I Samuel 25:39  “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back His servant from evil.”

David had been wronged.  And if not for the wisdom of a faithful woman (Abigail), he would have retaliated. 

It was the custom of the day and the law of the Lord (which David knew quite well), that strangers were to be treated with love and shown hospitality.  In the book of Leviticus we read, “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.  The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you and you shall love them as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:33-34)  David’s men had approached the wealthy Nabal seeking food, water and supplies.  But the “harsh and evil” Nabal met them with a resounding “NO!”  David became angry and sent his men to kill and plunder. 

But Abigail, the faithful wife and P.31 woman (Proverbs 31:12 “She does him good and not evil all the days of her life) intervenes.  Not only does she bring food and provisions to David, but pleads with him to forgive her husband.  David responds, “Go up to your house in peace.  I have listened to you and granted your request.”  Ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.

I am reminded of times when God has asked me through His Word or the counsel or another to ‘let it go!’  It is not always easy to set aside grudges, brooding and retaliation.  Yet God’s Word is clear:

Proverbs 29:11 ”…it is to a man’s glory to overlook an offense.”

Proverbs 20:22 ”Do not say, ‘I will repay evil.’  Wait for the Lord, He will save you.”

Matthew 6:14  “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Romans 12:17  “NEVER pay back evil for evil to anyone…”

Romans 12:19  “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

In the case of David and Nabal, justice came quickly.  Often we may not ever see the justice of the Lord delivered in our lifetime.  Yet we are called to remember the words in Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousand generations who love Him and keep His commandments.”  Hopefully, we will remember to ‘go to God’ and be able to say with David that “He has kept back His servant from evil.” 

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 5:41 am and is filed under Daily Readings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.