Our final lesson in this quarter centers on an incident in the life of David.  In First Samuel, we meet young Samuel who was the answer to the prayer of his mother Hannah.  He serves Eli the priest in Shiloh in the tabernacle.  He becomes the last of the “judges” and the first “prophet” of the Lord in his time.  The people trust him and follow his leadership, refreshing after the failed ministry of Eli and his evil sons.  

Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel because of the request of the people.  God, through Moses, had told the people the potential evils of living under the rulership of an earthly king, but in fully headstrong disobedience, they demanded a king.  Saul was not a good king at all.  Shortly after becoming king, the Lord had rejected Saul.  The Lord sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint the next king.  David, the shepherd boy son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah, will become king after Saul. 

The rest of First Samuel brings the death of Goliath at the hand of David, the friendship between David and Jonathan son of Saul and the marriage of Saul’s daughter Michael to David.  Saul begins to crash and burn spiritually. David’s life is in constant danger. He flees from Saul and begins to do things to help the people of Israel.  This brings us to First Samuel 25 and the story of Nabal and his wife Abigail. 

In the first few verses of the chapter, David faces the death of Samuel.  I’m certain that this was a time of deep grief for David.  David and his mighty men work protection duty for people.  They partner with a wealthy man named Nabal and his shepherds to guard them from enemies as they pasture their sheep.  David comes to Nabal and asks for provisions for his weary men. Nabal rejects David’s request with a vengeance.  Nabal and David were both descended from the tribe of Judah.  Thus, they were more than just “kinsmen,” they were tribal family.  David felt justified to retaliate against Nabal. 

David had at least 600 men with him.  He left two hundred men with the “baggage” and rode toward Nabal’s acreage with 400 men. David was intent on doing Nabal some serious damage.  Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s “young” men came to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, and told her what was about to happen to their entire household.  Abigail knew her husband was equal to the meaning of his name in Hebrew: “Nabal” means folly or foolish one.  None of his own men had respect for such a worthless fellow. 

Without informing her Mister Foolishness, Abigail sprang into action to avert the impending crisis.  She prepared enough food for all 600 of the men of David.  She met David and his advancing army of men in a hidden part of the mountain.  She humbled herself before David and basically apologized for his certain failures.  Her mission was to do all she could to spare the lives of their household from destruction at the hand of David and his men.  David heard the voice of reason from this woman and determined not to do the harm that he had planned.  He accepted the provisions for his men.  He declared that her wise and hospitable reasoning had helped him determine that he was wrong to take matters like that into his own hands.  God was teaching David to trust Him for all battles.  David, the man fashioned after God’s own heart, blessed Abigail for helping to spare the lives of Nabal and his household.  Crisis averted.

Abigail then returned home to Nabal.  He was feasting with his men and was drunk.  After he sobered up, she confessed to him what she had done on his behalf.  Nabal was so shocked at the turn of events that his heart failed, and he became “like a stone” for ten days, basically comatose.  He died. 

David saw Nabal’s death as God’s way of handling such an awful situation. Knowing that this death would leave Abigail uncovered with no husband to care for her future, David proposes marriage to her, and she accepts. 

The purpose of this lesson is to reveal the scriptural truth that the Lord calls on us to simply do the right thing.  There are times that we must intervene in critical situations to do what we can to preserve life and love and witness and ministry.  David was about to act on his own recognizance without consulting the Lord.  Abigail saw that carnage was about to take place and her household was about to be destroyed.  God used her to diffuse the situation.  His plan is best.  Our best plan is to trust Him and take the next step by faith. 

Sometimes, God calls us to be silent. 
Sometimes, God calls us to action.  
May God help us to listen to HIM. 
He is our best commander.