The ones who wished to reject Samuel's leadership in favor of
a king now sorrow at his removal.
DESERT OF MAON: Further away from Saul. With the death
of Samuel, the last poss restraint to Saul's conduct is gone.
1Sa 25:2
1Sa 25: After great overcomings re Saul, David is in danger of
succumbing to vengeance in a relatively minor matter. "Watch and pray so that
you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak"
(Mat 26:41). The "little foxes" spoil the vines (Song 2:15). Our reactions to
the lesser irritations of life most reveal our characters. Peter was bold before
soldiers in the garden, but soon after was fearful of a servant girl.
CARMEL: A city of Judah, in the uplands near Hebron,
named with Maon and Ziph (Jos 15:55). Not the more famous Carmel of the
northwestern seacoast.
1Sa 25:3
ABIGAIL: Repr the ecclesia, a parable: yoked to an evil
lord (cp Col 2:14), and barren (cp Rom 7:1-4).
A CALEBITE: The degenerate shoot of a once-noble
vine.
1Sa 25:4
NABAL WAS SHEARING SHEEP: Nabal would need to hire
extra men and provide more food, etc at this time. So David might expect his
request to be heeded now. Shearing -- a time for feasting and celebration (2Sa
13:23; Gen 38:13). "There was an unwritten law of the wilderness -- that
shepherds should pay nomadic tribesmen for immunity [and/or protection] from
attack" (Tes 31:252).
1Sa 25:10
Nabal has an opportunity to show kindness to Yahweh's Anointed
-- but he does not take it. "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of
these, ye did it not to me" (Mat 25:45, AV).
WHO IS THIS DAVID?: "I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD?' " (Pro 30:9a).
WHO IS THIS SON OF JESSE?: Showing that Nabal did know
something of this David after all!
1Sa 25:11
And so the ecclesia might say, 'Shall we take the bread and
the wine and all the blessings of our fellowship and share them with others whom
we don't even know?' But... is the bread and wine and word of God OURS, or
God's?
Such a refusal is contrary to Deu 15:7-11.
"The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens
to advice" (Pro 12:15).
1Sa 25:12
SO DAVID'S MEN TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK: Admirably
restraining themselves.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY REPORTED EVERY WORD: When
reviled, they did not revile in return (1Pe 2:23), but went to tell David (the
"beloved").
1Sa 25:13
No prayer, no reflection, only the seeking of
revenge.
1Sa 25:14
ABIGAIL: Her name sig "a father's joy". Abigail: joy of
a father, wife of a fool, servant of a king!
1Sa 25:15
Abigail sym the ecclesia: a "messenger" tells her of the
goodness of the "Beloved".
1Sa 25:17
Nabal's servant is activated by the sheer desire for
self-preservation. Note the tools God uses in His providence.
1Sa 25:18
"It sometimes happens that the husband is overbearing, and
forgets the conditions which engender a loving and ready service on the part of
his wife. He neglects the working out of his pattern, and takes to admonishing
his wife about some flaw in her attitude, instead of acting the part that would
remove the flaw. Paul nowhere enjoins upon the husband to assert his headship
over his wife; but exhorts him to meet his wife's loving and spontaneous
subjection by following the example of Christ, with the great love with which he
loved the ecclesia. However, to follow this, would lead me out of my province. I
must leave him to think it up for himself, hoping he may, as the result, approve
the more excellent way. I direct my thoughts and counsel to the sister-wife who
finds herself mated with such a one. Her task will be a difficult one, but let
her not quail before it. Let her by all means endeavour to fulfil in a becoming
manner the duties and responsibilities of her position. Let the dignity and
patience of her meek and quiet spirit, be the means of heaping coals of fire
upon the head of her faulty companion, if such she have. Let her remember that a
'soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger' [Pro 15:1].
If she has a Nabal to deal with, she can at least, like Abigail of old, show
herself to be a woman of good understanding; and her wisdom may, like her, avert
much evil that would otherwise come upon her household" (Jane
Roberts).
Allegory: (1) Tidings of impending doom call forth action; (2)
Gifts are brought to the King.
1Sa 25:21
It may be that God withdraws all guidance from time to time,
so that we may be reminded what is naturally in our hearts!
1Sa 25:22
MAY GOD DEAL WITH DAVID, BE IT EVER SO SEVERELY, IF...; See
Lesson, Covenant-victim, the.
1Sa 25:23
BOWED DOWN BEFORE DAVID: Faith's acknowledgment of
Yahweh's Anointed One.
