1 Samuel 25:32-38
32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me,
33 and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.
34 Nevertheless, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, there certainly would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.”
35 So David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and granted your request.”
36 Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was having a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was cheerful within him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anything at all until the morning light.
37 But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became like a stone.
38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.
David’s Repentance
David praises the Lord
David, filled with anger, was spiritually blinded, but after hearing Abigail’s intercessory words, , he regained his senses. He praises the Lord God of Israel. (1) It was the God of Israel who sent Abigail to meet him. (2) David commends Abigail’s judgment. Her words saved him from the sin of shedding blood and from the sin of taking revenge. (3) Typically, David would call upon the priest and use the Urim and Thummim to confirm the Lord’s will before going into battle. However, the decision to attack Nabal was made without consulting the Lord. David confessed this sin. (4) Furthermore, David received the gifts brought by Abigail and accepted all her requests. A person who listens to the advice of others is wise. And if one can be thankful to those who offer counsel, that is even more commendable. Do you see the hand of God’s providence in those who offer you advice?
God’s judgement
When Abigail returned home, she found Nabal hosting a feast like that of a king. He was heavily drunk, so she chose not to report anything to her husband that day. (1) Fools do not recognize the approaching danger. In this was his foolishness. (2) Fools may know how to squander wealth but do not know how to use it meaningfully. Nabal was precisely such a person. (3) The next morning, after hearing the full story from Abigail, Nabal was so shocked that he fainted and fell down becoming like a stone. Ten days later, he died. (4) This was not merely a natural death. The Bible indicates that the hand of the Lord was involved, as it says, “The Lord struck Nabal and he died.” When David refrained from taking revenge, it became the Lord’s turn to act. Blessed are those who refrain from taking revenge themselves and leave judgment to God. This principle remains unchanged even today.
Today's prayer
Almighty God, please help me see Your providential hand in those who offer me counsel. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.