1 Samuel 25 The Fool & The Discerning Wife

Intro:

Read 1 Samuel 25:1-5

I. Samuel Dies vs. 1

The end of an era comes

The last judge has died

All Israel assembled at Ramah to bury him at his house

It had to be a little unsettling for the nation of Israel to see it’s prophet pass away, it’s warrior in exile, and it’s king going crazy

The mourning probably had an extra emphasis

They wanted a king, but it wasn’t working out like they had hoped

It was working out exactly like Samuel had prophesied

II. David Seeks an Offering vs. 2-8

David didn’t stick around too long after the funeral

He headed for the wilderness of Paran

A region of wilderness in the eastern central region of the Sinai peninsula.

Ishmael lived there after leaving Abraham’s family

Paran

There was a man who lived in Paran who was a descendent of Caleb, although nothing in him resembled his great grandfather

His Name was Nabal and he had a wife named Abigail

She was discerning

He was rude and behaved badly

He was very rich, posssessing 3000 sheep and 1000 goats

When David came to Paran is was wool shearing season, a very lucrative business

Sheep Shearing

David sent 10 young men to ask for an offering from Nabal

He told them to greet him in David’s name and speak peace over the house

We were with your shepherds and flocks in the wilderness and we treated the shepherds wells and didn’t take an animal from the flock all while protecting them

It was normal for raiding bands to exact a protection charge from herders

They would often just steal them

David protected Nabal’s herds because he was a shepherd at heart

He knew what it was like to be out in the wilderness

He prevented groups like the philistines and Midianites from attacking their flocks

Instead, he sent some young men and asked, David’s name, for an offering of whatever Nabal had

III. Nabal’s Rude Hospitality vs. 9-17

vs. 9-12 Who is David?

Nabal treated david’s young men rudely

In fact, he took advantage of David

No one was going to attack his flocks with David nearby

He is acting like he doesn’t know David but he is being arrogant

Nabal is using David being in exile to his advantage

He gets free security and doesn’t upset Saul

He knows he should be taking care of David’s troops

That’s the smart thing to do but Nabal was harsh and behaved badly

Nabal means “Fool”

He is definitely acting like a fool

Notice how he says “Who is the son of Jesse?”

This is a put down

We saw Saul do the same thing

“There are many servants breaking away from their masters”

He belittles him once again and doesn’t recognize David’s accomplishments

David isn’t a renegade

The young men come back empty handed

vs. 13 Strap on Your Sword

David’s response?

Strap on your sword

400 men went with David while 200 remained in the camp

This was no small response

David is taking his army that is full of mighty men

They are going to wipe out Nabal and his house

You don’t disrespect someone who has treated you with kindness

vs. 14-17 Trouble is Brewing

Fortunately one of Nabal’s servants went to the wise and discerning Abagail

He tells her that David sent messengers to Nabal and he railed at them

This is the only time the Hebrew word Yaat is translated Railed

It means to scream or shriek

Nabal treated David’s messengers angrily

This is probably what upset David the most

The servant went on to tell Abigail that David was very good to us and they suffered no harm

They were a wall both day and night

Do something because harm is coming against our master and this house because no one can speak to him

The servant had no respect for his master

He was willing to call him worthless to his wife

IV. Abigail’s Quick Response vs. 18-31

vs. 18-22

Abigail made haste

That’s all that needed to be said

She knew how desperate the situation was and she acted

There was no time for fretting

She grabbed two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, 5 prepared sheep, 100 clusters of raisins, 200 cakes of figs

She was a woman of means and had the ability to meet the needs of David’s crew

She sent the supplies ahead of her then got on a donkey and headed David off at the pass

That’s a good thing because he was still hot

He wasn’t going to leave one male alive

We may not get this whole picture, but it is important to understand Hospitality in this culture

I’ve talked about several times, but it bears repeating

There was a code that needed to be adhered to and people like Nabal skirted it

Because of his wealth he got away with it, but that didn’t work against someone like David

vs. 23-31 Abigail’s Humble Apology

Only a sovereign Lord could have arranged the timing of David’s attack and Abigail’s approach so that the two bands met.

Abigail is a wealthy woman yet she doesn’t hesitate get off her donkey and bow before David

She is trying to make amends for the guilt of her husband

My husband is a worthless fool

I didn’t see your men or I would’ve taken care of them

Receive this present that I am offering

May God do all that He has said that he will do

V. God’s Dealing w/ Nabal vs. 32-38

vs. 32-35

David acknowledges Abigail’s actions

He blesses the Lord for sending her and her discretion in dealing with the situation

She kept him from bloodshed and working salvation from his own hand

David’s receives her gifts and tells her to go in peace

He granted her petition

Essentially telling her that she has called off the dogs

This shows us that when we use discretion and act on the Lord’s leading we can often head off disaster

vs. 36-38

Abigail goes to Nabal and he is holding a feast fit for a king

He couldn’t spare anything for David, but he was drunk

Abigail didn’t tell him anything until the morning

At first light Abigail tells him everything

Nabal’s heart dies within him

He probably had a heart attack

His heart became like stone

10 days later he died

The thought of David attacking with 400 men would make most men’s heart stop

VI. David Marries Abigail vs. 39-44