David Encounters a Fool

For Samuel 25 verse one notes Samuel died and all Israel assembled and mourned for him and devoted to him and his sons are, Samuel, the great prophet, the man who is anointed David, the man who the signs we would say today. Today's vernacular had mentored David is no dead and although the Israelites are not always listen to godly Samuel to gather and mourn his passing. Samuel I think was the greatest leader since Joshua certainly there were many judges but Samuel is one of the outstanding leaders in Scripture and no he is dead even men.

All men, even great men like Samuel die and David know may I this is speculative.

He may have felt a sense of freedom know that Samuel is no longer watching his actions. The rapture worked with someone to be retired and move on and the while you miss them you life is a little different. I wonder that about David David.

At this point is becoming the first Samuel chapter 25 has been anointed is been anointed king but he is not yet been combined as getting king Saul, the Lord's anointed is still on the throne. As we saw last week Saul, the king of Israel not only hates David is actively trying to kill him as a David and this man is my command that I was at this point in the living in the wilderness. Sometimes they got done to NJD some of you have traveled to Israel with good in myself.

You make me remember and getting done near the Dead Sea, and sometimes they go to what is called the strongholds look at the end of chapter 24.

For example, for Samuel 24 verse 22. David swore this to Saul.

When Saul went home but David and his men went up to the stronghold. Perhaps that is what we might call Masada. We saw last time. That during the years when Saul is hunting David that at least a couple of opportunities when David can kill King Saul, but he doesn't do so is a man after God's own heart, and he shows great patience. Great godliness. I think great wisdom and great respect for the Lord's anointed. Yes, Saul is an evil man.

But this man, David, the man after God's own heart knows that the time will come when Saul will pass away, and he then David will be king, but that time is in the Lord's hand and David patiently waits on God, not this evening in the study of David to come to this very interesting incident which is narrated in first Samuel 25 David although he is described as a man after God's own heart to the Lord Jesus is called a son of David, David is not sinless.

The reality is good man like David man after God's own heart can lose her temper can be overcome by anger and pride and were going to see then part in first Samuel chapter 25. Apart from the intervention of a woman and David would've committed a horrific sin realize that the heroes of our faith and scriptable both Old Testament and New Testament are not cardboard cutout figures are they there a real man and real woman. That's what makes the Bible authentic, and that the Bible deals with these characters such as David.

Suddenly we see the strength of David we see is great faith but we also realize that David gifted and talented in the great spiritual heart for God is also man with false and failures and sins as a leader, can I say. Don't expect your leaders to be perfect you say what was notes sense of that.

We know you well that's true but I was saying all seriousness, don't expect your pastors and your elders and deacons and of those that lead the life groups and those in leadership in the women's ministry. Don't expect perfection.

We are all prone to sin and between Alan Redpath writes the Bible never flatters its heroes.

It tells us the truth about each of them in order that against the background of human breakdown and failure.

We may magnifying the grace of God and recognize that it is the delight of the spirit of God to work upon the platform of human impossibilities.

Well said Alan Redpath. Paul writes therefore, if anyone thinks he stands take heed lest he follow you here tonight and you think you're spiritually strong on the mountaintop.

I God is using you and God is blessing you and how wonderful it is. Be very very careful in first Samuel 25 David lays down his guard is not the case that we can be one day on the spiritual mountaintop and then switch very quickly. Succumb to temptation to allow an ego of sinful desires to get the better of us.

So let's look at this chapter I want to divided into three main sections.

Here's the first David's request in the first 13 verses so let me read with you for Samuel 25 verses one through 13 verse when again, though Samuel died and all Israel assembled and mourn for him and they buried him in his house at from a then David Rosen went down into the wilderness of plan and there was a man in the mouth, one whose business was in Carmel.

The man was very rich. She had 3000 sheep and the thousand goats. He was shooting his sheep in Carmel note the name of the man was unable in the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was the stunning and beautiful with a man was harsh and badly behaved. He was a kilobyte David had been the wilderness that Nabel was shooting his sheep.

So David sent 10 young man. And David said to the young man go up to Carmel and go to Nabel and greet him in my name, and thus you shall agree to peace be to you and peace be to your house and peaceably to all that you have. I hear that you have shooters that you shepherds have been with us and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time there were in Carmel ask you young men and they will tell you therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we, the feast day.

Please get whatever you have at hand to your servants until your son David with vivid young men came this and all of this enable name of David and then he waited in Nabel and sent David's severance.

Who is David who is the son of Jesse that are many sediments these days are breaking away from the Masters, so I take my bread and my watering that my meat that I have killed for my shooters and give it to men who come from I don't know where to David Young then turned away and came back and told him all this and David said to his men. Every man strapped on his sword and Everyman of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword and the right 400 men went up after David Bell 200 remained with the baggage. Interesting isn't it. End of chapter 24 David and his man out in the stronghold up with a fortress type place to go to done to the wilderness in Thailand promptly going down as a mentor but also that the going down spiritually. David has hundreds of men with him now.