1Sa 25:24
Allegory: confession of "iniquity".
1Sa 25:25
"A word aptly spoken" (Pro 25:11).
1Sa 25:26
SINCE THE LORD HAS KEPT YOU... FROM BLOODSHED: 'The
LORD, not I...'
1Sa 25:28
THE LORD WILL CERTAINLY MAKE A LASTING DYNASTY FOR MY
MASTER: A reference to future, to draw David's mind away from present
vengeance.
HE FIGHTS THE LORD'S BATTLES: And not his own personal
vendettas!
1Sa 25:29
SOMEONE: "A man" (AV): ref to Saul. Note that she does
not call Saul the king! (Cp idea, Paul's words: "I did not realize that he was
the high priest": Act 23:5.)
THE BUNDLE OF THE LIVING: Abigail's words to David use
a beautiful illustration: the "bundle of life", or "the bundle of the
living".
The "bundle" (Heb 'tserowr') was a pouch where precious
possessions were kept: the same Heb word occurs in Gen 42:35 (the money
pouches); Pro 7:20 (the purse filled with money); and Hag 1:6 (purse).
"It is a very beautiful expression, especially when you
consider what the word bundle would mean in those times. Nowadays we do not
usually associate anything precious with a bundle. It is rather the other way.
If a household were removing, for instance, it would be the odds and ends, the
things of little value, that would likely be put into a bundle for convenience
of removal. The precious things of the household would be secured in some safer
way than by being simply huddled together in a bundle. A commercial traveller,
in journeying by rail, would have his big bundles in the van, but anything
particularly valuable would be carried by himself in pocket book or hand bag
securely fastened. But in those primitive days they had not such elaborate means
of securing safety. In shifting their tents to pastures new, any things of
special value would simply be bound up in a bundle, and the husband or wife
would see to it that that bundle was well looked after on the journey. It would
be with them on their camel, or somewhere where they could always see it. Note,
however, in passing, that other metaphor Abigail makes use of with regard to the
enemies of David: 'The souls of thine enemies, them shall He sling out, as out
of the middle of a sling.' It is a very forcible way of putting it. It just
means emphatically the opposite of the care and attention connected with the
bundle. What could be thought more lightly of than the stone slung out of a
sling? So, the bundle implies that which is particularly valuable, whereas the
stone slung out of a sling suggests that which is worthless, not worth taking
any trouble or concern about" (BI).
The ultimate, and most beautiful, picture illustrating this
concept is Mal 3:16,17 -- although the same Hebrew word is not used here, the
idea is very relevant: "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other,
and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his
presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 'They will
be mine,' says the LORD Almighty, 'in the day when I make up my treasured
possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who
serves him.' "
What a "picture" of redemption: to be taken by the loving hand
of an Omnipotent Father, and "bound up" in the bundle of His special and
treasured possessions, to be kept safe and secure close by Him, through all
travels and trials, until the final destination is reached.
1Sa 25:31
'Let your coming glory regulate your present actions!' Don't
throw away those great and precious promises on a trivial grudge!
Rom 12:18-21.
REMEMBER YOUR SERVANT: "Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom" (Luk 23:42).
1Sa 25:32
Vv 32,33: Blessed be (1) Yahweh, (2) you, and (3) your good
judgment
"Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise
man's [or woman's!] rebuke to a listening ear" (Pro 25:12).
Wise men listen to advice, even from subordinates.
1Sa 25:33
Oaths (ie v 22) must not bind us to do that which is
wrong.
1Sa 25:36
HE WAS IN THE HOUSE HOLDING A BANQUET LIKE THAT OF A
KING: "A king is called to nobleness of character, and not merely to wealth
and fine clothes" (Log 44:373). Nabal had the opportunity to invite a king to
his feast, and he did not! "Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we
die!" (Isa 22:13; 1Co 5:32; Jam 5:5).
1Sa 25:37
"Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in
grief" (Pro 14:13).
1Sa 25:38
"If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more
the ungodly and the sinner!" (Pro 11:31). Cp parable of rich fool: Luk 16:15-21.
"She who lives in pleasure... dead while alive" (1Ti 5:6).
Allegory: The old "husband" is removed out of the way (cp Rom
7). "Vengeance is mine" (Rom 12:19).
1Sa 25:41
Great modesty and humility of a now-wealthy woman toward a
fugitive and a beggar.
1Sa 25:42
She forsakes a comfortable position to share his trials and
hardships. "If we suffer, we shall reign with him" (2Ti 2:12). Abigail's wealth
and her servants were now added to the service of David, the king in
exile!