Podcasts about Nabal

Who is Nabal? And why was David ready to fight him? Come Bible Study WITH ME through 1 Samuel 26 and ask all the questions!

Who is Nabal? And why was David ready to fight him? Come Bible Study WITH ME through 1 Samuel 25 and ask all the questions!

David and his men help Nabal. But will Nabal show his appreciation to David by supplying them with food?

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. Grab a Bible and head to First Samuel, chapter 29. We're gonna be in chapter 29 and 30 today. We are working our way through the book of First Samuel. And what we've been seeing in the story is that the story has followed David until he worked himself into a corner. And right at the moment, you were like, what's gonna happen? Then it was like, hey, let's talk about Saul. And then it worked Saul into an even worse corner, and you were like, what's gonna happen with Saul? And then now it's going, hey, let's go talk about David. It's going. It's going back. That's where we are today.So what happened was David went to the Philistines. He decided that the best thing for him to do was to go live among the Philistines, that Saul was eventually going to kill him. So he goes and lives among the Philistines, and he begins to attack and raid towns and cities around him. And then going back to Achish, the King of Gath, and saying, here's who I attacked. And he lies to him. He says, I've been attacking the Israelites. I've been attacking Judah. I've been attacking the Kenites, who are friends of Judah and live in that area. And so that's what he's been doing. And then the last thing we saw was Achish said, well, hey, good news. We're going to go kill some more Israelites. All of us are going, and you get to go, too. And David said, well, you're going to find out what I can do. And what does that mean? Find out that you actually will kill Israelites? Find out, are you going to hurt Achish? Like, what's going to happen? It's a little bit like you've been lying and telling people that Adam Sandler is a family friend of yours. And now he's coming to the Colonial Life arena, and they want you to help him get tickets. That's kind of the situation we're in. We're trying to figure out what is David going to do, what's going to happen? And then it stops. Says, let's talk about Saul.So the Philistines have marched in. Saul is trying to figure out what he's going to do, and God is no longer talking to him because Saul has been rejected as king and no longer has the privileges, the right to seek the Lord and has not ever really seemed like he knows the Lord. And so in his desire to hear what he ought to do, he goes to a medium, a witch, someone's going to speak to the dead on his behalf. They summon Samuel, which she seems really surprised. Works. Samuel shows up and says, you're going to war tomorrow and you're going to die and the kingdom's been taken from you. And then it now we're headed back over to David. So we were watching is this slow motion train wreck where Dave, David is now marching in with the Philistines to go fight against Saul, who's going to die and what is going to happen and what is going to play out. And as we're reading this today, we're going to see that something very bad happens. And you might be like, yeah, we thought that was going to happen, but something very bad happens to David and it's not what we think is coming. But as we read this story today, we're going to see how David responds to this absolute tragedy and hopefully gain some wisdom in how we ought to respond in situations where the bottom falls out for us. So that's the hope. This morning we're gonna pray and then we're gonna step into the text.Father, we ask for your spirit to be at work, to guide us, to help us to hear your word, to help us to hear your voice and to follow you. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.> Now the Philistines had gathered all their armies at Aphek; and the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel.> And the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish.> And the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?"> And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, who has been with me these days or these years, and I have found nothing in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?"> But the commanders of the Philistines were displeased at him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man away, that he may return to the place from which you have assigned him. Let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?"> Is not this David, of whom they kept singing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?> Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems to me that you should go out and go in with me in the campaign." And David said to Achish, "Very well, then you shall know what your servant can do."> And Achish said to David, "I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Nevertheless the lords of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to battle.'> Now therefore rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and as soon as you have light be on your way." So David and his men rose up in the morning to depart in the first light and to return to the land of the Philistines; and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.So they're passing on, everybody's getting ready, we're going to war. And all of a sudden the other commanders start going, whoa, who's bringing Hebrews to fight Hebrews? And why are they stupid? We've done this before. The last time we saw this is when Jonathan went up and fought against the Philistines. And it said that the Hebrews that were with the Philistines turned on them and started fighting against them. So they're like, hey, we learned this lesson. We don't want Hebrews to go fight Hebrews. So who's bringing them? Why are they here? And then it says this, Achish says this, it says, what are these Hebrew doing here? And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel? Which is just the worst way to start, because that's who they're going to fight. He's trying to work his way out. Have you ever done this? You're trying to work your way out of a situation and you just start the wrong sentence and you're like, wait, wait, wait, let me finish. I started this wrong. But that's what it seems like, because he's like. They're like, who are these Hebrews? He's like, oh, Saul's servant, you guys. And, you know, they gotta be looking at him like, what are you talking about? Okay. He keeps going. He says, this is not David, servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in him to this day. So what he's saying is, yeah, this guy's against Saul. He used to be his servant, but now he's with us. So this is going to go great.But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. So he says. They say, no, no, no, no, no. You might like him. We don't know him. That sounds terrible. Send him back. Otherwise we might get in the middle of the fight and he might start fighting us. Then they say, for how could this fellow reconcile himself to his Lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? Like, wouldn't be like a good way for him to get back in good with Saul, for him to just start killing us? Haven't we seen this guy raise one of the heads of a Philistine above him before? Haven't we. We've lived this out, right? We remember what he did with Goliath. Don't you think that'd be a good way for him to get back in his good graces? That's what they're arguing, and then they say, is not this David of whom they sing to one another in dances, Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands, which I just. I love this song that has just made its way through this whole book. It was a problem when it first started. Saul was mad about it. This is the second time Philistines have quoted it. This song is such a hit. It's international. It's not just a hit in Israel. They know it. It's like, who let the dogs out? Everyone knows it's not good, but for some reason it just has run across the globe and it's stuck in your head. And there were Philistines, like, bouncing around their house doing yard work, and they hear themselves going, and David is 10th. Come on. That's what happens. So they're like, we know this. This is the guy they have a song about. Absolutely not.Then Achish called David and said to him, as the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and end with me in the campaign. No, he hasn't. Achish is wrong. So he says, look, David, you've been great, and you've been killing all these Israelites. And David's like, mm. He says, so I think you should come, for I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you, so go back now and go peaceably that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. So he calls him over and says, hey, man, look, I think you're great, but they don't like you. And we just had a whole meeting where they were real mean to me about it. And I know that you would never lie to me and trick me and that you're totally on our team, but they don't know that. And so you're going to have to leave.And then David said, David said to Achish, but what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? So David says, this is an outrage. What do they think? Like, that I've secretly not been killing Israelites and I've been killing other people and that I might turn on you in this battle. Is that what they think? And he's like, yeah, I know, it's crazy, right? And David's like, yeah, this is really unfair. David says that I can't fight against the enemies of my lord the King. It's still unclear to us in this text whether or not he actually means a kish or whether or not he means Saul. David is very tactical in his approach to all of this. He seems outraged, but he's going to leave. And Achish answered David and said, I know that you are blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, he shall not go up with us to the battle. Now then, rise early in the morning with the servants of your Lord who came with you, and start early in the morning and depart as soon as you have light.So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. Okay, so a couple of things happened in this text. First of all, we are, I think, intended to see some of the humor of this situation. And I do believe that the Philistine lords are right and that Akish is wrong, but we're not actually going to ever find out what David fully intended to do. But David's leaving. So this slow moving crash that we've been watching is not going to have David in it. And in some ways we see that the Lord is guiding this kind of behind the scenes. Doesn't really tell us that, but it just seems like the Lord's helping David out. But also some of what the text is doing is for all of time and all the readers forever to say, when Saul fought the Philistines and died, David was not there. He had been with the Philistines. He was not there. They sent him home. That's some of the work that this passage is doing is. It's just helping, you know, helping everybody know. It's not skipping this information. David wasn't there.But I said, david's going to face a tragedy, and it's not what we thought. So we're about to find out what, what has happened, what, what is, what's going on.> Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire,> and had taken the women and those who were in it captive, both small and great; they killed no one, but carried them off and went on their way.> So David and his men came to the city and found it burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters taken captive.> Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep.> David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.> And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.> Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.> And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue after this raiding party? Shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and rescue."> So David set out, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.> But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred remained behind, who were so weak that they could not cross the brook Besor.> They found an Egyptian in the open country, and they brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate; and they gave him water to drink,> and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two bunches of raisins. And when he had eaten his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.> And David said to him, "To whom do you belong, and where do you come from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.> We made a raid on the Negeb of the Cherethites and on the Negeb of Judah and on the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire."> And David said to him, "Can you take me down to this raiding party?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this raiding party."> And he took him down and behold, they were spread out over the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.> And David struck them from the twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.> And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.> Nothing was lacking to them, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David brought them all back.> And David took all the flocks and the herds, and drove them before those who were with him, and they drove on before him as far as Aroer.> And when David came to the two hundred men who were so weak that they could not follow him, they came out to meet him to meet the men who had come with him. And David came near to the people and greeted them.> But all the wicked men and worthless fellows among the men who went with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not share with them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may take his wife and his children, and be gone."> Then David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us.> For who will listen to you in this matter? But as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike."> And he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel from that day onward to this day.> Then David came to Ziklag, and sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "Behold a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD:> to those in Bethel, and to those in Ramoth of the Negeb, to those in Jattir,> to those in Aroer, to the people in Siphmoth, to those in Eshtemoa,> to those in Rachal, to those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, to those in the cities of the Kenaites,> to those in Hormah, to those in Bor-ashan, to those in Athach, and to those in Hebron,> to all the places where David and his men had wandered."So when they came back on the third day, the Amalekites had attacked and had burned Ziklag and taken their wives and children. When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and daughters taken captive. They raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.First response is just brokenness, lament, weeping, raising their voices until they're spent. David's two wives also had been taken captive. Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him because all the people were bitter in soul. Each for his sons and daughters. So there's this moment where they start just saying, well, let's just kill David. They're bitter in soul. They don't really have a good plan. They don't really know what to do, but they just say, well, let's just kill David. If this is what it's like to follow him, let's be done with that.And there is this moment, and you can see it, where there's something very real about men who spend their lives defending and protecting and caring for their wives and children. And when that's not there, what am I doing and what do we do next? And it says, but David strengthened himself in the Lord, his God. And David said to Abiathar, we're see, somehow he does that. Abiathar, the priest, the son of Ahimelech, bring me the ephod. So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. Now, this is the first time we've seen him do this since chapter 26. The last time we saw David make a big decision, it said he just reasoned it in his heart and did something. And now he's saying, bring me the ephod. And this is good. We've been wanting to see this, but David, in this moment of utter despair, absolutely bottomed out. He turns to the Lord.And David inquired of the Lord, shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue. Can you imagine the moment that David hears that? He says, should we chase after him? And God says, go, because it'll work. And you know, David had to go strap his belt on. He said, we're going to. The Lord said, it's going to work. Let's go. We're going to catch them. Let's go. And they would have left some sort of sign. A whole group coming in and a whole group going out is going to leave some sign. Now there's a chance that they could lose it or they could split up, but they've got something to go on and they begin to head in that direction, tracking after this group that's burned their city and taken their families. And if there's a group of focused men, it's right here.David set out and the 600 men who were with him and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. But David pursued. He and 400 men, 200 stayed behind who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. So they've traveled up, traveled back, wept themselves dry, and then said, let's go to war. They get to a place that's going to be difficult to travel over, difficult to get baggage across, and 200 of them just can't keep going. I don't know if you've ever been working and working and working or running and running and running and laboring and doing these sort of things, and then you stop for just a bit, drink some water, catch your breath, and suddenly your body doesn't work anymore. And if you hadn't stopped, you might could have kept going. But now it's not functioning. That seems what some of these guys happen, they just, they sit down and they're crazy, cramping up legs. They're just like, I can't keep going. But 400 keep going.They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. So as they're traveling along, as they're tracking, they find an Egyptian. And it seems like they have some people out in different areas trying to scout and figure out which way to go. They find this guy, they bring him to David and they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink. They gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived. Okay, so he was having a spirit problem, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. He was sick. So he was doing poorly before he got left there, but he's been there. So they find a guy who's almost dead and they're just pumping him full of stuff till he can talk. David said to him, to whom do you belong and where are you from? He