Samuel died and all Israel gathered for his funeral and he was buried at his house in Ramah.
A very wealthy man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats; and it was shearing time. His name was Nabal and he was a descendant of Caleb and his wife’s name was Abigail. The woman was discerning and a beautiful woman, but her husband was crude and harsh. David sent messengers to Nabal to ask for some provisions. His messengers were met with hostility and a refusal to help in any way. This angered David and he took 400 of his 600 armed men and went back to Nabal; but one of Nabal’s servants told his wife Abigail and she immediately gathered 200 loaves of bread, 2 wineskins full of wine, 5 sheep that were already slaughtered and dressed along with a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisons and 200 fig cakes. She sent the provisions with a servant but didn’t tell her husband Nabal. She followed on a donkey and when she saw David, he had at that moment said to himself, “A lot of good this man Nabal did for us, he has repaid evil for good; may God strike me dead if any of his household are left alive by morning!”
1 Samuel 25:18-20 ESV Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. (19) And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. (20) And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.
As soon as Abigail saw David she got off her donkey and bowed to the ground apologizing for Nabal; telling David that she didn’t know that he had sent messengers to Nabal. She asked that her husband be overlooked for the fool that he was. She pleaded with David that he would be spared any needless bloodshed and vengeance. She further asked that in the future that David would remember her kindness. David replied that had she not responded and interceded for her husband, he would have been a dead man. David told her to return home in peace and assured her that he would not kill Nabal.
1 Samuel 25:21-28 ESV Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. (22) God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him." (23) When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. (24) She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. (25) Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. (26) Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. (27) And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. (28) Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.
Abigail went home to find her husband having a great celebration and party. Nabal was drunk. The next morning when he was sober, Abigail told him all that she had done the night before and Nabal was struck down with a stroke. Ten days later, he died.
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to be his wife. She gladly but humbly accepted and became David’s wife.
David was renown in all of Israel as a mighty man of valor before the LORD. While it was not known at the time that David was already anointed to be the next king, he was still a leader in Israel. Nabal did foolishly by treating David and his messengers harshly. The LORD killed Nabal for his wicked attitude toward David.
1 Samuel 25:38 KJV And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
God will hold us accountable for our attitudes toward our governmental leaders. God is in charge and he directs and puts into office our leaders for His purpose. Speaking against governmental leaders would make us the unjust in God’s eyes.
2 Peter 2:9-11 KJV The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (11) Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
Prayer: Heavenly Father help us always to have respect for your anointed and never take lightly the defaming, ridicule or disrespect of any dignitary, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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