He's a very charismatic leader. He attracts people there prepared to fight for him and then with him and when I was introduced to this man called Nabel. His name means a fool and is going to act very foolishly. Now this rule.

Nabel is a very ritual he is 3000 sheep were told and a thousand goats in verse two sheep had to be sheared in Carmel and is married to a woman called Abigail is described as discerning and beautiful men.

That's what you look for the woman beauty and brains discerning and beautiful.

What a blessing to have a wife like that, but Abigail is married to a man don't know what he looked like in appearance, but he was far from discerning when the Bible uses the word fool.

It doesn't mean that Nabel is lacking in intelligence it was going to say in the Psalms. The fullest side, and these are there is no God.

Know this man is not lacking in intelligence is about assured man is a very successful farmer. He knows how to breed goats and sheep and become something from a good family is a kilobyte that these describe. Did you notice that in verse three, is described as harsh and badly behaved if done business with someone like that, but a successful but there harsh and badly behaved what was a request will David and his men as was the custom of the day had been helping Nabel and his men with the shape the been protecting them with dying verse 15 of the men were very good to us and we suffered no harm.

And we didn't 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 shape so David and his men had been protecting Nabel and his flocks of sheep and goat. David then knowing there's things we been working hard for this man and the sense 10 of his men to go to Carmel to speak with Nabel and in verse six David instructs them.

We have the word peace I think most of us know the Hebrew word for peace don't wait shalom.

It is used three times notice. Hope respectful, David instructs his servants to be to enable peaceably to you peaceably to your house. Shalom to all that you have these been very very Curtis very very considerate and makes it clear we don't want any harm Nabel.

Each is that we worked in, and where we are hungry and I can give us something and he asked for provisions to feed his hungry men. The 600 of them. That's a lot of food is in the and that was not an unusual request of the culture. There's no Bojangles or no Chick-fil-A's is not even a Ruth Chris steakhouse around coherently ask foods from Nabel. Did you notice the refusal Nabel answers David's severance very arrogant arrogantly and very dismissively verse eight.

Who is David who is the son of Jesse, he knew who David was. He was the Lord's anointed you David's father.

He says his name Jesse and then his arrogance. He says you know there's many people who break away from their master like this, David.

I have no responsibility for them. I don't even know who these men are why should I give needs and water and provision to people I don't even know this is response here was a man with stop and think of this. Here is a man who's been tremendously blessed by God.

Furthermore, he's been helped by David's men and is characterized by arrogance, harshness, greed, and also we would say sheer bad manners. Many of you been blessed financially. Success in business success in the profession, perhaps inherited wealth ask you a generous person. Or when there's a knee joint was the kind of person always looks for a way not to minister to the needs to help someone, an individual, or the church. The work of the Lord would would you say that your generous this Nabel is a very very wealthy man in that culture and he is far from Janice generous did you notice David's response.

When David's men report with Nabel and said David is furious but is what he says, verse 30 Everyman strap on his sword. He 600 men in the organizers for hundreds of them to go and deal with Nabel Butler overreaction David 200 of them are saying in the base camp. David's response is very interesting, isn't it. You may recall after the killing of Goliath when Saul is going to the Walmart. The person who killed Goliath by giving his daughter in marriage.

David says chapter 18 verse 18. Who am I and two of my relatives, my father's clan in Israel that I should be son-in-law to the king. David is very, very humble mind. I should be related to the king. I come from a buddy or been on a family in Bethlehem. Why should I be favored. But when Nabel says who is David's who is the son of Jesse David's humility is gone and he responds in anger, in effect saying I'll show him who David is. Who is Nabel, who is this man as opposed to me that your swords on men were going to teach this minor lesson he killed Goliath with just a stone sink is meant every one of you get your sort would decimate that my job and you really need 400 men. David David, the man after God's own heart. The man who was so patient with Saul is 90.

Furious because he's been refused some provisions. Someone has questioned who David is lesson of this one great man man after God's own heart is capable of committing sins and anger in retaliation and pride.

You think you're something someone ignores your someone doesn't give you the respect that you think you do is this delivery erection. David and yes David reacts and I'm very very carnal way he's going to kill Nabel's gun decimate his household mind questions. Who is David notice of the story and falls know we have Abigail's provision � 14 but one of the young men told Abigail Nabel's wife number which is discerning and beautiful. There's three bold Davidson messenger site of the wilderness to greet her master.

Then he railed at them yet. The men were very good to us and we suffered no harm. And we didn't miss anything. When we were in the fields as long as we went with them.

