King David’s anger and lesson (1Samuel 25) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly messages: King David’s anger and lesson (1Samuel 25) 

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce 

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music                   Date: September3, 2021

 

 King David was modeled patience for years under the spear of Saul. That was an interlude of patience, good character that we learn from King David. However, there was King David’s weakness when he handled the rejection of Nabal who had property at Carmel, was very wealthy.  But he rejected to share his prosperity to King David at a festive time. King David’s reacted very angry, the patience for years under the spear of Saul, finally lost control and became temporarily insane with anger. He girded on his sword and led four hundred men went up, each man girded on his sword to squash one tightwad- Nabal. It’s overpowered. It likes to kill a roach in the house with a shotgun, you kill the roach all right, but you blow the wall out at the same time. It’s definitely overkill. David has lost control in that moment. It doesn’t necessary to kill a Nabal with 400 armies. David’s anger was out of control. Anger is a choice that easily becomes a habit. “Severe anger is a form of insanity. You are insane whenever you are not in control of your behavior. Therefore, when you are angry and out of control, you are temporarily insane” [1]   indeed, a man’s uncontrolled anger can lead himself and his armies into wrong direction and corrupt the nation.

In this case, it was the wife-Abigail who stopped this insane reaction. It takes a lot of food and a pleading message from Abigail to turn David’s heart. Abigail saved her husband Nabal and ceased King David’s anger by offered two hundred loaves of bread, two jugs of wine, five sheep, five measures of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisings and two hundred cakes of figs. And she awakened King David that the Lord appointed him to be the ruler over Israel as king, don’t cause grief by having shed blood without cause.(1Samuel25:30-31). King David said to Abigail “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me.” (1 Samuel24:32). Next morning, Abigail told her husband Nabal all things. Nabal listened to the story of how 401 men were on the way to cut off his head, his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. Ten days later, “the Lord struck Nabal and he died.”(25:28). Nabal had a stroke.  

The scripture says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” There is no impossible situation that God cannot handle, just don’t take it in person. Seeking God first and wait patiently. For God’s solution will come in His time. King David learned a lesson. “Blessed be God, He kept me from murdering this man- from doing evil. I don’t have to fight that kind of battle, that’s God’s job. If vengeance is required, it is God’s to do.” [2]  As he wrote the Psalm 40:1-2 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my fee upon a rock making my footsteps firm.”

 Implication & application of 1 Sam 25:1-44   

1.)    Deceitfulness, dishonesty, mendacity and lying result corruption and destruction.                     Nabal is a wealthy man; however, he practiced deceitfulness and dishonesty. He pretended not to know of David, hurled insults, and refused to give by said, “why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?” (1 Samuel 25:11). Man’s honor and successful is not depends on earthly wealthy, rather, fear of the Lord and practice honesty, integrity, righteousness, and truthfulness.

2.)    God is true provider and sustainer, it is God gives riches and wealthy to mankind, he gives, He also takes away. When you are wealthy, practice cheerful giving.

Nabal’s deceitfulness and uncharitable, resulted him suffered a stroke, or heart attacked, he was paralyzed. As 1 Samuel 25:37-38 indicates, “His heart failed him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.” (1 Samuel25:37-38). 

3.)    Regardless Jews or Gentiles, male or female, God honors and rewards individual good deeds. A foolish husband many results many hurts, yet, a godly wife can save life. When David intended to kill Nabal and his servants, it’s about four hundred men put on the swords went up with David. A servant immediately told Abigail that David sent messengers from the desert to give Nabal greetings, but he hurled insults at them. Abigail honored and knew the Lord, she took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. She told her servants, “go on ahead, I’ll follow you.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal. (1Samuel25: 18-19) Abigail humbly asked David to forgive Nabal’s offense and the needless shedding of blood. David granted her and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.” (1 Samuel25:35)  

4.)    Woman’s fearful heart with godliness and contentment can be useful vessel in God’s eyesight. Abigail is an intelligent and godly woman, with a fearful heart to honor the Lord. She wisely acted and practiced cheerful giving; she was not only saved her servants, also kept David from bloodshed and from avenging. After Nabal died, the Lord’s favor came upon Abigail; she became the wife of David.

5.)     Bloodshed of innocents can be resulted by man’s flesh and revenge, but a spiritual man, heart of God’s own heart listen to the voice of God can cease the warfare. David’s emotion aroused by Nabal’s insults and refused to pay, he called his hundred men put on their swords and intended to take revenge. Yet, a voice of God through Abigail which awakened David’s heart to fear of Lord and fights the Lord’s battle rather than personal revenge. Therefore, David said, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.” (1 Samuel 25:32-33).

 

Bibliography,

 

           Bruce, Katherine L. Weekly Message: A godly wife Abigail with a fool husband Nabal  (1 Sam25:1-44)” Orlando FL: Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministry, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fscZWvAmHH4&feature=share

           Dyer, Wayne, Your ErroneousZones  New York: Avon Books, 1976.    

         King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company.  

          Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.    

         Swindoll, Charles R. David. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, Inc, 1997. 

           

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[1] Wayne Dyer, Your ErroneousZones  (New York: Avon Books, 1976),218-219

 

[2]  Charles R. Swindoll, David.(Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, Inc,1997), 106