Sermon Tone Analysis

Good morning.

Grace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Scripture reading = Eph.

1:3-9a, 13-14]

Intervening Grace - 1 Samuel 25

PRAY: Father, you are the God of all glory, abounding in grace to those whom you are redeeming for the praise of your glorious grace by the riches of your goodness.

Shape us to be people who are grounded in this grace and abounding in the overflow of grace in our lives... to the glory of your matchless name, Amen.

INTRO:

Abigail's wise discernment rescues David from taking revenge on Nabal.

- We can all learn something today from the grace of godly intervention.

First in the text, note the setting and characters (for what takes place)…

Samuel’s death marks the end of an era and undoubtedly has a profound impact on David.

David’s sadness will turn to frustration momentarily.

Introducing the two other characters: (v. 3) - The text reverses the order after listing them for effect in the comparison.

Nabal - harsh and evil/bad/worthless in his deeds

Abigail - discerning: “good insight/understanding/prudence”

The situation…

Nabal - A Fool’s Contempt

David is respectful in his request.

Nabal shows contempt for Kindness - for the kindness shown him, as well as contempt for doing good to others

By the way, it does not seem to be the case that Nabal doesn’t ACTUALLY know who David is, this is an expression of contempt.

David’s reaction…

David - A Spurned Leader’s Temptation

… especially when he considers himself to be in the right, is to think “I’ll show that fool who I am.” … and to take action accordingly.

But this reaction from David is not a godly response, particularly the extremity of the ‘retribution.’

(Did all the male’s in Nabal’s household deserve to die for Nabal’s foolish contempt for David?) - Although not uncommon, unfortunately, we know this kind of reaction is not what comes from the model of our Savior.

How did he treat those who treated him with contempt?

David had done a much better job of responding in a godly manner when he had opportunity to take Saul’s life and did not.

(see.

ch.

24) - Why is this different?

I believe the temptation is different for David here because he’s now in a position of power (though not officially).

To lead like Jesus is even harder than respecting those in authority over you.

- Chief servants!

(Deffinbaugh) How many of us minister to others with a measuring stick in our hands?

We are willing to love and serve others sacrificially, but with a certain set of expectations.

We expect that sacrificial love and service should be reciprocated.

When in return for our doing good, our neighbor gives us evil, like David, we get hot under the collar and look for some way to retaliate.

We forget that, like Christ, our words and deeds may bring about persecution and suffering, rather than approval and gratitude.

Our reward in heaven will be great, but there may be no such rewards on earth.

Let us be careful to do our good works as to the Lord, looking to Him for our reward, and not the recipients of our sacrificial service.

(But David is not yet aware of his wrong in this matter.

He’s hot, and he’s going after Nabal.

Unless someone else intervenes…)

Abigail’s response:

Abigail - A Godly Woman’s Wisdom

She does what Nabal wouldn’t do, and sends ahead a generous gift of food.

Abigail requests that Nabal’s guilt be transferred to her (24), that she be the guilt-bearer, then later requests forgiveness (v.

28).

She encourages David to overlook Nabal (“fool, foolish”), who lives up to his name as a worthless fellow who is morally deficient.

(We can hardly expect anything different.)

- Her suggestion, I believe, is that it is below David to pay any attention to him, to allow this slight to affect him.

Abigail appeals to David’s spiritual sensitivity, recognizing that he would desire to remain free from bloodshed (implying the guilt of killing innocents along with the offender).

She tells him how clear it is that he is in the care of the Lord and how plain it is to her that he will be king.

- When that happens, he will have no guilty conscience, killing innocents along the way and taking vengeance into his own hands instead of leaving it to the Lord.

“When God blesses you (as he surely will), remember this kind intervention from your servant.”

Let me tell you something I believe happens here: Overall, Abigail seems genuinely concerned for David remaining right before the Lord, not simply her own benefit.

To his credit and his benefit, David does listen.

(unlike Nabal)

Here are the Results (of patiently forbearing and leaving it to the Lord)...

David is spared.

- He praises the Lord for Abigail’s intervention and blesses Abigail herself for her discernment (good judgment, having good sense to act appropriately in a given situation).

Nabal gets dead.

- It sounds like, when he hears the news from her the next day bc he’s no longer drunk, he has a heart attack or stroke and dies 10 days later.

(attributed directly to God)

The Lord blesses Abigail.

She becomes David’s wife.

- [weak sauce proposal, but she doesn’t mind… ] Seriously though:

(excellent, of noble character = a woman of virtue and valor —> She is of highest value!)

… speaking of David’s wives… (Ahinoam - What seems to be the case here is that David took Ahinoam to be his wife after Saul gave Michal in marriage to someone else [undoubtedly to his own benefit and out of spite toward David].

She was apparently his wife even before he takes Abigail to be his wife here [in other lists he name always comes first].

Conclusion: Let’s think for just a couple minutes more about this intervening grace.

What is grace?

Defining Grace - (In our own language and broader culture) The term grace is used in its secondary and tertiary definitions: (From Webster Dictionary) “disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency” or “a charming or attractive trait or characteristic” - But even Webster dictionary has the primary meaning of grace right: “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance”

Here’s a brief theological definition: “Grace refers to the condition of being given or shown favor, especially by someone in a position to exercise goodwill by meeting a particular need.”

- Jonathan W. Lo, “Grace,” ed.

Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

Recipients of grace must become people of grace.

One Another - Be a friend who graciously intervenes.

This is God’s grace to another, through you…