They were wall to us was by day and by night, all the while we are with them keeping the shape now therefore know this and consider what you should do for harm is determined against her master and against all his house and he such a worthless man that one can speak to the point of speaking to enable one listen to his worthless. These are notice was waived as there's a team and Abigail made haste to 200 loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared on 5C is a parched grain in the hundred clusters of raisins 200 cakes of figs and laid them on donkeys, and she said to the young men gone before me bold. I come after you, but you did not tell her husband Nabel and I zeroed in the Duncan can down on the cover of the mind in both David and his men came down toward her and she met them know David said surely in vain by God did all this fellow, all that this fellow has in the wilderness so that nothing was missed of all that belong to him and he has returned me evil for good. God do so to the enemies of David and more also. By morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.

David is fuming going to leave decimate Nabel and his family.

When Abigail saw David she hurried and got done from the donkey fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said on me alone, my Lord, and the guilt please let your servant speak in your ears and hear the words of your servant. Let not my Lord, regardless worthless fellow Nabel for as is his name so is he.

Nabel is his name and folly is with him, but your servant did not see the young man of my Lord to be sent know that my Lord has allowed lives, and that your soul lives because the Lord has restrained you from blood guilt and from saving with your own hand. Now you then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my Lord B is Nabel and not let this present that your servant has brought to my Lord be given to the young man who follow my Lord please forgive the trespass of your servant for the Lord will certainly make my Lord assure house because my Lord is fighting the battles of the Lord and evil shall not be found in you. As long as you live it. 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 in the lives of your enemies. You shall sling out as from the hollowness of the sling and when the Lord has done to my Lord, according to all the good that he is spoken concerning you, and that's appointed your Prince over Israel, my Lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause, or for my Lord taking vengeance himself, and when the Lord has dealt well with my Lord.

Then remember your servant that amazing this woman wise woman. Abigail was one of the outstanding women in Scripture Proverbs 31 verse 10 says an excellent wife who can find she's far more precious than jewels.

Abigail is a very excellent woman. The bushes monitor fool and healing from one of Nabel's man that David and his 400 men are about to attack. She takes very wise action and she gets together. This Mills is very quick at organizing a meal.

This woman is discerning.

She's beautiful. She's a great cook. What more could you want. Being married to rich mine of course you over the many sad events which is a woman of action. She's a woman of initiative and she knows better, because she is discerning generals better than to consult her husband in such a situation, and she goes out to meet David that took not only great wisdom but that took courage.

She's heard that David is about to attack her husband for all she knows she's going to be the first to be killed, but her trust is in the Lord wise. Your husband may not be as wise or as spiritual as you are, but that doesn't mean that you sink to that level. Abigail as an example of a godly woman was married and ascends to a reprobate tofu but she's a woman who walks with God and she does not allow her husband to drag her down and to discourage her in their spiritual life. You see, each of us a responsible before God for our own spiritual progress whether she do she bows to the ground that she knows that David is the anointed of God and she confesses that her husband verse 25 is a worthless fellow and that he's acted in accordance with his name.

His name is full and he's acted like a fool and she asked for forgiveness. However, she does more than that is what she said. She begins to prove David and they should begin still to prove David this woman of the sermon this woman of wisdom doesn't have very very skillful way. She's very wise she's very gracious. After all, David is going to be the future king and is your 400 men with him jazz David to forgive her husband. He's worthless. She knows that the Lord is on David side. He's fighting the laws, battles, but David there is no needs to murder my husband and his family but argument is there is a subtle one is a very wise one, David. You have been appointed to be Prince over Israel � the and when the day comes that you are going to be king of Israel. Do you really want your conscience to be haunted by the guilt of shedding blood without cause, or for taking vengeance. David you do you want to wake up at 230 in the morning and think of how in your righteousness you took this action and killed not only a foolish man that killed innocent people and wiped them out. Do you really want that on your conscience as an argument and essentially saying to David, you're a better man than this, don't do this, you're going to be current king you don't want to think back with this tremendous guilt in the future of taking innocent blood. Forgive my foolish husband is a full and with the wisdom she is reproving David that's magnificent, isn't it. What is David's response we saw David's response to Nabel, but here there's a different response isn't there. Verse 32.

And David said to Abigail Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel who sent you this day to meet me.

He recognizes this is the voice of God to me through this woman. Blessed be your discretion and Blessed be you who have kept me this day from blood guilt and from avenging myself with my one hand, but as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to me, truly by morning that had not been left enable so much as one male than David received from her hand.

What you brought him and he said to go up in peace to your house.

See I have a major voice and I have granted your petition. He blesses the Lord. He recognizes that Abigail is sent by God and these thankful for this reproof because Abigail has kept him from blood guilt and from avenging myself with my own hands.