said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite. My master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites, which is most likely the way that they refer to the Philistines, and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag with fire.And David said to him, will you take me down to this band? So they found a guy who was with them and they said, tell us where they're going. He said, swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master and I will take you down to this band. So he's all hyped up on raisins and figs, and now he's negotiating and he says, yes, I'll take you if you don't kill me, which is a real good chance that they might and don't return me to their master. Well, they're not showing up and giving presents to the Amalekites. So that one, I don't think they were in really any danger of happening. He doesn't seem to know who he's talking to. But these people really want to find them. And they seem to agree to some terms because he makes a statement. And then it just goes to verse 16.And when he had taken him down behold they were spread abroad over all the land eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. So they find this group that has suddenly just started taking over this whole section. Partying. And if we weren't upset with them enough, this party has eating. And as Baptists were like, okay, but then drinking and dancing. They gotta die, y'. All. They are celebrating with the spoils that they have this massive celebration spread out across the land. And it says they see them, they've caught them, and here's what happens.And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. And not a man of them escaped except for 400 young men who mounted camels and fled. So interesting. This takes a long time. They are just fighting for a long time. At least twilight sometimes can refer to morning twilight, even though we don't use it that way. And evening of the next day, their day started at 6pm so it is possible that what it is saying is the shortest amount of time was one whole day, but it could have been a night and a day or a day and another night, but at least the whole day of working their way through and fighting and differing amounts of, you know, if there's a party going on down there and people start yelling and it sounds like there's a fight, you might. Wouldn't catch you exactly what was happening until it was happening. And it says not a man was left except for 400 of them that got away on camels. Which tells us a couple of things.One, I just appreciate the way that's worded. Everyone was dead and someone was like, what about those 400, except for the 400 guys on camels? Which makes you think that camels are like the motorcycle of that day. You know, my wife and I watch cop shows and police officers will thank people on motorcycles. They'll be like, thank you for pulling over like that. They'll chase you in a car. Motorcycles are just like. That's what camels are like. They're like, pull. They're on camels. Ain't nobody catching them. But it also tells you that there was a massive amount of people because David shows up with 400 and it says they killed everybody except for 400. Meaning that the amount of Amalekites here, they were way outnumbered, but they win.And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken and David rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing. Whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. David also captured all the flocks and herds and the people drove the livestock before him and said, this is David's spoil. And then David came to the 200 men who had been too exhausted to follow David and who had been left at the brook Besor. So they drove the cattle in front of them. So these guys are exhausted. It's been another, at least day, two days, three days. They're regaining their strength and they're waiting, not really knowing what to do now. And then flocks and herds start showing up. At first you're thinking maybe somebody. And then it's like there's too many of them. And you're like, this is a good sign. And then their families show up. And you know, there's got to be people looking for everybody. And there's moments where you don't know, are they here? Are they here? And guess what, y'? All, it says that they're all there. There wasn't a single husband, father that went out and didn't get that moment of wrapping his arms back around and retrieving what was left lost.And when they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with them, and when David came near to the people, he greeted them then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that has been, that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children and depart. So some of them say, well, they sat here hanging out by a creek, like, they don't. They can have their kids back, but that's it. But David said, you shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, he has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. Who. Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage, they shall share alike. And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.So some of what it's helping us see is like, why that's a rule for them. But it's also, this isn't the main thing we're going to talk about today. But I can't help but point this out. In this, I see a beautiful picture of what Jesus is like. When they're marching all the spoil back. They announce, this is David's spoil, that it was all his and at his discretion. And then worthless fellows get in the middle of it, and he immediately calls them brother. He says, you won't do that, brother. And then it goes to everybody. Everybody's blessed and it's like that's what Jesus does. He's a good, wise king who restores what is lost and brings it all back. That through the work of Christ in the middle of our sin, our sin doesn't win. And he ultimately restores everything the way it was meant to be. He's ultimately eternally going to fix it. And he makes worthless people his brothers. And everybody is brought in and shared with, even the ones who couldn't accomplish anything on their own. So I sorry I can't read that and not tell you how amazing Jesus is.When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord. So he's sending gifts. It was for those in Bethel and Ramoth, of the Negeb, in Jatir, in Aroer, in Sifmoth, in Eshtemoah, in Rachal, in the cities of the Jerahomeliites, in the cities of the Kenites. I got that one in Horma, in Borshan, in Ak, in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed. So he sends out, he has all this spoil that they got, and he sends it back and out to all the people where he's been wandering around. And he doesn't send any to the zip. It's because they told on him multiple times. But he sends it to the other people near where he had been, and he gives them gifts and says, this is from the enemies of the Lord, and he blesses all of them.I want to go back in the story to the moment where they find out that their families are gone and their city is burned. Because I want us to take a moment to investigate what does it look like to come out of those kind of moments. And I think David gives us a good example. So I just want to go back to verse four, it says they wept. And then in verse six, it says, and David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him because all the people were bitter soul, each for his sons and daughters. Okay. I think it is helpful for us to realize that we are perfectly capable of that type of decision making. Is stoning David going to fix anything? No. Will it make the situation worse? Yes. Is David the one who's actually going to lead them out of this problem? Yes. But they're starting to think maybe we should just kill David. And they probably have some reasons, but their reasoning is not good.And one of the things that we need to know is perfectly within our grasp in these type of situations is for us to have an overwhelming desire to do something, to react, to respond, got to do something. And quite often the thing we pick is unwise, harmful. Quite often the ideas that we come up with are not good ideas. This is one of the reasons why we're blessed to have church family around us. So that when we announce, I'm going to do this, sometimes it's like, no, don't, don't do that. And you're really annoyed by them saying that, don't tell me what to do. It's like, but I don't want to. But, no, don't do that. Telling you what not to do is different. This is, we'll choose people, start making big life decisions, change their job, move locations, run to whatever makes them feel safe, run to whatever makes them forget. This is how we get run. We run to substances, we run to sin, we run to anger, sexual sin. This is how we get hermits and hoarders. Like, this is the stuff where we respond to something and we just got to make a decision that is perfectly within our ability to do that.But David takes a different track. It says, but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. So David turns to the Lord in this moment. He does. He has nowhere else to turn. He turns to the Lord, which is the place to turn. And one of the things I think we need to realize is that if you've never turned to the Lord ever, when something really bad happens, then you should. But as Christians, we want to be very practiced in this so that when everything falls apart, this is the only thing we know how to do. This is one of the reasons why people who do like fighting sports and those sort of things, they practice over and over and over and over again so that when they get their bell rung and they're not thinking clearly, they can keep moving and doing what they're. And that's some of what we need to be. You need to be in the Word on a regular basis. You need to. So that when these kind of moments happen in life that you go, I don't know what else to do, but I'm going to read, I'm going to pray. I'm going to get around church, family. You're going to call people and say, y' all need to come read, you need to come pray, you need to come. I don't have the strength for this right now. I need somebody to read this to me. I need someone to talk this out with me. I need somebody when I say some idea that doesn't make any sense. I need some people here who are going to help point me back to Jesus.But that's what he does. He turns to the Lord, and we're going to see what he does, specifically, how he strengthens himself. David said to Abiathar, the priest, the son of Ahimelech, bring me the Ephod. So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the Lord, shall I pursue this band? What David seeks is a word from the Lord, some clarity from the Lord, some direction from the Lord, and he goes to the place that he has access to it, which is in the Ephod, but we have access to it in the Scriptures, so that we get to be people who read our Bibles. And in these moments, read more, not less. There are times where as pastors, we'll say, you need to go home and you need to open the New Testament, you need to go to Ephesians, you need to go to Romans, and you need to start reading. And I know that sometimes it's like I don't have the energy for that. It's like, you don't have the energy to not do that. It's like I'm dying in a desert. And we're like, you need to drink water. And you're like, I don't know if I can. It's like, no, you've got to. We get to and have to. We must come to the Word and say, lord, I need your help. I need your wisdom. I need your clarity. And lean into the Word the way that David does. He seeks a word from the Lord.I think sometimes when we say that, when we say, anytime, we say, you need to read your Bible. It's like, okay, good, but I really want something to do. I really want something actual. And what we mean is something along the lines of stoning David. I want something I can do. I get it. Read my Bible. Then what? And it's like, but you're missing it if that's the way you think about it. When Jesus teaches a sermon on the mount, he ends with, if you'll hear my words and do them, you'll be like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rains came and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. So if you hear my words and you don't do them, then you'll be like a fool who built his house on sand. And the rains came and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house and the house fell. And great was the fall of it. The storm hits both houses, the winds beat both houses, but one of them has a foundation, has something to hold on to, has something it's built into. It'd be like if you hired a contractor. And I said, how's the house development going? You're like, they're wasting a lot of time on that foundation. We could have a three story house by now. And it's like, with no foundation. What are you talking about? Like, you need the foundation. You need. We have to have that. You need direction before you move.In the Pirates of the Caribbean movies where Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow and he's doing all this all the time, he's got a compass. And we find out in one of the later movies that that compass isn't a real compass. It doesn't point north. It points towards what Jack most wants. And so many of us, that's the compass we're running around with. It just points towards what we want. And so we're going, I'm looking at my compass and it says, go this way. And it's like, that compass is not a compass. At one point they're out in the ocean and it's pointing at a girl who's on the boat. That's the compass we run around with. So often it's just pointing at something that's moving around that changes from day to day. Do you know how often your moods change, your desires change, how often your wisdom falters and fails? And how many times you've said, if I could just have this, I'd be happy. If I could just have that, I. I'd be happy. And how often your Compass has been bouncing around, and we need one that points to the same place all the time. And if you're in a storm in the middle of the ocean, you don't have any landmarks. So when the clouds begin to clear and you get to set a course, you don't know where you are. And if you have a compass that points nowhere, you don't know where to go. So we need to be people of the Word who know how to move. And that's what happens. David seeks the Lord and it says this. He says, shall I pursue? Shall I overtake? He answered them, pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue. So David set out.Now, if that had said anything else, we would be furious. If it said, you shall pursue, that's a command. You shall surely overtake. You shall surely rescue. And then it said, so David sat down. So David cried more, louder. He'd be like, what is what go? Because we would be reading the text and saying, you have a promise, you have a command, you have something to stand on, you have something to hold on to. You have something that will help drive you forward. You have something solid. And so often we're in the middle of these situations and I want you to know that the Bible has something solid that we can hold onto. It's got some truth, some promises that have been made to us, some realities that are ours. When Jesus commissions the church, he says, I will be with you always to the end of the age. That there's never a time where he leaves us or forsakes us. And in these moments we can know that, Lord, you've promised to be with me, so be with me. But I'm going to act. I'm going to move as if you're here and you're helping. I'm going to trust your spirit to indwell me. He says that the spirit not to grieve the Holy Spirit who sealed us from the day of redemption. Meaning that if I belong to Jesus, if I trust him, his spirit is in me and I am kept. He tells his disciples, my disciples know my voice. They hear my voice and they follow. My sheep hear my voice and follow me. And he says, and no one will snatch them out of my hand so that you can in these moments go, Lord, I know that you're going to keep me. I know that you're going to hold me, and I need you to that we have promises that we can lean into because what you believe matters. You act out of what you believe. So we have to be people who know what is true, know what is real, know the promises of God and hold onto them. And also know that he holds on to us so that we won't be lost in these situations when we don't know what to do.I want to read Romans 8 because I just want you to see one of these promises. Romans 8 begins by saying there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ.> There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.> > Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?> > As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."> > No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.> > For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,> > nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.That when you're going, everything is falling apart. Well, there's a promise that you won't be separated from his love, that he'll be with you, that he'll keep you, that he'll get you to the end, that he can't be conquered by circumstance. There's some things that help ground us and hold us so that we might move forward in faith and in hope. He says no. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I'm sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation. He covers that. Because if you were like, well, what about this? He said, all of it will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, that if you belong to Jesus, you belong to Jesus and you are his and he will keep you and he will hold you, and you will be able to stand in the middle of these things and you get to run to His Word and say, Lord, I need this more than I need anything else. And then you can move forward with practical steps. But you've got to do this first.Let's pray.Lord, we pray that we would be people who in the depths of our despair, because the storm is coming. It hits every house, it hits every life. There's moments where we all have ziklag or smoke rises. Lord, we pray that we would be people who would cling to the promises, that would know your word and would trust you. You. Because a promise is as good as the one who makes it. And you have died for us. You have risen, you have resurrected, you have hope that is ours in you. You are the king of all things. So may we be a people of the word, who seek you in the midst of our despair. Who love one another well in the midst of our despair. And who cling to the hope that's in Christ. Because there's nothing else to cling to. In Jesus name, Amen.The band's gonna come. We're gonna sing. One of the reasons we sing on Sundays is to worship the Lord. But also to help truth go from our heads to our hearts. And to rehearse for ourselves what is real. And so we're gonna sing together, reminding ourselves and each other of how good the Lord is and the hope that we have.

