1 Samuel 25-26
1 Samuel 25-26; Pss 70, 86, 112; Pr 31
These chapters of 1 Samuel present the degree of hardship David had to endure while on the run from Saul—and the temptation that overtook him in his weakness. Although 1 Sam 24 closes with Saul repenting of his sinful pursuit of David, the anointed of God was left to roam the Wilderness of Paran, depending upon the kindness of local farmers to provide life’s necessities for him and his men. When Nabal thus denial David’s request for food, the king was enticed to great anger; if not for the LORD’s intervention through Abigail, David would have taken Nabal’s life.
Among the many farmers David may have approached for supplies, Nabal was especially noteworthy (ch 25). He was a man of significant wealth; he had the resources to help David and his band, but the text frankly explains that he “was harsh and evil in his dealings” (v. 3; contra Ps 112). The next several verses illustrate the degree of Nabal’s miserly spirit, and he even refused to share some of his bounty with David and his men on a feast day (vv. 1-11). Nabal’s excuse to David’s men was that he didn’t know David, and if he were to provide sustenance for him, it would be like aiding a slave who had run from his master (vv. 9-11). David responded in rage—and if it weren’t for the intervention of Abigail—he may have sinned greatly (vv. 12-17, 21-22). Instead of letting his anger begin to enslave him, David should have prayed, “Show me a sign of your goodness; my enemies will see and be put to shame because You, LORD, have helped and comforted me” (Ps 86.17). As it turned out, word of David’s anger motivated Abigail, Nabal’s wife, to hurry, “taking 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of pressed figs” (v. 18), for David and his men. In her humble plea for mercy upon her husband, Abigail stopped just short of confronting David for his vengeful plans, saying: “It is the LORD who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand” (v. 26); “Throughout your life, may evil not be found in you” (v. 28); and, “When the LORD does for my lord all the good He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel, there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the LORD does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant” (vv. 30-31). While Abigail was risking her life pacifying God’s anointed, Nabal was “in his house, feasting like a king” (v. 36). Upon hearing of all that had taken place during the feast, Nabal had a seizure and within days the LORD had “struck Nabal dead” (v. 38). In the end, David took the “intelligent and beautiful” (v. 3; cf. Pr 31) Abigail as his wife (vv. 39-44).
The lesson of the LORD’s vengeance yet fresh in his mind, David was further motivated to have mercy upon Saul (ch 26). After being informed again by the Ziphites of David’s local (cf. 23.19-29), Saul came out after David in the Wilderness of Ziph (vv. 1-3). David and Abishai approached Saul and his men as they were resting, and Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!” (v. 8). But David was purposed on mercy, taking only the spear and water jug which were by Saul—whom the LORD had caused to fall into a deep sleep (vv. 11-12). David climbed to safety and shouted down at Saul and his men (vv. 13-16), finally calling God as his protector, saying:
“May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed, even though the LORD handed you over to me today. Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the LORD consider my life valuable and rescue me from all trouble” (vv. 23-24).
These chapters of 1 Samuel and Psalms show the degree of opposition David faced before he received the full rights of the throne. In the storyline of Scripture, David prefigures Jesus Christ—who also faced great opposition while awaiting His throne. The author to the Hebrews wished to encourage His audience to endure their present suffering in light of the way David—and Christ—endured theirs; He wrote:
“And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight….
…Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne” (Heb 11.32-34, 12.1-2).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com