2025-01-12 1 Samuel 24&25 Part 3

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01-12-2025 1 Samuel 24:16-25:44

INTRO to Chapter 24
RECAP

Outline:

Saul's Pursuit of David (Verses 1-2):
Saul learns David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.
Saul gathers 3,000 men to seek David.
David Spares Saul's Life (Verses 3-7):
Saul enters a cave to relieve himself, unaware David and his men are hiding there.
David's men see this as an opportunity, but David refuses to harm Saul, acknowledging him as the Lord's anointed.
Instead, David secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's robe but is immediately convicted of even this act.
David Confronts Saul (Verses 8-15):
After Saul leaves the cave, David emerges and calls out to him, showing the piece of the robe as proof of his harmless intentions.
David appeals to Saul, stating he has no intention of harming him despite Saul’s pursuit.
David declares that God will judge between them, but he will not take vengeance himself.

Summary:

In this passage, David demonstrates remarkable restraint and respect for God's anointed, King Saul, even while being unjustly pursued. When presented with the opportunity to kill Saul, David refuses, trusting God's timing and justice. Instead, he confronts Saul peacefully, showing evidence of his innocence and faith in God's judgment. David’s humility and integrity serve as a powerful example of righteousness and reliance on God.
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16 So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17 Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.
18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”
22 So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Illustration of Saul’s emotional reaction: Saul weeps, acknowledging David’s righteousness and vowing not to harm him. Despite this, Saul’s repentance seems insincere, and David remains wary of his words.
Courson Quote: “Saul may have been sincere in his tears. But without true repentance, his heart remains unchanged, showing that emotions alone don’t bring lasting transformation.”
Wiersbe Quote: “Emotion is not the same as true repentance. Saul’s tears are shallow, revealing a heart that does not truly turn to God.” —Warren Wiersbe.
Bible Knowledge Commentary: “Though Saul expressed regret, it was not repentance. David recognized that only God’s justice would bring true deliverance, and he trusted that God would deal with Saul in His own time.” —Bible Knowledge Commentary.
MacArthur Insight: “Saul’s tears may have appeared genuine, but David wisely knew that Saul’s repentance was likely superficial. David’s faith in God’s justice remained steadfast, recognizing that God alone could resolve this conflict.” —John MacArthur.
1 Samuel 25 (NKJV)
1 Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
With the death of Samuel, David now lost one of his greatest Allis.
Samuel a man of God, anointed David the next King. When Saul tried to kill him, Samuel prayed for Him and did all he could to help him.
2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3 The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
Nabal was a rich man, Abigail was a wise woman.
Now we see that David, being out in the Desert of Maon, remembered of a rich man Nabal. So he sends some of his men to remind Nabal of how David and his men had protected him in the past.
They are hoping that since Nabal is rich and he just got done shearing his sheep, and he had alot of meat, that Nabal might spare some for them to have nourishment.
4 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
5 David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.
6 And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!
7 Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel.
8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ”
9 So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.
Look at the response that Nabal gives to Davids Ten Men that he sent.
10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.
11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”
12 So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.
13 Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.
A wise young man a servant of Nabal, instead of reasoning with a fool A scoundrel that can’t be reasoned with V. 17 , went to a wise woman, Abigal and told her the truth.
14 Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them.
15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields.
16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.
He warned her, that David would be coming after Nabal and his household.
17 Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.”
Abigal takes matters into her own hands, not only for herself, but for their servants lives also.
18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
19 And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20 So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them.
21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good.
22 May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”
The Moody Bible Commentary d. Abigail Wisely Intervenes (25:14–35)

David was angry because Nabal had exploited him, so he called down God’s judgment on his enemies

The Moody Bible Commentary d. Abigail Wisely Intervenes (25:14–35)

It can be argued here that David was responding in undue anger. Tsumura says David had “lost control” of his feelings and needed “God’s gracious intervention” to keep him from violence (Tsumura, The First Book of Samuel, 585). Baldwin concurs, saying that although David spared Saul, in the case of Nabal he had “no second thought about incurring blood-guilt”

23 Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.
24 So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.
25 Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary B. David’s Struggles with Saul (18:1–27:12)

She admits that he is a scoundrel and that he deserves to die. To reinforce her point Abigail makes a play on her husband’s name, which sounds like the Hebrew word meaning “fool.” (The name itself likely derived from a word meaning “noble,” or perhaps his real name was suppressed and “Nabal” was used because of the character of the man.) In spite of his wealth, no one has anything good to say about him, least of all his wife.