Tuesday August 19, 2025X Week After PentecostIn today's episode, we encounter wisdom, warning, and the unstoppable work of God. In 1 Samuel 25:1-22, David faces a test of temper when Nabal insults him—but God is about to use Abigail to speak wisdom into the moment. In Acts 14:1-18, Paul and Barnabas perform miracles that leave crowds confused, tempted to worship them instead of the living God. And in Mark 4:21-34, Jesus teaches through parables about lamps, seeds, and the Kingdom of God that grows in ways beyond our control.

Too many of us are living life out of order—wondering why our money's messed up, our marriages are broken, our minds are heavy, or our ministries aren't working. The truth? Disorder invites destruction. In today's word, Pastor Eric Thomas breaks down why ORDER unlocks overflow and how being in alignment with God's principles positions you for blessing. From David and Nabal to Abigail's wisdom, this message is a reminder that you can't afford to keep living in reverse.

Sticks and Stones We've all heard it: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It's catchy—but dangerously untrue. In this episode, we explore the real power of words through Scripture, psychology, and lived experience. From Proverbs to neuroscience, we discover how our speech shapes identities, builds or breaks relationships, and leaves lasting impact—especially in our families. You'll learn why what you say isn't just communication; it's cultivation. And most importantly, we'll walk through three life-giving habits: how to speak with care, guard your heart, and seek healing when words wound.  Proverbs 18:21 Discussion topics Icebreaker - What's a compliment or a hurtful comment someone said to you that you've never forgotten?  Read Proverbs 18:21 - What do you think it means to “eat the fruit” of your words?  Can you think of a time when someone's words shaped your confidence or identity—for better or worse?  Read/Review 1 Samuel 25 (Abigail, Nabal, and David) - What stands out to you most about how each character used their words? How did Abigail's words bring healing and peace? What might this story teach us about how to respond when we're angry or offended?  Personal Reflection: Which of these is hardest for you right now:  ▪ Speaking with care  ▪ Guarding your heart  ▪ Seeking healing when wounded  How might you be more intentional with your words this week in your family, workplace, or friendships?  Check out our other audio series and video playlists that can help you find Jesus in every moment and then discover what's next

This sermon, "Undivided and Unbroken," explores the concept of integrity as a hard-fought virtue, not an intrinsic value. Using David's journey in 1 Samuel, it highlights how integrity is built through small, consistent choices and how it can be compromised by fear and rage. The sermon examines David's reaction to Nabal's insult, showing his initial lapse in integrity before being reined in by Abigail's wisdom. It also discusses how David's developing integrity is rewarded, as seen in his compassionate treatment of an abandoned Egyptian slave, which ultimately leads to a blessing from God. The central message is that integrity is a conscious, daily choice that aligns our human agency with God's character, leading to greater blessings and a louder, clearer connection to God's voice.

TEACHING SERIES: Pity the Fool TITLE: Nabal BY: Ado Muronzi DATE: Sunday 10 August 2025 Bible Passage: 1 Samuel 25:2-42 How do we invite the Holy Spirit to give us the fruit of gentleness when our foolishness leads us towards anger? Welcome: What's true of Riverside Church when we meet together in-person is still true of us online. We are on a journey together to help people get to know Jesus and grow as his followers across Birmingham and beyond. Riverside is a church made up of people from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences all with one thing in common; our discovery of God and His amazing love. We hope you will feel at home among us and that you will find our weekly services, events and groups welcoming and relevant to your life. Whoever you are, whatever you believe, you're so welcome in this community. To find out more about Riverside Church please visit our website: https://riverside-church.org.uk/ Useful Links: ONLINE (YouTube) - https://www.youtube.com/RiversideChurchBirmingham

