1 Samuel 25- Keeping cool when insulted

If you’re a human you’ve probably lost your cool before or gotten angry.

Maybe you say something like:

“Did they really just?”

“How dare they”

“What on earth”

Or maybe you just get plain insulted

If you have you’re in the company of most people…Even people like King David

Losing our temper may not seem like too big of a deal but can I tell you that God does not like it and even warns us about it!

Proverbs 19:11 “11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”

Proverbs 16:32 “32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Proverbs 14:17 “17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: And a man of wicked devices is hated.”

Proverbs 14:29 “29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”

If I can warn you about temper Id draw your attention to James 1:19-20

“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

I believe that in 1 Samuel 25 we will see perfectly the danger of losing our temper.

There is a man with a lot of stuff, servants, and sheep named Nabal. Now Nabal is a rich man but he is also a hard, evil, dumb, and pretty stubborn man.

One day Nabal was out having his sheep shorn.

You have to understand thats an important job and a dangerous one.

bears, lions, and wolves

David provides protection for his sheep and people

1 Samuel 25:14-17

David expects payment for the service of his men

1 Sam 25:5-8

Nabal is frantic about saying no

Nabals employees even call him a “jerk”

1 Sam 25:14-17

When David hears he EXPLODES!

Abigail intercedes

Nabal parties and keeps on 1 Sam 25:36

God smites Nabal

1 Sam 25:37-38

The INSULT

David did the right thing and was insulted for it.

Reality of offense

1 John 3:13

We live in a wickedly fallen world offences will come. We must just accept that reality

Response to offense

Anger

Lost his temper

Jas 1:19- “slow to anger”

Revenge to offender

This led to his anger.

He was going to take matters into his own hands forgetting that God was in control!

His Anger was going to hurt others

friends would sin

people would die

INTERCESION

Abigail was fast to make peace

Matthew 5:9

What a wise woman

INTERVENTION