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal.
27 And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days.
29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling.
30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel,
31 that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”
The Moody Bible Commentary d. Abigail Wisely Intervenes (25:14–35)

Abigail met David in one of the Bible’s great male-female encounters. Before David opened his mouth, the smart and beautiful woman had dismounted her donkey and fell on her face at his feet. The first words she spoke were, On me alone, my lord, be the blame (v. 24). Then she wisely asked for permission to speak. Her words are some of the wisest words in Scripture. Her words in vv. 24–31 are the longest recorded speech by a woman in the OT (though see the song of Deborah and Barak in Jdg 5). She explained to David that her husband’s name summed up who he was. Nabal (“fool”) was his name, and folly was in him (v. 25).

She reminded David, that vengeance is God’s not David’s.
David has been under constant extreme stress, he was HANGRY & he had it. But God was merciful and gave David a way out of his anger that almost took vengance on Nabal.
Abigail’s Gift and Request (25:27–31)
Abigail refers to her offering as a "blessing" and asks it be given to David’s men (v. 27).
She seeks forgiveness for her actions, despite Nabal being at fault.
Key Reasons for Her Appeal:
God’s Promise to David: Abigail prophetically speaks of an enduring house (dynasty) for David (v. 28; cf. 2 Samuel 7:8–17).
David’s Role in God’s Plan: David fights the Lord’s battles.
A Subtle Warning: Abigail’s statement about no evil in David could remind him to avoid wrongdoing (v. 28), as David later commits sin with Bathsheba.
God’s Protection: The Lord will safeguard David.
God’s Judgment on Enemies: Abigail uses the imagery of a sling (v. 29), recalling David’s defeat of Goliath.
Avoidance of Future Regret: Abigail highlights that vengeance would weigh on David’s conscience when he becomes king.Abigail concludes by asking David to remember her when the Lord prospers him (v. 31). "To remember" means to act favorably on someone’s behalf.
32 Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.
34 For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!”
35 So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.”
The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary B. David’s Struggles with Saul (18:1–27:12)

When Abigail returns home she finds Nabal very drunk. At sheepshearing time drunkenness and partying were common, and Nabal has enjoyed it to the hilt.

36 Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light.
37 So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.
The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary B. David’s Struggles with Saul (18:1–27:12)

The next morning Abigail tells him about her meeting with David, after which Nabal suffers a stroke or perhaps a heart attack. About ten days later he dies.

38 Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
39 So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.” And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
A FEW THINGS WE SEE HERE IN VS. 39 AS A RESULT OF NABALS DEATH.
The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary B. David’s Struggles with Saul (18:1–27:12)

David interprets Nabal’s death as the Lord’s judgment for mistreating him and probably many other people as well (25:36–44). The realization that the Lord has upheld his cause against Nabal gives David the confidence that God will decide the dispute with Saul in his favor also.

The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary B. David’s Struggles with Saul (18:1–27:12)

The death of Nabal also releases Abigail from marriage and gives David the freedom to take her as his wife. From David’s standpoint, marriage to the widow of a prominent citizen of Judah will help him politically, and a new wife is compensation for the loss of Michal,

40 When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.”
41 Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”
42 So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife.
Be Successful 3. David Takes a Wife. (1 Sam. 25:14–44)

David not only acquired a good wife, but he also got possession of all of Nabal’s wealth and property, which was situated near Hebron where David later established his royal residence

43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives.
Wife #1 Michael
Wife #2 Ahinoam
Wife #3 Abigal
Be Successful 3. David Takes a Wife. (1 Sam. 25:14–44)

He had already taken Ahinoam as his wife, since she is always named before Abigail (27:3; 30:5; 2 Sam. 2:2).

44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary B. David’s Struggles with Saul (18:1–27:12)

Michal, whom Saul has given to another man to weaken David’s claim to the throne. David never accepts Saul’s imposed divorce, however, and later takes Michal back as his wife (2 Sam. 3:13–16).

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