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. Grab a Bible and go to First Samuel. We're in chapters 26, 27, and just a little bit of 28 this morning. We are working our way through the book of First Samuel. We are studying it together and trying to learn together what this book has to teach us as we follow this Jesus.The section that we're looking at today, we're going to look at this story, this saga in the life of David and how he, the Lord, is obviously at work, and then some decisions that David makes following a situation that he has with Saul and kind of what flows out of that. My hope this morning is that we can be instructed by it to see that what David does is something that we are prone to do, so that we might see David's example, learn from it, and not repeat it. So that's the hope for us this morning as we study this text together.We're going to be in chapter 26, verse 1. If you grab one of the blue Bibles, it'll be on page 142. If you don't own a Bible, take this one home with you. I mean, not the one I'm holding, the one you're holding. You can take that one home with you. We want you to own a Bible. We want you to have it, we want you to read it.Chapter 26 says this.> Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hakalah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?"This is almost word for word what happened in chapter 23, verse 19. The Ziphites have come to Saul again and said, "Hey, he's in the same area again." Not exactly in the south, it's in the east. But he's here and he's hiding again. When I was growing up, if you tattled, my dad was prone to call someone who told on somebody a rat fink. The more I've talked to people about this, the more I may be the only person who's ever heard that phrase. I don't know. But that's what I think when I read about the Ziphites. They're rat finks. They keep narcing on David every time he tries to hide. They're supposed to be from his tribe. They're from the tribe of Judah. They shouldn't be telling on him, but that's what they're doing. And so they tell Saul again, "Hey, David's here. He's hiding."Verse 2 says,> So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with 3,000 chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.Saul has 3,000 chosen men. David has 600 random people who owed people debts and were unhappy that have shown up with him. So Saul's got a better force here. The text says Saul encamped on the hill of Hakalah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. He goes right where they told him.It says, but David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. He sees some sort of sign that Saul has come. He sends out spies to lay eyes on him. And indeed he has come.Then it says,> Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay with Abner, the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment while the army was encamped around him.It seems that he sneaks over there in the evening, looks at them, sees how they're set up. 3,000 men camping. Saul's in the middle. Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, who will go down with me into the camp of Saul? Abishai said, "I will go down with you."David seems to take these two guys with him to go spy this out, or a handful of guys with him to go spy this out. He looks at these two specific guys and says, who wants to sneak with me into that camp of 3,000 guys who came here to murder us? Abishai says, "I'll go." We don't know what David's plan is. We just know Abishai, he's ready to go. Ahimelech was like, no thank you, stay here. I'll watch this stuff.David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; Abner and the army lay around him. So they go all the way through. They make it there. They see Saul sleeping. Now, Saul always has his spear with him to the point that I half expected him to hug it while he slept. But he doesn't. He has it right next to his head. Then Abishai said to David,> "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear. I will not strike him twice."It'll be very easy.David said to Abishai,> "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish."At this moment, I always remember, and I want to remind you, as David gives three different ways that Saul might possibly die. They're somehow whispering this to each other while Saul's asleep somewhere close enough to them. This conversation isn't just the conversation they're having. It's like Abishai is like, "Kill me." And David's going, "So I don't know exactly how David is telling him three different ways, because David's like, look, God will kill him, or he'll just die somehow, or he'll go into battle and die." It feels like it was covered in the second one. Like his day will come. And then maybe a little bit of distance. They're whispering. Maybe they're very close to each other, but somehow they're having this hushed conversation about what they're going to do with Saul. I wonder if Abishai is like, "Then why did we come here? What are we doing?" But David says, don't do this.Verse 11 says,> "The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go."David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.That makes a little more sense. God helps David in what David is going to do. It doesn't tell us whether or not David, like, we don't know anything about God telling him to go do this or David asking about it. It just seems like David says, "Hey, let's go do this," and then God backs him up and helps him. But there's no one on guard, no one watching. This is terrible. You don't take 3,000 men to go fight someone and be like, "All right, everybody get a good night's sleep. We'll get up in the morning." Like, you have people guard and watch and pay attention, but not here, not in Saul's camp. They sneak in and do this.One of the things that's happening in the book of First Samuel here is that we're being shown very clearly — and the people who were the original hearers of this, readers of this, are being shown very clearly — that David was not out to get Saul. He could have killed him in the cave when it was just David and Saul. His men were there, but David's the one who snuck up. David's not going to kill him. But David's also not going to have one of his men kill him. David could have let Abishai kill him, and then Abishai could take the guilt. But David says, "I don't want you to have the guilt for killing him. He's the Lord's anointed. We're going to trust the Lord in this." So David at no point is trying to overthrow Saul. He's not trying to kill him. And it's very clear.Verse 13:> Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill with a great space between them. And David called to the army and to Abner, the son of Ner, saying, 'Will you not answer, Abner?' Then Abner answered, 'Who are you who calls to the king?'David said to Abner:> "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your Lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king, your Lord. This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your Lord, the Lord's anointed."David's shouting at the encampment at night. He's very far away on another hill. Abner is woken up out of sleep in a kind of dangerous place. Someone's shouting, trying to figure out what's going on. Like, okay, not immediately in battle. They're trying to listen. Who's yelling? What is this about? He starts kind of running his mouth. "Abner, I thought you were a man," that's his opening line.Then David says this:> "And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head."I think that felt braggy or not connected to anything until he says, "Where's his spear?" At that moment, they had cold chills. "Oh, he was here in the middle of us. Who was on guard? Who was watching what happened?" He had the opportunity. He's telling the truth.Verse 17:> Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" David said,> "It is my voice, my lord, O king."Saul said,> "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands now? Therefore, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering. But if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, 'Go serve other gods.'"David says, "What have I done?" The answer is nothing. He's done nothing to Saul. He's had the opportunity to do things after Saul started trying to kill him, but he's done nothing. He hasn't tried to overthrow him. He hasn't plotted against him. He hasn't tried to become king. He was just going to serve him. He is his servant. He says, "What is this?" And he says, "If the Lord stirred you up, then let me make a sacrifice. Let some peace be made between me and the Lord. But if it's men, let them be cursed, because I've done nothing, and they're running me out of my homeland and telling me to just go belong to someone else."Verse 20:> "Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."He says, "You've done all this for someone who doesn't matter, like a massive hunt for one bird." He says, "Don't let me die away from the presence of the Lord." He wants to stay.Verse 21:> Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and have made a great mistake."It would be nice if Saul meant this. He is not genuinely repenting. It's very similar to stuff he said before, and as the story goes on, he's just going to take right back up with what he's doing.David answered and said,> "Here is the spear, O king. Let one of the young men come over and take it. The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed."David earlier yells, "What have I done? What wrong have I done? What evil is on my hands?" And here he says:> "The Lord rewards faithfulness and righteousness."When you're reading the Psalms, there are times where David says, "Judge me, Lord. Try me. What have I done?" I don't think David means he has never sinned. I think David is talking about these kinds of things where he's on the run, and he's saying, Lord, what did I do to deserve the situation that I'm in? And I found that helpful as I was studying this, to think about David in this mindset when he's writing some of those Psalms because he doesn't mean to articulate, "I'm perfect in all things," but he's saying, "My hands are clean. I haven't done what I'm being accused of."Verse 16:> "Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation."Then Saul said to David,> "Blessed be you, my son David. You will do many things and will succeed in them."David went his way and Saul returned to his place. So David has another chance to kill Saul; he doesn't take it. Saul leaves. David goes his way.Chapter 27, verse 1:> Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand."After this situation where the Lord protects David again, David's able to walk into an encampment of 3,000 soldiers. They're all asleep. David considers this, and it says he said in his heart, "Saul's going to kill me." That's the conclusion that he draws as he's been on the run. Saul doesn't seem to ever be going to let up. He just decides, Saul's going to kill me. Then he says, there's nothing better for me to do than to go live with the Philistines, which is the very first thing he tried, if you remember.He went and he got Goliath's sword, and he went to Achish, the king of Gath. Then they were like, "Hey, isn't that David?" He pretended to be insane. Achish said to his guards,> "Why have you brought me an insane person? What use is he to me?"David escaped. But now, some time later, David decides that's his best option. Now, I have a question: when we're reading this text, when David says that, when it says that David said in his heart, "There's nothing better for me to do than to go to the Philistines." Did we all go, "Finally he figured it out"? No, I don't think so. I don't read that and think, "What a great plan." You go, "Hold on a second. Did you pray about this? God's with you? Did you ask him? He's a prophet of the Lord. Did you ask him? The Ephod's with you? You've inquired of the Lord before. Did you talk to the priest? Did you work?" It's just something that he comes to a conclusion in and of himself. He just considers it, says this in his heart, locks it in.What we're going to see in chapter 27 is David locks this decision in his heart, and then he just starts doing stuff. All the things he does make some sense if this is true — if the best thing for him is to just go to the Philistines — then everything else he does just kind of starts making sense. The problem is, I don't think that's the best thing for him. And I don't think if he'd have consulted the Lord, that's what he would have been told to do. But he just decides this in his heart, and he just goes. Then he's going to start making some logical conclusions as he goes ahead.It says:> So David arose and went over, he and the 600 men who were with him, to Achish, the son of Maacah, king of Gath. David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. When it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.Some interesting things happen here. First, David gets some confirmation. Saul quits looking for him, which means that Saul wasn't repentant. He just decides, "Well, now he's in the land of the Philistines. I'm not going to chase him anymore." He didn't actually mean, "You're safe with me. Come be my friend again." He didn't mean that. He only stops when he goes to the Philistines.It also means that David immediately probably was like, "I knew I was right." So he makes this decision, "This is the best thing for me," and then he gets some confirmation. Almost immediately, Saul quits looking for him. He goes, "Yes, I did it. I knew I was right. I knew that was the best thing to do."Also, it means that David and 600 men and all of their families go to live with Achish and Gath. That's a pile of people. David goes back to the exact same guy that he went to last time. The text doesn't tell us anything about that. But I wonder if Achish was like, "Have we met before?" And David was like, "Nope, don't think so." But then he knew where stuff was around the city, and it got real suspicious. His phone automatically connected to the Wi-Fi. There were some things that were like, "Wait a second."David goes to Achish, and Achish lets him be there. It makes some sense too because David is Saul's enemy, prime enemy of a Kish. The Philistines hate the Israelites, and David's a great warrior. If he'll join our team, that sounds great. Similar to us having a bunch of German scientists come to the US during World War II. "Yeah, if you'll come be on our team, that'd be great." That's what he does. He just lets them come in.David said to Achish,> "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there, for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?"It's quite possible that David's working an angle and he's trying to accomplish something, trying to get away from Achish. But it's also very problematic that David, the anointed of the Lord who's going to be king of the people of Israel, is having to seek favor with Achish, the enemy of the Israelites. But it makes sense, as long as we follow the train, that it's the best thing for him to do; then going to Achish makes sense. Asking for the favor of Achish makes sense. It kind of follows along with what he's going to keep doing. All line up with this original assumption that David made certain in his heart.He apparently has found favor. It says:> So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.David makes this decision, and it affects at least the next year and four months of how he's going to live life. Also, Achish just gives him a city. I don't know if that city was sitting empty, but I doubt it. That was probably surprising for the people who lived in Ziklag when a bunch of Jewish people showed up and were like, "We're in charge now." That's what happens, and they keep it forever.Verse 8:> Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old as far as Shur to the land of Egypt.David starts making raids. Before, David would go out with the army, and it would talk about him basically defending against the Philistines. But now he's not going to war like normal. He's making raids. It's a different word. He's doing what you think of as pillaging and plundering. That's what he starts doing. He starts doing it with the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites.The Amalekites we've heard of; that's the people Saul was supposed to get rid of and didn't. The Geshurites are listed as people who were supposed to be pushed out of the land and weren't. The Girzites are only ever mentioned right here in this verse. That's all we know about them.David starts making raids against these people.Verse 9:> David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments and come back to Achish. When Achish asked, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or "against the Negeb of the Jerahemites," or "against the Negeb of the Kenites."Negeb is like a southern dry area. David is saying, "I'm kind of working my way along against these groups of people." He picked people that were either people of Israel or their allies. He goes and attacks this one group and then comes back, gives Achish stuff and lies about who he's been attacking.It says he kills all the men and women. Some want to read this and say, "Okay, well, David's just fulfilling what they were supposed to fulfill from when Joshua was taking the land. He's driving these people out. He's committing holy war." There are a couple of problems with that. It's called raids, not war. If it's holy war and he's supposed to perform a ban on them, he's not supposed to take the stuff, but he takes the stuff. So he's committing raids.Verse 11:> David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking lest they should tell about us.David has done so strategically. It doesn't say he's doing it to fulfill promises or to do what God called him to. It says he's strategically not letting anyone live so that no one tells on them.David decides the best thing for him to do is go live with the Philistines, and then he just starts making decisions downline on what makes sense, what makes sense. It's clever, cunning, strategic. He absolutely tricks Achish, the king of Gath. But it's hard to say that it's faithful and honest, that he has integrity. It's hard to read this and make it virtuous.Verse 12:> Achish trusted David, thinking he has made himself an utter stench to the people of Israel. Therefore he shall always be my servant.Achish believes him. He doesn't double-check any of that. Nobody comes and gives any report of anything. Otherwise, he would see all the stuff. He thinks, "David has made everybody there absolutely hate him."Chapter 28 says:> In those days, the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army."David said to Achish,> "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do."Achish said,> "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."Then the story just changes subjects and starts talking about Saul and what he's up to. So we're going to stop right here.David has worked himself into a knot. Achish looks at him and says, "We're going to war with the Israelites, and we know how much you hate them and how much they hate you." The text says that David says, "Good, you'll see what I'm capable of." We're all like, "What does that mean? What I'm capable of killing? Who is he going to kill? Israelites? Is he going to turn against his own people?" That's some cryptic, clever way to say, "You about to find out." Achish says, "Good, I'll make you my bodyguard for life." If David means he's going to attack him, I bet David thought, "Well, that'll be short. I won't be your bodyguard for very long." We don't know. We don't know what David is about to do.The text will change and tell another story on purpose. The Bible is well written. It gets us right here and goes, "What's going on with that?" Then it goes over here and starts talking about something else.I think it is helpful for us to consider how David got himself from standing over Saul absolutely seeing God at work to marching out with the Philistines, how he worked himself over here. I'll go back to chapter 27, verse 1:> David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines."It says David said it in his heart. He didn't talk it out. It doesn't even say he really reasoned it. He just hearted it out. He felt it just became real. It was very concrete. It would be hard to shake him off of this position.What I think is helpful is for us to understand that we do that, too. There are some conclusions that you've drawn, and you've got some external circumstances that help back you up. You're not crazy. You didn't just come up with something, but you've got some external circumstances that help you back up.But all that's really happened is you've just reasoned this out in your heart, and it's real, real, real, real, real, real for you. You believe it almost unshakably, and then it just begins to show up. It makes a lot of sense if this is true.I've been pastoring this church for 12 years, and I want to share a few of these. I want to give some examples to help you picture what we're talking about, what we're capable of doing, what you're capable of as life plays out settling in your heart:"I'm unlovable." You can point to this relationship, this friendship, this marriage, this stuff. It's obvious. You don't really think it out, you don't really write it out. You just settle it in your heart, and then it begins to show up in how you relate to people.So what happens is that somebody in your community group who's trying to follow Jesus, studying the Bible, but you've got this as a set reality for you. Someone in your group who loves you dearly is trying to talk to you over here on this situation. They're making good points, and you listen, and you know that what they're saying is true for everybody but you. You know that's fine. What they're saying is good, but they don't know this about you. If they knew this, they would know that it doesn't really apply to you.So you begin to undercut the way they're relating to you. They're coming to you and saying, "Hey, we really like our group. You were around, and things were going well. Now you're kind of gone. We want to follow up with you because we care. We miss you. We wish you were back around. We want you back around."They say it's helpful, healthy for you to belong and be here. We're not us without you. They're trying to talk to you about this.You're going, "Yeah, that's just what you're supposed to say. It's good that you're saying that. But I know this, and nobody really loves me." Or they're saying, "We love you," and you're going, "Hmm. No." If you knew the real me, you wouldn't. If I really belonged, if I really told you everything, you wouldn't.You've got some sort of settled position that you've already locked in."I ruin everything I touch." You've got some evidence. You've really messed some things up, but you've settled in your heart at some point that "I ruin everything." It begins to show up. Something gets difficult at work, and your energy level to try to fix it just drops because, you know, if I pour energy into this, it's just going to fail. Something gets difficult in a relationship, marriage, friendship, church family. You start going, "Yeah, but people are going, hey, we can work this out. We can figure this out."You're thinking, "I'm actually doing you a favor by backing out now because if I step in, I'll just make it worse." You don't necessarily word it that way, but that's so true in your heart that it undoes the ability for people to address you."I can only trust myself. Can't trust anybody else. Can't have real relationships. I'm the only person who's trustworthy. I can only take counsel with myself. I can't do it." You just repeat over and over, "I can't do it. It.""I have to be the one in control. If my hands are not on the steering wheel, this ain't gonna work out." You've decided, locked it in, and it's real. You start doing stuff that makes sense if that's true."I just don't have enough. Just don't have enough money. Don't have enough power, wisdom, control," whatever you want to put there, "I just don't have enough of it. If I could get it, I'd be okay.""Things will never get better. The sooner I realize that, the better off I am. The sooner I realize that when I get in a situation, the better off I am."It helps me to know that nothing will ever get better. This applies to how you relate to people, how you take correction, how you correct other people, how you walk in life, live, serve, work — everything.Some of your actions make perfect sense as long as that's true.I want to show you the list. These are things that I know I've interacted with in people, could be anything.Now, I'll make a few comments on the list. You may have a completely different one. Some might be true if you don't belong to Jesus. Even when you feel these things, none of you as you walk in church family, in community group, say these things to other people. You would not counsel somebody this way.You've never looked at someone who's struggling and said, "Hey, look at me. I know you're hurting. Things will never get better, but one day you'll die." You've never done that. You might say that to yourself a thousand times a week, but you don't say it to other people because you know what it sounds like. You don't believe it for others but 100% believe it for yourself."Hey, you haven't been around group for a while. I just want you to know you're unlovable. Nobody cares. If we really got to know you, it would just get worse."You don't do that.The reason we're laughing is that it sounds insane. That's why we work these things out in our heart. We don't work them out out loud. You just talk to yourself about it. You say, "Yeah, but I heard it a thousand times." It's like mispronouncing a word and saying, "That's the way I hear it." It's because you're saying it that way. Stop it. Say it the right way, and you won't hear it that way anymore because no one else says it that way.Some of these might be true if you don't belong to Jesus, if you haven't trusted in him, if he hasn't saved you from your sin, if his death doesn't apply to you, if his resurrection doesn't apply to you so that your sin's paid for, life is given to you. If you aren't found in Christ, then you can't do it. You're not going to earn it. You're not going to save yourself. You're not going to be good enough, smart enough, moral enough, strong enough.One of the proclamations of the gospel is you can't do it, but Jesus can. So some of these might apply.If you belong to Jesus and you've accepted one of these heart-level things or some new one that you came up with, that you've settled in your heart, can I tell you something? You believe it because you think it's true about you, but actually, if you belong to Jesus, it is a lie about him. It's only true if he's not there."I'm unlovable." You think that says something about you, but it's actually a declaration about Christ that he doesn't love you, that he can't love you, that he can't overcome your wickedness, that he can't overcome your sin, that you've done too much, that you aren't enough, and somehow you think it's about you, but if you belong to Jesus, it's a lie about him, and it's not true.I love where Paul says,> "Christ died for me."Paul writes "me." He's saying no, no, no, me. We get to read that and go, "Yeah, if I belong to Jesus, me." He loved me and gave himself up for me."I ruin everything I touch." Sure, without Jesus, maybe, probably not everything. But without Jesus? No."I can only trust myself." We get to trust Jesus. You actually don't factor that in. That's beautiful about belonging to Christ. It's not about me. That's why we show up and sing about Jesus and what he's done and accomplished. We don't have blanks where you get to insert your own name about how you've saved the day. We don't do that because that's not what this is about. That's not where our hope is."I can't do it." That's a declaration that everything is going to fall apart. Like Jesus won't empower you, won't give you strength, mercy tomorrow. You won't wake up with renewed ability through the empowerment of the Spirit."I have to be the one in control." It's a declaration that Jesus isn't trustworthy, that he's not good enough, and that you can't trust yourself with him."I don't have enough." Even though we've been seated with him above all things, and we've been given every spiritual gift in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."Things will never get better" is only true if you don't belong to Jesus. If you belong to Jesus, he's already working. He's already redeeming, and the promises — it ultimately gets better.> Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. > — 2 Corinthians 5:17He has gone to work in us and made us new.These things aren't true. They don't stick to you. They don't hold you. They don't have claim over you if you belong to Jesus and have trusted him. If you haven't, you can. You can go to Christ and say, "I need help. I need salvation. I need rescue. I need forgiveness," and he will.Here's what I want us to do.> We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. > — 2 Corinthians 10:5I want you to actively take this heart-level decision and introduce it to Jesus. I want you to make those two in your mind. I want you to make it obedient to Christ. How is this real if I belong to Jesus? Bring it to him and say, "I want to look at this in light of who you are. I want to look at this in light of what your word says. I want to look at this in light of what your word says about me."In just a moment, I'm going to pray. The band's going to come back up. I want you to take a second to ask the Spirit, "Is there something that I've settled in my heart that's guiding the decisions I'm making but isn't true? Is there something that I only believe for me that I wouldn't believe for somebody else? I would never counsel somebody else this way. I would never accuse Jesus of this out loud. I'm just doing it in my heart."Then I want you to make it obedient to Christ. We'll take a moment to do that. Then I want you to do that this week with your community group. I want you to try to walk out, "What have I settled? That only makes sense because I don't say it out loud. I just repeat it over and over again in my heart. How does Jesus rescue and redeem and conquer?"Let's pray.Father, I pray that right now you'd give us a moment of stillness and clarity. We ask in the name of Jesus that your Spirit would work to reveal deep, heart-level things that we've put in concrete that aren't true, lies that we believe, that we think are true about us, but are just lies about you. Lord, we ask you to help us to listen. Amen.

