Compares David to a runaway slave

1 Samuel 25:1-13

Being a descendant of someone does not mean you will have his or her integrity or wisdom, for Nabal was a descendant of Caleb who was a friend of Joshua.  Today we are going to examine a wealthy man named Nabal, for Scripture tells us the following; “And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal and the name of his wife, Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.”

Nabal’s home was in Maon about a mile from his workplace in Carmel, and David and his men were also in Carmel and David had given orders to not only protect the young men who watched over Nabal’s sheep but to also protect the sheep. 

So it was the time of shearing the sheep, and that is a festive occasion because the wool had great value.  So David sent ten of his young men to remind Nabal of how they had protected both sheep and shepherds and ask for a small part of his profits. 

Now at that time, it seems clear that Nabal and all of Judah and Israel were aware of David and the family he came from, and this is the way Nabal responded to the men David had sent to him.  In verses 10-12, “And Nabal answered David's servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this.”

What Nabal has done at this point is compare David to a runaway slave, and assume David has his hands full trying to keep King Saul from taking his life.  Nabal, like many today that are arrogant and insulting to the people of God, is going to find he made a big mistake.

David is not happy with the response of Nabal, and this is the account in verses 12-13, “And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.”

How do you believe Nabal and his shepherds are going to fare against David’s four hundred armed soldiers?  Tomorrow we will explore the outcome, and see a “But God” moment.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice