm to analyze critical situations and applied her rationale to reason with David.

Therefore we must train ourselves to always stay calm before we act, and to ponder over the consequences of our actions to see whether what we are about to do are right or wrong, we must not be quick to anger.

Apostle Paul, through his experiences, admonishes us with the following,

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten,

         and homeless.

         And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted,

         we endure;

            being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring

         of all things until now.

         1 Corinthians 4: 11 – 13

Indeed God is not blind to all the sufferings that we are going through. At the end of the day, He will surely reward us who endure all sufferings for His sake.

May God bless us with strength and wisdom to be like Christ, blameless in the eyes of God and men, and to do all things to His glory.

Shalom

5 Comments

  • biblereader

    Just curious, on this statement.

    “Prophet Samuel’s death marked the end of the period of the Judges and the beginning of the true monarchy rule purposed by God.”

    Where is this (true monarchy rule purposed by God) stated in the Bible? Thanks.

  • Shalom

    Hi Biblereader, the “true monarchy rule purposed by God” is mentioned in line with the prophecy and promise relayed through Jacob recorded in Gen. 49:9 – 10,

    Judah is a lion’s whelp;
    From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
    He bows down, he lies down as a lion;
    And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
    The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
    Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
    Until Shiloh comes;
    And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

    God promised that the scepter (referring to the authority of a ruler/leader/king) shall not depart from Judah.

    Saul was not from the tribe of Judah, but David was and he was the rightful one (a man after God’s own heart – 1 Sam 13:14) who was purposed by God to become king of Israel, thus fulfilling the prophecy and promise in Gen 49:10.

    Hope this answers your question.

    God bless ☺

  • lim

    Anger indeed very difficult to abate or remove at all. if go without any help to stop the anger.
    indeed is the mercy of God, that king David is able to cool down in this incident.
    personally experience anger control is a life time learning process, which require one to admit the lacking, and need the help from God, and any mediator that come along the way.
    and is true whether is before or after the incident if we pray to God for our pain in anger, God indeed will enlighten us in recalling what we have learned from bible and etc, and it helps to change our burning heart of anger or anguish to strength and wisdom to face the challenges and make the appropriate step to mend or to heal the wound of ourselves and the other parties involved. may God continue to help us grow in the Lord. Amen.

  • biblereader

    Hi Shalom,

    I would think it depends how one sees what is ‘purpose’. It is prophesized in Genesis that there will be a king from Judah and that the Messiah will come from Judah, but prophesy and purpose can have a different meaning. Anyway, this is my opinion.

    “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” (1 Sam 8:6-7)

    Also read (1 Sam 12:6-13). It talks about how God wants to rule the people and the reason why Israel wanted an earthly king.

    From this verse and the decision of the Israelites to have a earthly king is not according to God’s will or purpose.

    God’s intention was that He shall be the King to them. He never intended that there shall be an earthly king. Moses, Joshua and Samuel were never kings but they were leaders/ pastors to the people of Israel; they did not have an army, neither did they have a kingdom and receive taxes from the people. God wanted leaders to lead them in their faith and worship of Him.
    God receives tithes and offerings from the people as should an earthly king receive such things.

    However, although the Israelites erred in their judgment and decision, God has always made use of wrongs (example Jacob erred in the birth right matter) to make it right (according to His purpose) by incarnating as the King of Kings through the line of David. Thus fulfilling the prophesy in Genesis.

    “Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

    king of kings and lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:15-16)

    • Shalom

      Hi Biblereader, thanks for the clarification and I do agree with what you have replied/shared.

      I also do not believe that God desired to have an earthly king to rule over Israel. God wanted to be their King, and what saddened God in 1Sam 8 was that the people wanted a king “just like all the nations” (v5).

      The people wanted to emulate other (pagan) nations to have a king to rule over them and to fight wars for them. This, no doubt, was a clear rejection of God to be their king.

      When I mentioned “the true monarchy rule purposed by God”, besides being in line with the prophecy and promise recorded in Gen 49: 9 – 10, there is one more passage that we may want to consider is Deut. 17: 14 – 20, which were the instructions to future kings, and this showed God’s foreknowledge regarding this issue of having an earthly king.

      Like what you have mentioned, which I also agree, that there is a difference between “prophecy” and “purpose”.
      So this “purpose” was done according to the foreknowledge of God, turning the wrong doings of man into things that are good and beneficial for man.

      Indeed Jesus came through the royal line of David and He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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