Today, Pastor Pete unpacks the story of David, Nabal and Abigail – a lesson on folly, wisdom, and the ability to listen. Nabal refuses to hear but David owns his folly and responds to Abigail's wisdom, showing that true wisdom is a heart willing to listen and to be taught.

“O rei sentiu-se atraído por Ester, mais do que por qualquer outra moça, de tal maneira que colocou na sua cabeça a coroa real e declarou-a rainha em lugar de Vasti.”( Et 2:17)Momentos de angústia extrema despertam reis para seus propósitos. Para que um governo maligno seja aplacado, mulheres de governo precisam gerar o livramento. Uma sentença de morte só tem poder para avançar se a autoridade de uma coroa falhar. Foi assim com Ester. Poder não significa autoridade. Sisera tinha o poder, mas Jael carregava a autoridade. Nabal tinha o poder, mas Abigail carregava a autoridade. No reino de Assuero, o decreto de Hamã tinha o poder, mas Ester prevaleceria em autoridade. Era um momento decisivo para Israel porque em questão de dias sua nação seria extinta. Mas quem caminha em autoridade não desiste da promessa, e quem sustenta a coroa não aborta o propósito. Ester se levantou, e pela intensidade do seu sacrifício, o rei liberou um novo decreto sobre seu destino. Quando a noiva sacrifica, o rei estende o cetro. Ester simboliza a igreja, uma rainha que quando desafiada pela morte precisa sacrificar por uma geração que carrega a promessa. Se Ester não se levanta uma descendência seria abortada, uma nação seria extinta e os frutos de uma nova geração nunca brotariam. Honre a coroa que o rei colocou sobre sua cabeça, e da sua autoridade faça um propósito para remissão de muitos destinos.

Mensagem: I Samuel 25 | Davi, Nabal e AbigailPregação: Pr. Ricardo MoreiraIgreja Batista SulAv. Dr. Paulo Japiassú Coelho, 170, Cascatinha - Juiz de Fora/MGTel.: (32) 3025-1415

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25. Pastor's teaching is on “Anger” today and a particular incident in David's life before he became king. David and his men were in a desert area and nearby a man named Nabal from Maon is at his property in Carmel for shearing his 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. David, having at one time protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks, sends 10 of his men to Nabal to greet Nabal speaking good health to him, his household and to all that was Nabal's. They recounted when David and his men protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks and then ask for Nabal's favor in sharing with them whatever Nabal thought was fair or appropriate. David's words were gracious, but Nabal a surly, mean man responds saying, “Who's this David? Why should I take my bread and water and meat and give any to his men who come from who knows where?” David's men report this rejection back to David who responds in anger with, “Strap on your swords.” He and 400 of his men head back Nabal. David has revenge in mind but then Abigail, Nabal's wife, hears how Nabal responded to David and she comes up with a plan to stop David's intended revenge. Abigail's chooses to act and her response is not only dramatic it is instructional.  Abigail's Response     ⁃    Clear thinking     ⁃    Decisive action     ⁃    Calculated risk Abigail packs bread, wine, meat, grain, raisin cakes, figs and loads it on donkeys and goes where David and his men were without telling her husband Nabal. She comes to an angry David and his men on their way to find Nabal. Abigail falls at David's feet. David has 400 men with him, his temper is on edge, and now this lady comes to him. Abigail asks David not to pay any attention to what Nabal had said. And she says, “let this gift your servant has brought to my Lord, be given to the men who follow you.” Then she asks for forgiveness and goes on to talk about all the Lord must have in store for David, that he is a man who has not sought revenge, but rather did things God's way. She proceeds with a curse for all who pursue David and a blessing of security in the Living Lord God for David. She ends with a request for David to remember her when the Lord fulfills His promises to him. She says he would not want to have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and then she closes with a request for him to remember her. Abigail's response was issued with grace and spirit-guided wisdom with an emphasis on the things of God and it changes David's heart in an instant. He responds, “Praise be to God who has sent you to meet me. May you be blessed for keeping me from bloodshed and from avenging myself.”  David is convicted. David is a man who has God's heart, and even when he has gone astray, he is willing to take correction.  Dealing with Anger     ⁃    Recognize the danger     ⁃    Practice self-control     ⁃    Deal with the cause     ⁃    Respond graciously Only the Lord God can give us the strength and resources to truly control our anger. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/david-and-gods-heart Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning, my name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. Grab a Bible and go to First Samuel, chapter 25. We are working our way through the book of First Samuel. We left off last week where David had the opportunity to murder Saul. Saul's been chasing David, trying to kill him. David finally has Saul right in his grasp in a cave and he does not kill him. He comes, cuts off a piece of his cloak, follows him out of the cave and says, see this? Do you notice that it used to belong to your cloak? Check out your cloak. I could have killed you and I didn't because I don't want to.Saul and David have this moment where Saul says, I'm wrong, I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing. There's a little bit of a peace. Then it says they head separate ways. We're picking up in chapter 25, and we're going to see this interaction with David and some other people, and we're going to see David actively pursuing sin and how God meets him in that, what happens, how David responds, and how these other people respond. Hopefully, we will learn along with David to appreciate correction.The verse says this:> Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him and buried him in his house at Ramah.Samuel has passed and his work as the last judge is over. He's the last judge of Israel. He has transitioned under the leadership of God and under the desire of the people to a monarch ruling the land. It hasn't gone well. We've seen how all that's worked out. The last we saw him, David had run to him to try to hide while Saul was chasing him. He is now passed, and it says all Israel gathered to mourn. I think it is likely that that included David and Saul, but if it excluded one of them, it was probably David. The way the text is written seems as if David was there.It also says that Samuel was buried in his house at Ramah, which makes me think people didn't keep living in that house. I don't know; maybe it became a site for the people of Israel, but the text doesn't give us much information about that.Continuing in verse 1, it says:> Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man whose business was in Carmel.The man was very rich. He had 3,000 sheep and a thousand goats. Take a moment and try to picture that. That's a lot of sheep and goats, a lot of people that have to tend to them. The man was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now, you may have a picture of what shearing sheep is like. You understand that it's removing the excess wool from a sheep. But culturally, when we just say he's shearing his sheep, I don't think we completely capture the festivity.This was festive. In order to shear 3,000 sheep, you need a lot of shearers. They gather, it's like a harvest. You've kept these sheep alive all winter; it's now about to get hot, and it's spring. They gather. It's celebratory. A bunch of people together. The wool means wealth—he can use it, he can sell it. People gather, eat, celebrate, shear sheep, and then eventually they have to spread back out because you can't have that many sheep in one place at one time.So they've been all over the place, gather, shear the sheep, have a festival for however long this takes, a bunch of people together, then spread back out. That's what's happening. Culturally, when they heard "sheep shearing," it's like us hearing it's Christmas time. It's festive in their mind with all it entails.He's shearing his sheep. Verse 3:> Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail.There's another cultural thing missed on us here: the word Nabal means fool or boorish; his name is "fool." If you spoke Hebrew, you'd catch that. Names mean things in their culture. Either it was a rough time in the life of his parents when he was born and they took it out on him, or he was born and his mom said, "You look a lot like your father; we're gonna name you Fool." Some family dynamics we don't want to get into. Or he has earned this name over time and just rolled with it.It'd be like if you introduced him as "my buddy Blockhead," and he'd say, "Sup?" You'd have guesses on what this dude's like. That's what's happening here: his name's Fool.Then it tells us where we are. The woman, Abigail, was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved. So he's earned it; he's lived up to it. At least he was a Calebite, meaning he comes from a prominent family inside the tribe of Judah. David is also in the tribe of Judah, so they would have considered each other kin, more especially kin than just being of the people of Israel.David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. So David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men:> Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. And thus you shall greet him:>> Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.>> I hear that you have shearers.>> Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel.>> Ask your young men, and they will tell you.>> Therefore, let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day.>> Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.David sends a ten-man delegation to say, "We hear you have shearers, which means it's a feast day. We've been with your shearers and shepherds. We've actually been part of the reason all your sheep are alive. If there's anything you could give us, that'd be great."This can sound a little extortionary to us: "I helped you out, you owe me." Maybe a little of that is there, but they're of the same tribe. This is a normal thing to be hospitable and to expect hospitality. So what David has helped him, he's saying, "I'm part of the reason why this has gone so well for you this year, and we'd like to participate in this feast."The next layer is that we're of the same tribe. They belong to each other. Another layer is you should just say yes to this anyway, no matter who shows up and asks because that's what the people of Israel are supposed to be like: hospitable and welcoming.Well above our cultural pressures to be hospitable and welcoming, this is a normal cultural thing that you would say yes to.It's a little bit like if someone says, "Hey, is there anything you could do? It would be really helpful. You know it is Christmas." Saying "It's Christmas" adds this "You should" kind of thing to it. But they should say yes all the time. At sheep shearing time, it's more festive and more hospitable; there are all kinds of layers to why Nabal should say yes to this. It's expected, it's good, it's what he ought to do.Remember his name, right? Let's see how he acts.Verse 9:> When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David. And then they waited.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 the men who come from nowhere, whom I do not know?That would be rude to us. It is wildly, excessively rude to them. You ever watch a Western? You know how there's a moment where one calls the other a liar, and everything gets tense? They stand up because you've called me a liar. Obviously, I have to shoot you now. That's the kind of thing happening.Or in the play Hamilton, they've seen multiple duels in writing letters back and forth. You can tell these are fighting words, working toward a duel. Culturally, we don't have that anymore. We don't do duels anymore; that's probably good for us.Every once in a while you meet someone and think, "I wish someone had hit them upside the head," but in general, culturally it's good that we turn the other cheek, that we're calmer, that we don't overreact or defend our honor in that way.But what Nabal has done is aggressively, intentionally disregarded, dishonored, picked a fight with David in pride. He said, "Who is David? Who's the son of Jesse? You come from no one; you are worth nothing." He says there are many people who have broken away from their masters and are roaming around the woods these days. You want me to feed all of them? Like, no.This is very aggressive.They go back to David. Let's see how David responds.Verse 12:> So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this.David said to his men:> Every man, strap on his sword.Every man strapped on his sword; David also strapped on his sword. About 400 men went up after David, while 200 remained with the baggage.He leaves 200 and takes 400, saying, "Put your swords on. Let's go talk to Nabal ourselves."Verse 14:> But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. Yet the men were very good to us. We suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields. As long as we went with them, they were a wall to us both by night and by day. All the while we were with them, keeping the sheep."Now, therefore, know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house. He is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.There's a handful of things going on here. Somebody watches this interaction and says, somebody go tell Abigail, somebody get Ma—she'll handle this. That's the assumption.You can actually see the kind of respect and the position that she held in this household by the way they're responding. I don't know if your life has been like mine, but I've been wildly blessed by ladies like this who can handle things, who will sort stuff out, who, when something's going poorly, you say, "Yeah, go get them. Explain this to them. They'll step in, make this better, know what to do." That's the situation she's in: somebody goes to say, "Hey, real quick, Nabal was Nabling, and I need to talk to you about what just happened."They explain it to her.I also want to point out that they say, "You know what he's like. You can't talk to him. He is such a worthless man. No one can speak to him." I just want to tell you that you don't want that to ever be true for you. You don't want people to say, "Well, you know what it's like to talk to them? They don't listen. They're hard to talk to."You want to actively fight that in yourself. When someone says, "Hey, I need to talk to you about something," you want to go, "Okay, this is my chance. Lord, help me. Don't get defensive. Help me listen," because that's a bad spot to be in.They say he was very rude to them, and they've been great. David was great to us. It was great to be with David. We didn't worry about anything. As long as we were with them, there was nothing to worry about. They helped us; they protected us; they defended us.Not only should he probably not respond that way to anybody, but he certainly should be good to these guys because they've been very good to us. That's the situation they're saying to him.Verse 18:> Then Abigail made haste and took 200 loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared, and five seahs of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins and 200 cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.That's a lot of food just ready to go.She starts piling this on donkeys: 200 loaves, five sheep already prepared, 200 cakes of figs. He's very rich.We'll find out later it's not like she went and cleaned out buffets. They don't even notice this stuff is gone. Not only should he have said yes, he actually had the ability to say yes and not even notice it. So he's got all this ready to go at the moment. It's unnoticed.She puts it on donkeys.Verse 19:> She said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.As she rode on the donkey and came down under the cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her. She met them.David had said:> Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him. And he has returned me evil for good.>> God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.David's plan as he's traveling is, when we get there, we're going to kill every man. David says to himself that it was a huge waste of time that he defended his sheep.If you lived in a modest home backed up to somebody's massive acreage and could see all the wealth they had, and at some point their fence broke and their little yappy dog got out, you helped catch the dog and fixed the fence. Then later, you go around and say, "Hey, you wouldn't happen to have any eggs?" and they say, "I can't be giving handouts to people who can't afford eggs." What does that look like? Charity? "Get off my lawn before I call the police."You might go back to your house and think, "I'm going to break their fence and steal their dog." Originally, you weren't doing it because you knew one day you were going to need something, but there might be something in you that goes, "That was a waste of time. This guy's such a jerk. He doesn't deserve any good thing I've ever done for him."You might just be losing it in your backyard.That's a little bit of what's happening with David here. He's responded violently and is saying to himself, everything that I did that was good was a waste of time. He's decided he's going to kill everybody.He gives an interesting curse—we've seen several curses in First Samuel. This is one of the better ones because of how he words it. Most curses we've seen have followed a pattern: "May the Lord do so and more also to me if I don't blank to them." But David says:> May the Lord do so and more also to my enemies if I don't kill all of them.A double outward-facing curse. It seems like a better way to word it. If I don't kill them, may the Lord kill them. He just puts it out that way; he doesn't bind himself in a curse.His plan is to go kill everybody.I want you to hear this clearly: David is wrong. Don't read your Bible and think this is one of the good guys. Not everything he does is good. The Lord is good, and what he does is good. You can see what he's doing and say that's good (Jesus is good). The Bible isn't about good people and bad people; it's about bad people and Jesus.You see Jesus at work; you can say, "This must be good," but you can't do that with anybody else.What David is about to do is wrong; he's going to defend his pride through massacre. Nobody talks to David like that; that's where he's at.But who just met him? Abigail.David's coming with 400 men, all with swords strapped on. They don't look pleasant; they're on their way to harm people. She comes to talk to them.What she's about to do is insanely courageous.You know how you have things you're afraid of? Meeting new people, large crowds, public speaking, facing down an army, possibly being murdered, conflict. She's about to do all those, and handle them extremely well.When you look at Proverbs 31, which talks about what a woman should look like—a wife should look like—Abigail is Proverbs 31 on display: using intelligence, ability, wisdom for the good of those around her.She could have avoided this situation. She knew something bad was coming. She could have left; it would have affected her household. But she was involved.She jumps right in the middle for Nabal's sake and for David's sake. She sees two foolish men. She actually knew that something bad was going to happen.As soon as she heard the situation, she said David's on the move. She was right. She said, "I don't think you can talk stuff to David like that without there being a lot of bad things that happen next."She's right.She's going to intercept David and Nabal, jump in the middle of them and this brokenness where pride, arrogance, anger are about to slam into each other.Suddenly there's Abigail on a donkey, about to give the largest speech of any woman in the Old Testament. She's going to share wisdom, clarity, humility, faith.This is what she says.Verse 23:> When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.She begins with a very humble posture. She shows up, bows to the ground. It does not tell us if she gets up. It's possible she continues speaking from that posture or maybe stands.Verse 24:> She fell at his feet and said,>> On me alone, my lord, be the guilt.>> Please let your servant speak in your ears and hear the words of your servant.>> Let not, my lord, regard this worthless fellow Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him.Quick pause: I don't believe this gives wives license to speak however they want about their husbands, even their foolish husbands. Which I know is a follow-up question.Put your hand down.But if you are negotiating good for his entire household and trying to save his life, I think the rules get looser than when you're at book club with your friends. She doesn't speak in a very honoring way of her husband. He has actively done dumb things. She is trying for the sake of their household to bring good.She's trying to bring blessing to him, even though he's acted like that.But this isn't how I think you're allowed to talk about them all the time.Even if she did, you still shouldn't.She starts off by saying we don't want Nabal representing her house. This is on me.Don't let him lead you into this. That's what she's saying.She continues:> But I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. Please forgive me. This is on me. If I had seen him, we wouldn't have this problem.Verse 26:> Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from blood guilt and from saving with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.She says it's so good the Lord restrained him from blood guilt. She assumes graciously and boldly that he's going to stop. The Lord has intercepted him to keep him from doing something foolish.She doesn't say "foolish," but it's baked in.The fool was about to create folly, and she's thankful the Lord helped stop it.Then:> May the Lord make all of your enemies like Nabal—not dead, but foolish. Let them act foolish, but don't let you act foolish.Verse 27:> And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your servant, for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.> If men rise up to pursue you and seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God, and the lives of your enemies shall he sling out as from the hollow of a sling.She's wise in words, uses sling metaphors for David. He gets it immediately.She brings blessing. She shows up in the middle of sin, takes guilt, and brings blessing.She brings physical blessing and then verbally blesses him. She says, “Take this gift,” and then she blesses David, his house, family, future.Verse 30:> When the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel...It seems known that David has been anointed and that he's going to be king; that has spread at least to the people in Judah.Verse 31:> My lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause, or for my lord working salvation for himself.> When the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.She says when she shows up, "I'm glad the Lord let me intercept you to keep you from blood guilt." She ends with, when he makes you king, you won't feel bad about this. You won't have pangs of conscience that you tried to save yourself or shed blood without cause.It's wise, clear, corrective, humble.Verse 32:> David said to Abigail,>> "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me.>> Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you who have kept me this day from blood guilt and from working salvation with my own hand.>> For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left in Nabal so much as one male."David erupts in worship:Oh, thank the Lord! Blessed be the Lord! Blessed be your discretion! Blessed be you that you came because I was about to do something so foolish!Y'all, may we respond like David when we're corrected. May we love the people who correct us.Culturally, we celebrate, "I want my friends to match my energy." Like, if I'm amped up, I want you to get amped up with me.I saw a clip from a movie: a guy comes in, looks at his friend, says, "Hey, you can't ask me questions; I need you to come with me. We're going to hurt some people. We can never talk about this again." His friend looks at him and says, "Are you driving, or am I driving?"Culturally, we say, "Yay! Best friends! Secret murders!"That's what we want. We want friends who ride or die. We want you to hop in the car if I say, "Let's go."Reality is, no. You need some calm, patient, wet blanket friends. Some people who say, "Why aren't you mad?"You need people who have wisdom, discretion, who slow you down, love you enough to risk a relationship by correcting you.I'm not talking about argumentative, contrary people. I'm talking about people who love you enough to say, "Hey, we need to talk because what you're doing is unwise, unhelpful, foolish, sinful."We want to learn to be people who say, "Praise Jesus that you listened to the Spirit when I didn't! Thank you, Lord, that you sent them to be around me."You're doing things over your life that are unwise. You're doing things that aren't good. You're sinning.The last time you were corrected is maybe the last time someone showed you genuine love.If you go long seasons without correction, you need to begin to work on how you respond to correction and the type of people you surround yourself with.May we be people like Abigail who love people enough to say something. She jumped in the middle, could have left, but she was involved.Verse 35:> Then David received from her hand what she had brought him.>> He said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice and granted your petition."Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house like the feast of a king.Nabal's heart was merry within him; he was very drunk.She told him nothing at all until morning.Verse 37:> In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things.>> His heart died within him, and he became as a stone.>> About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.She went and explained: you said this, I did this, I met David with 400 men coming to kill everybody, the gift I gave him.He locks up; something happens to his heart, his body. He dies ten days later.Verse 39:> When David heard that Nabal was dead,>> He said, "Blessed be the Lord, who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal and kept back his servant from wrongdoing.>> The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head."This principle runs throughout Scripture: we aren't meant to get vengeance ourselves. We're to trust the Lord that He will respond, will care for us, and this is not to be taken into our hands.We are to say, "Lord, I will bear insult, trusting you'll bring about good."That's how David responds when he hears that: "Thank you, Lord, for letting his wickedness fall back on him and not on me.""For me not getting involved, me not doing wrongdoing, You kept me back from him."Verse 40:> Then David sent and spoke to Abigail to take her as his wife.When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her:> David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.She rose and bowed with her face to the ground, saying:> "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."Abigail hurried, rose, mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her.She followed the messengers of David and became his wife.First of all, she has little notes: she has the largest lady entourage of anybody in Scripture.She's wealthy and well attended to. She humbly accepts this. She even responds, "I'll just be a servant." I think she knows she's going to get married, but she humbly says, "I'll be a servant." She's gracious.The story begins with David sending men to say, "Hey, Nabal, can we have some food from your feast?"It ends with him going and getting Nabal's wife.It's a wild story.One thing is when David's corrected by Abigail, he loves her for it; he responds.I want to read the last of this chapter before considering a few things:Verse 42:> So she became his wife.David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives.Saul had given Michal, his daughter, David's wife, to Palti, son of Laish, who was of Gallim.Personally, I wish that note was somewhere else, because it feels like you see this interesting little love story play out, and at the end they're getting married, but then there's another lady also, and you're like, "Wait, what?"Historically, men in power had multiple wives.We see David wrongfully, angrily respond to a thing. We see him begin to take multiple wives.He's not handling everything well.One of the things for kings is they wouldn't have too many wives. He's not even a king yet; he's just roaming the woods.He already has two and a half because we're not exactly sure what's going on with Michal. She's married to someone else but also married to him.We'll see how that plays out.That's the situation.Looking back, consider something beautiful in this text.Abigail rides in to intercept in the middle before things go wildly wrong.David loves her for it.He walks under the shadow of the mountain, ready to murder.He leaves praising the Lord.His heart is softened at her correction.Nabal is hardened at her correction. He turns to stone, and it kills him.We have softening and love, and death born out of the same action.This reality is how Jesus comes to us.He intercepts us in our sin.He comes to correct us, call us away from sin, stepping into situations He didn't have to but does because He loves us and wants to rescue and bring blessing.He steps in to take guilt on Himself, saying, "Let the guilt fall on me."All who hear this message will either, like David, soften and love Him or will harden and say, "Who does He think He is? Why do I have to worship Him? Why do I have to follow Him? What does He mean He died for my sin? What is sin? He made the rules. Why would I have to?"You will twist on it.There's a way to respond that brings life, blessing, joy, hope.There's a way that hardens you up.If you belong to Jesus, your heart ought to be very soft to Him and His correction.You ought to see with joy the love He shows when He corrects.You ought to be soft in correction to those around you who say, "I think you're wrong about this."You ought to say, "Thank you for loving me."Try to listen as best you can, understand what they're saying, sort it out, be patient.Praise the Lord for people who will correct you.None of us want to harden ourselves against Jesus or His people so we might work closer to death, locking ourselves into stone so we can't hear His voice or listen.Let's pray.God, may You in Your grace let us be soft and receptive.May we be receptive to Your Spirit when You call us to repentance.May we be receptive to the people in our church family and those around us who know us and love us and love You who correct us.May it be a delight to our soul as David was blessed and continued to bless Your name for turning him away from wrongdoing.Lord, may we love the people in our church and those close to us enough to correct them.I pray in Jesus' name and by Your Spirit's work, for those who have hardened themselves against Your calls to repentance, may You not let them do it.May You not let them harden their heart or turn to stone so they cannot hear Your voice or listen to Your people.May You intercept them by Your grace even now.May they hear and repent.We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.As a church, we are going to take communion together.I'd like to read from Luke chapter 22.This is Jesus on the night He was betrayed, at the last supper with His disciples.Luke 22:19 says:> And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,>> "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."When we take communion together, we take a loaf and remember that Jesus' body was broken for us.Our hope is not that we would suffer and die for ourselves, atone for our sin, but that He has.We share in one loaf, and when we do this together, we remind ourselves and each other that our one hope is Jesus and Jesus alone.And then likewise the cup:> "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."This hope is made sure because it is covenanted with us through the blood of Christ, sealed through His work.If you have trusted Christ, we take communion as a remembrance of this moment and the covenant made with us.We take it in hope of the day coming when all things are restored and made new, forgiven fully and made free.If you have not placed your faith in Jesus, this is not for you.We say Christ is for you. His offer of salvation is for you. Repentance is for you.But we ask you not to take communion until you understand fully what you're celebrating.For those who've placed faith in Jesus, take a moment, listen to the Spirit.If there's somewhere you need to repent, if there's someone you need to talk to, do that, then come joyfully.Remind your soul your sin has been paid for, and your hope is held sure because of Christ's work.If you have a gluten allergy, we have gluten-free back there.

Preparing for our upcoming Marriage Weekend we study two different couples in the Bible. Today, we examine the account of Nabal and Abigail, a couple that would appear to be absolutely opposite in every way. Yet, in today's narrative we discover that Abigail does three things that help us determine why the Bible describes her as intelligent and beautiful. 

A devotional study about the Bible principles for interpersonal relations between men and women -- especially husbands and wives.  This week, we will find some of these principles in the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25.1 Samuel 25:18-19 KJVThen Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she told not her husband Nabal.Related Podcasts:— God's Perspective on Gender Roles— The Weaker Vessel— Having the Right Perspective— Slumbering and SleepingRelated Podcasts at TrueWisdom:— In the Beginning— A Woman of Action— The Bride of ChristText UsSupport the showSend questions or comments to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comThe Key Principles of Effective Bible Study is a resource which outlines core concepts shown in the Scriptures that will help you to better understand many Biblical themes and doctrines. We have a whole podcast series on these principles at BibleStudy.ASBzone.com/357512/8572886.God's Precious Word is a condensed, 9-part series based on the same resource. Check out these awesome Bible Maps! Lastly, we recommend that you check out https://TrueWisdom.buzzsprout.com for a related Bible Study podcast, in a different format, co-hosted with Robert Baker.We pray that all of these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible Studies.

Can your spouse tell you anything, without fear of defensiveness, dismissal, or drama? In episode 253 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra tackle a powerful questions every couple needs to ask: "Am I safe to speak to?" Using 1 Samuel 25:17 as a launching point, they explore what happens when pride replaces humility in marriage, and how it damages connection, trust, and communication. "One cannot speak to him..." That's how the Bible describes Nabal, a man so prideful and closed off that no one could reason with him. Could your spouse ever feel the same about you? You'll learn: How defensiveness shuts down emotional intimacy. What makes a marriage safe for honesty and feedback. The difference between listening and truly receiving. How to practice humility even when you think you're right. Why biblical leadership includes the ability to be corrected. If you want deeper connection and mutual respect in your marriage, this episode will help you turn the volume up on love, and down on pride. BONUS RESOURCE: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our "Am I Safe to Talk To?" Self-Check Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

Obrigado por acessar o meu Canal!Aqui você encontrará podcasts com informações sobre exegese bíblica que mudarão sua vida cristã.# Não clique aqui: https://bit.ly/383Dr57Ouça novos podcasts Exegese & Exposição, exegese on-demand para você, em seu agregador preferido ou no YouTube.Grupo EXCLUSIVO do Telegram, com muitos materiais para seus estudos exegéticos: Exegese & Exposição - Materiais## Quer publicar o seu livro evangélico?Conheça a incrível proposta da Editora Contextualizar: http://www.contextualizar.com.br/PARTICIPE! Faça comentários relevantes ao tema ou sugira outras passagens bíblicas para exegese e exposição.

This sermon from 1 Samuel 25 explores "Vengeance Intercepted," revealing how David's path to retaliation against Nabal was divinely rerouted. Discover the lessons on breaking cycles of revenge and embracing God's restraining grace to avoid future regrets.

Chapter 13 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 1 Samuel 25. Abigail - David and his men find themselves nearly slaughtering the household of an arrogant man named Nabal. However, his beautiful and wise wife intercedes, and David finds himself drawn to her. Today's opening prayer is inspired by Galatians 1:10, For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app. Sign up for Heroes in the Bible devotionals at https://www.heroesinthebible.com/ Learn more about Dr. Tony Evans at https://tonyevans.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sermon unpacks the powerful account of David and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. Abigail courageously intervenes in David's path of rage and revenge after an insult from the foolish Nabal. Drawing from his own testimony, Pastor Scott likens Abigail's intervention to a spiritual roadblock—much like the people who stepped into his life to rescue him from destruction. The message challenges listeners to recognize when others are on destructive paths and to be willing, like Abigail, to boldly and lovingly intervene. Her humility, wisdom, and bravery not only save lives but also redirect David back toward God's purposes. We're reminded that while not every intervention succeeds, some do—and they are worth it.

Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. David and Abigail Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2And 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. 3Now 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.4David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. 5So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. 6And thus you shall greet him: Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. 8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David. 9When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. 10And 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. 11Shall 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? 12So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this. 13And 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. 14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 16They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him. 18Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs[a]of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19And she said to her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. 21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. 22God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him. 23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.24She fell at his feet and said, On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.28Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.29If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince[d] over Israel, 31my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant. 32And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! 34For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.35Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition. 36And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.37In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. 39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head. Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife.40When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife. 41And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 42And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife. 43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. 44Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

Teacher: Adam Barnett "‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.'”  - 1 Samuel 25:7-8 David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.  – 1 Samuel 25:13   Unchecked anger leads to destructive choices (which could include permanent consequences). 32 David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.” 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.”  - 1 Samuel 25:32-35 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. – 1 Samuel 25:38 When conflict occurs, put down your sword and trust the Lord.  

Continuing our study through 1 Samuel, Pastor Doug Sauder takes us through 1 Samuel 25 where we find the story of David, a man named Nabal, and his wife Abigail. In this message, we go deep into the difference between being a wise person and a foolish person.

At every turn, it seems that Saul is hot on David's trail until, at long last, he unwittingly happens upon the cave where David is hiding. Saul doesn't realize, however, that David and his men are there. Saul ventures away from his troops and enters the cave to relieve himself. David takes advantage of this opportunity, but not in the way you might expect from someone who is being hunted down by the ruler of a kingdom. Later, David is snubbed by Nabal, a wealthy businessman, angering David greatly. As he approaches with his men to kill Nabal, Nabal's wife Abigail intervenes with a peace offering. When he learns of her charity the next morning, his heart gives out and he dies on the spot.1 Samuel 24 - 1:03 . 1 Samuel 25 - 5:46 . Psalm 91 - 16:47 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

1 Samuel - Samuel's death. Nabal and Abigail. Abigail intercedes. David marries Abigail. David again spares Saul.

In 1 Samuel, Abigail was a Godly woman who was married to a worthless man named Nabal, who intentionally offended future king David. Rather than letting David sin by killing Nabal, Abigail took wise steps to defuse the situation, protect lives and help David stay in God's will. This calls us to humble sacrifice, especially when we see the Lord's hand and plan. Video of this service is also available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA3CAOqx2D8&t=4832s

In a world full of conflict, pride, and offense—what does it look like to extend grace when people least deserve it?This Mother's Day, Pastor David looks at the powerful story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. While her husband Nabal acted like a fool, Abigail showed courage, wisdom, and grace. She stepped in, took responsibility for what wasn't hers, and spoke life when death was on the horizon. Her actions saved lives—and changed hearts.Grace isn't passive—it's bold. It goes first. It absorbs offense. It chooses peace. And it calls out the best in others when they're at their worst.To learn more about Cross Points, check out our website:http://crosspointschurch.comTo stay up to date, check out our social media:Instagram: @crosspointskcFacebook: Cross Points ChurchYoutube: CrossPointsKCTwitter: @crosspointskc

