Day 65 – 1 Samuel 25:12-17

Scripture Review

1 Samuel 25:12-17

"So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings."

(1 Samuel 25:12)

David's young men return exactly as they were sent. They do not soften Nabal's words. They tell David "all those sayings." Nabal's answer was enough to change the whole direction of the moment.

"And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff."

(1 Samuel 25:13)

David reacted immediately. "Gird ye on every man his sword" meaning, "Strap on your weapon. Get ready for battle." David also girded on his sword. David is going with them. Four hundred go with him, and two hundred abode by the stuff. The supplies, and provisions.

"But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them."

(1 Samuel 25:14)

God's mercy is begins moving in Nabal's camp. One servant goes to Abigail. He knows she has understanding. He recalled what happened. David had sent messengers "to salute" peacefully, respectfully, with a blessing. But Nabal "railed on them." He did not just refuse them. He burst out against them with harsh, insulting words.

"But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:"

(1 Samuel 25:15)

The servant gives a testimony of the character of David's men. "The men were very good unto us." They were not thieves. They were not abusers. They were not troublemakers. "Neither missed we any thing" means nothing was lost, stolen, or taken away. "When we were conversant with them" They lived near them and had dealings with them out in the fields. The servant is saying, "We know what kind of men they were, because we were with them."

"They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep."

(1 Samuel 25:16)

"They were a wall unto us." A wall protects. A wall stands between danger and what is being guarded. David's men were like a living fence of safety around Nabal's shepherds. And it was "both by night and day." Their protection was constant. Out in open country, shepherds were exposed to raiders, thieves, and wild danger. David's men had been a steady defense. So when David later asks for kindness, he is not asking as a stranger who did nothing. He is asking after real service has already been given.

"Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him."

(1 Samuel 25:17)

This servant knows their life is in danger. "Know and consider" means, "Understand this clearly and think carefully about what action to take." Abigail must act wisely and quickly. "Evil is determined" The servant can see where this is headed. Nabal's sin is bringing judgment toward his whole house. Then he says Nabal is "such a son of Belial." Meaning he is a worthless, wicked, corrupt man. The phrase points to moral ruin, not just bad manners. And the proof is this, "a man cannot speak to him." He is unreachable. He will not hear reason. He will not receive correction.

"Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly." Proverbs 16:22

Nabal's foolishness is no longer just personal. It is becoming destructive to everyone around him. David's anger is understandable, but it still must be governed. Abigail is asked to plead for the lives of Nabal's house.