Sunday, 11 May 2025   Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. Matthew 10:4    “Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the ‘also having betrayed Him'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the list of the twelve named apostles continued with six names. The final two are mentioned next, beginning with, “Simon the Kananaios.”   The name Simon has been explained. The title that is given to him is Kananaios, sometimes translated as a Canaanite. At other times, it is translated as a Zealot or some other word indicating being zealous, like the word Patriot. The word is found only here and in Mark 3:18, again describing the same person. In Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, the same person is described with the word zélótés, to be zealous.   The reason for all the variances is that there is a dispute about where the word is derived from. One supposed root is the Hebrew word qanna, which means jealous. It is a word used six times in Exodus and Deuteronomy when referring to the Lord, speaking of His jealous nature. Some apply this root to indicate a zealous nature for the Lord.   That would make sense based on Luke's use of zélótés as a comparable meaning word. However, it is questionable if a title given only to the Lord would later be applied to people. If it were, it would be as an honorific, saying something like, “He has the Lord's jealousy guiding his life.”   However, as noted, others translate the word as Canaanite. This seems to be less preferable because he would have been a Jew, but it could be that he associated himself with the land of Canaan as being the home territory of the Jews and wanted to restore it to Jewish control. However, another word group is used in Greek to indicate Canaan. Thus, this translation is rather unlikely.   Another option is the occasional translation of this word as a Cananaean. That would mean he was from Cana of Galilee. This is not improbable. As it is a transliteration, this rendering doesn't do any harm. It simply gives an Anglicized rendering of the Greek.   Leaving the Greek directly transliterated into English avoids a mistranslation, and so that is what has been done here. Next, it says, “and Judas Iscariot.”   The name Judas is derived from the Hebrew Yehudah, meaning Judah. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob, born to Leah as recorded in Genesis 29:35.  His name means Praise. The name in Greek includes Jude, the author of the book of Jude. It is also translated as Judah in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Each time, it is in Jesus' genealogy.   The title Iscariot is from the Greek Iskariótés. It is believed to be a transliteration from the Hebrew words ish, man, and qirya, city or town. Thus, he would be a man of the city or a man of Kerioth, a city in Israel noted four times in the Old Testament. If he were from Kerioth, he would be the only non-Galilean apostle because Kerioth was a city found in the territory of Judah. Of him, it next says, “the ‘also having betrayed Him.'”   He is introduced into Scripture with the sad epitaph attached to him. Later, using the word apóleia, meaning destruction, ruin, loss, etc., other than the antichrist, he is the only person called a son of perdition in Scripture –   “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” John 17:12   “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4   It is as if these two notorious men were born to be destroyed. Such is the nature of misusing one's freewill to work against the Lord.   Life application: The names of the apostles are recorded, some with descriptors to give further hints about their nature. From there, some of them will have various things said about them. Peter is recorded as having denied Jesus and been weak in his stand for proper doctrine, as recorded in Galatians 2.   Thomas is forever known as a doubter. He is used as an example of this quality today, such as, “Come on, man! Stop being a Doubting Thomas.” David is known as a man after God's heart. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. Nabal the Carmelite is known as a fool.   We will all be remembered before others and before the Lord for how we conducted our lives. What is it that you want to be remembered for? “He was a faithful Christian.” “He was a loving father.” “He was one greedy dude.” Like the designation of these apostles, we are generally summed up with a very short thought when remembered by others. What few words do you expect people will remember you by?   Lord God, we are living our lives out before others and in Your presence. How will we be remembered when we are gone? Help us to consider this and to do our best to live our lives in a manner that will honor You and reflect the positive qualities of faithful followers of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In this Bible Story, Samuel passes away and David marries Abigail. David’s community of outcasts and vagabonds continued to grow and thrive under his leadership.This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 25. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 25:39 from the King James Version.Episode 91: While David was in the wilderness near Carmel he met a group of sheep shearers belonging to a rich man named Nabal. David took care of the men and when it came time for them to return, he sent messengers to ask Nabal if he would give them food in return for taking care of his men. Nabal, however, was arrogant and cantankerous, refusing the men David sent, answering them harshly. Luckily, Nabal's wife Abigail intercepted and interceded on behalf of her husband, restraining David from killing Nabal in his wrath.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Sam 25-26; Ps 63; Matt Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter invites us on day 113 of our yearlong journey through the Bible. Together, we'll explore the dramatic story of David, Nabal, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25-26, reflect on David's heartfelt prayer in Psalm 63, and witness powerful moments of healing, compassion, and forgiveness in Matthew chapter 9. As we read, Hunter encourages us to open our hearts to God's mercy, reminding us that Jesus responds to both our physical and spiritual needs—not with demands for sacrifice, but with an invitation to show mercy and receive his love. Stay tuned as we pray together, find strength for the day ahead, and remember that love showed up for you—because you are loved, no doubt about it. TODAY'S DEVOTION: There are needs everywhere. Jesus acknowledges these physical needs without excluding our spiritual needs, the needs of our soul and heart. He sees our need for forgiveness, healing from shame, and regrets. There, he has compassion. There, he reaches out. There, he heals, and there, he forgives. He says to the paralytic, "Be encouraged, my child. Your sins are forgiven." The same is true in our lives. He sees our physical needs, and he sees and responds to our spiritual need—our need for forgiveness, our need for wholeness and healing. He has come to show mercy. In Matthew 9:13, he says, "Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come not to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." He wants us to think about it, to consider the meaning of this scripture. Because so often, our thoughts automatically turn toward what we must do to earn favor with God. We ask ourselves, What must I sacrifice? How might I perform in order to be made right with him? But when our thinking goes there, we miss the point. Jesus tells us to think again— to go and learn the meaning of the scripture: "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices." Your demonstration of mercy, your heart for others, is evidence that you understand the heart of God— that he has come to sacrifice himself on our behalf, to heal us. He's not looking for our religious sacrifices; he did what we could not. He brought healing, forgiveness, and hope. He came for the unrighteous, not for those who think they are righteous by the things that they do. God wants me to raise my eyes and see what he sees: the blind, the sick, the bleeding— all people needing his compassion and his life. When we see the way God sees, when we look with his eyes in his spirit, the same response wells up within our own hearts. We have compassion, and we go out and work in the fields alongside him. We participate with him. We are empowered by him. That is what God is up to here. He wants us to see what he sees, and he invites us to join him in the fields, working alongside him with his power, his strength, his joy. And that's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1==================================================== DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA MUJERES 2025“AMANECER CON JESÚS”Narrado por: Sirley DelgadilloDesde: Bucaramanga, ColombiaUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================10 de AbrilMañana puede ser tarde«Si tienes poder para hacer el bien, no te niegues a hacérselo a quien lo necesite; no digas a tu prójimo: Vete, vuelve de nuevo, mañana te daré» (Proverbios 3: 27-28).Apenas se enteró de lo sucedido, Abi corrió a la cocina, presurosa, llamó a las muchachas que le ayudaban en su casa y amasaron bastante harina como para hacer doscientos panes. Mientras estos se cocían, llenó cinco botes de vino; otros de sus ayudantes ya tenían cociendo cinco borregos. Otros más corrieron a buscar cien racimos de uvas pasas y otros alimentos. Cuando todo estuvo listo, lo puso en asnos y fue a llevar la ayuda que anteriormente había sido solicitada a su marido y que este vilmente rechazó.«Por favor, da lo que tengas a mano a tus siervos y a tu hijo David», fue el mensaje entregado a Nabal, pero siendo despiadado y egoísta se negó. Ya sabemos el disgusto que causó en David y lo que iba a hacer a la casa de este hombre. Entonces aparece Abigaíl, una mujer que sobresale por sus virtudes y cuyo nombre significa «la alegría del Padre». Nabal negó la ayuda que estaba en sus manos dar y su destino fue la muerte. Por su parte, nuestra heroína dio lo mejor que tenía y su destino fue vivir en un palacio como esposa del rey.«Por cuanto brindaste tu ayuda a uno de mis hermanos más pequeños, fue como si lo hicieras a mí mismo», dirá Jesús en aquel día, y todos aquellos que lo hayan hecho gozosos, entrarán con el Rey al palacio celestial. Por otro lado, los que actuaron como Nabal, tendrán como fin la muerte eterna.Pasaban de las 12 de la noche y no habíamos podido acudir a un llamado para orar por un enfermo. Al desocuparnos, mi esposo me dijo: «¿Vamos ahorita o mañana?». Tomando en cuenta que debíamos recorrer una distancia considerable para llegar a brindar la ayuda espiritual, le respondí: «¿Y si muere el enfermo hoy?» Llegamos cerca de la una de la mañana, entramos y se alegraron de vernos. Solo cantamos y al término de la oración el hermano murió. En vez de llanto, había alegría en ese hogar porque estaban seguros de que el pastor había entregado a su familiar en las manos de Dios.Querida amiga, la buena noticia es que podemos ser Abigaíles y lograr que nuestras acciones hagan saltar de júbilo a nuestro Padre celestial. Él se goza cuando ayudamos a los que nos necesitan; mañana puede ser muy tarde. 

Abigail did not submit to her husband Nabal when he refused to help David and his men. This biblical story provides submission principles women can use to confidently say no to things that violate their consciences. #difficultrelationships #toxicrelationship #dysfunctionalrelationship #scripturalmisunderstandings   Website: https://www.changemyrelationship.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMyRelationship YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@changemyrelationship Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KBfuIJPna8Y

We conclude our study of 1 Samuel 25 as a case study on peacemaking. We look at the second half of the chapter and we see how the story ends. In the process, we will get a masterclass of peacemaking from Abigail, a look at how a godly person handles correction in David, and a final call to consider how we can avoid ending up like Nabal.

What happens when wisdom stands in the path of destruction? In this episode, we uncover the powerful and often overlooked story of Abigail—a woman whose courage, discernment, and faith saved her entire household from disaster. While her husband Nabal feasted in ignorance, Abigail interceded and changed the course of history. But her story doesn't end there. Journey with us through a night of bold action, a morning of reckoning, and a divine outcome that reveals the justice of God and the favor He places on the faithful. This is more than a biblical account—it's a masterclass in grace under pressure.Support the showShabbat Shalom

Open Forum: Pastor Amos shared possible upgrades to CFE, including expanding its mission and reintroducing the God Ideal Lab as a paid sister incubator, while balancing change with CFE's original purpose. He also led a rich discussion on marriage dynamics, using the story of Abigail and Nabal to explore submission, authority, and the complexities of marital roles. Participants debated when it's appropriate for a wife to challenge her husband's decisions and emphasized the need for mutual respect and Christ-like love. The group also delved into fears surrounding love and marriage, highlighting the need to heal from past traumas and embrace selfless love. Throughout, members acknowledged that marriage is both beautiful and difficult, requiring deep commitment, patience, and God's guidance at its center. Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com                  

In this family worship lecture led by Sam, the focus is on the unique tradition of designating the fifth Sunday of each month with five Sundays as a special time for families to gather and worship together. This time not only emphasizes the inclusion of children in the worship experience but also serves to honor and appreciate the volunteers who dedicate their time to children's ministry. During this occasion, parents are encouraged to understand that their children are integral members of the church community, contributing to a culture of shared faith and learning.Sam delves into key biblical narratives from 1 Samuel, specifically chapters 24 to 26, discussing the escalating tension between Saul and David as Saul's jealousy drives him to threaten David's life. The lecture highlights the volatile dynamics of this relationship, depicting Saul as a powerful king resorting to personal vendetta against David, who is portrayed as a vulnerable figure constantly on the run. Children present are encouraged to empathize with David's plight, comparing his struggles to the feelings one might experience when being targeted by a bully at school.The narrative then shifts to a pivotal episode involving Nabal and his wife, Abigail. Sam recounts the mistaken decisions made by David in his anger when Nabal refuses to assist him during his time of need. This leads to a dramatic moment where Abigail, characterized as wise and brave, intervenes to prevent bloodshed. She approaches David with humility and wisdom, reminding him of his identity and purpose as God's anointed. This interaction underscores the importance of speaking truth into one another's lives, illuminating the theme of identity rooted in divine love.Moreover, Sam uses Abigail's intervention to underscore a central message: the reminder of our identity as God's beloved creation. He emphasizes that just as Abigail reframed David's understanding of himself, we too, as part of the faith community, must recognize our value and belonging in God's family. This highlights the deeper narrative of who we are in relation to the divine, emphasizing that we are beloved children of God.To enrich his message, Sam shares an illustrative story inspired by a classic tale involving a character named Stuart Little. He parallels the narrative of building a cherished boat with our own creation by God, expressing how we are lovingly crafted for a purpose. This illustration culminates in a powerful analogy where losing the boat represents our drift away from God and the redemptive journey of being bought back at a cost. The message resonates with the notion of being "twice loved" — created by God and redeemed through Christ — a central theme that reinforces the assurance of our worth and belonging in God's eyes.Sam concludes with a prayer, thanking God for the community that speaks truth into our lives, embodying the beauty of mutual support in faith as he encourages everyone to hold steadfast in their identities as beloved children of God. This lecture not only fosters a deeper understanding of Scripture but also nurtures a supportive community spirit within the church.

This chapter highlights the story of Nabal, Abigail and David.

Samuel's death brings about great mourning from all Israel. As Saul's pursuit of David has paused, David now journeys in the wilderness of Paran. When Nabal refuses to help David's men, David's hot anger almost brings him to wrongful personal revenge. The godly wisdom of Nabal's wife Abigail stays David's hand, and the LORD vindicates David against Nabal. Afterward, Abigail seeks refuge with David and becomes his wife.  Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Samuel 25:1-44.  "A Kingdom Unlike All the Nations” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Samuel. This time in Israel's history has its highs and lows, but the LORD's faithfulness never wavers. He provides His Word to be proclaimed faithfully through prophets like Samuel and Nathan. Even as princes like Saul and David sit on an earthly throne, the LORD remains King over His people, even as He does now and forever through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

David Vetter died at age twelve after spending his entire life in a bubble. Nicknamed “The Bubble Boy,” David was born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). His parents had lost their first son to the disease and were determined to protect their second-born. To prolong his life, NASA engineers designed a plastic protection bubble as well as a spacesuit so his parents could hold David in the outside world. Oh, how we all long to protect those we love! King David was wronged by Nabal, the foolish husband of Abigail. In a rogue moment, David sought revenge by his own hands. Abigail rushed to meet him with a wise reminder, “Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 25:29). The concept of “bundle” conveys the idea of gathering up valuable items so the owner can protectively carry them. Abigail reminded David that God wanted to carry him in a protective bundle. He was safest in God’s hands, rather than in his own. “My lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or having avenged himself” (v. 31). We do well to work to protect others when they need it, but it’s only in God’s perfect care that they’re truly safe.