Apart from what intervention, all of Nabel's house. All of the men down to the smallest baby boy with a being slaughtered. David not only humbly listens to this reproof, but he humbly follows it in the slaughter than does not take place because there talk to men man yes men in leadership need to be reproved from time to time. Don't wait and I will respond to the proof tells a lot about this. None of us like being reproved away fellow pastors and elders and deacons do you respond when you reproved would you listen to a woman. I remember several years ago, now or in the little church. My mother attended in Scotland that were going through some difficulties and eventually left with Quite number of people leaving the church and going to another one and is very difficult for my mother. I was her home church and a member going back in her telling me some some of what was going on and my mother is a very godly woman very wise woman clients unlike herself some of her sons and unassuming and I said to disinterested mom did any of the elders ever ask you for wisdom restrictive. She sent John they would never listen to a woman percent is is that what we think that because we believe that man should lead that woman, a wife, a mother, a sister in Christ that could come to a leader to man like David was anointed by God is going to be Israel's greatest king and God use this wise, discerning, beautiful woman come to David and to divert the course of the history of Israel, which would you listen to.

Abigail asked myself that I would like to think I I would see all of us without exception are capable of doing foolish and even sinful things, and men.

If you've got a godly wife who from time to time doesn't agree with you and who from time to time reproved you be thankful for that. But I don't like it when my wife tries to prove me my immediately instinct is not to say praise God from whom all blessings fall. Thank you dear for your wisdom, my reaction and I suspect that most of yours is to be somewhat defensive. And to think and I really know more about this than my wife does. David is the anointed of God. He knows more than Abigail, is Abigail Mott, a tough fool to tell him what to do as a man after God's heart and in the providence of God. God brings in to his life. This woman reproof from the thankful man and I am thankful as a pastor here for not only a godly wife who does reproved me from time to time, but for godly sisters in Christ. And when we as men weathered in her personal life and church life and ministry are in danger of going off track my dinner sisters in Christ. Please have the courage and the wisdom and the graciousness to communicate your concerns to us. That's what Abigail does not Nabel's death. Verse 13 six Abigail came to Nabel and the holders holding a feast in this house like the feast of the king and Nabel's heart was marry within them and he was very drunk so she told him nothing at all until the morning light in the morning when the wine had gone outside of Nabel is wife told him these things on this heart died within them and he became as a stone cardiac arrest at about 10 days later the Lord notices the Lord struck Nabel and he died when David had the Nabel was that he said, Blessed be the Lord's avenge the insult I received the hand of Nabel.

This Back to seven from wrongdoing. The Lord is return the evil of Nabel, in his own head than David sent, and spoke to Abigail to take her as his wife. When the sentiments of David came to Abigail at Carmel. They said to her.

David is sent us to you to take you to him as his wife and she rose, bowed with her face to the ground and said Bolger made your handmade as a servant to wash the feet of the severance of my Lord will disrupt humility, and Abigail hurried and rose among to the donkey and her five young women attended her.

She followed the messengers of David and became his wife. David also took a hinterland of Jezreel, and both of them became his wife Saul had given Michael his daughter David's wife to polity, the son of La issue was of bdellium Nabel fool proverb says answer a fool according to his folly.

Sometimes a fool simply will not listen to instruction.

Sometimes it's pointless to try to interact with a fool and Nabel is that kind of fool. No point in speaking to him when listen to his wife would listen to sermons would listen to David. He is a fool, and when Abigail goes to tell Nabel he's drunk he celebrating his success exceeding his drinking is having a good time is married and is in no state fate, knows fit state to listen to his wife and in the morning when he sobered up a bit.

His wife speaks them and that we read that his heart died within them and became as stolen and within 10 days the Lord struck Nabel and he died.

David recognizes that this came from the hand of God knowing they David for you to take vengeance as your bike to leave the matter to the Lord. Paul writes in Romans 12, verses 18 and 19 behold, never avenge yourselves during that someone searching trying to even do that don't repay evil for evil, leave it to the Lord, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

Without this morning of God, just as God is just, you need to worry about that person leave it to the Lord all of us here. I'm sure over the course of her life have been insulted would be criticized with may have been gossiped about spoken about behind our backs unfairly. I will be going to respond learn from for several 25 listen to the words of Abigail leave matters in the hands of the Lord. David is going to writes in Psalm 37. Fret not yourself because of evildoers we not envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass and with a like the green herb worry about Nabel God's will take him.

Verse three trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. There St. refrain from anger someone anger you been treated very very badly and you're curious you got anger refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself.

It tends only to evil for the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land in just a little while. The wicked will be no more will you look carefully at his place. He will not be there but the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. Leave it to the Lord is or is the point we have, of course, the perfect example in David's greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ when he was reviled. He reviled not again when he suffered, he threatened not Peter says, what does he do first Peter 223, he continued, and trusting himself to him who judges justly. I said this morning and the repeated one thing you can absolutely depend about God is that his judgment is just, you can read the situation wrong. You may be too harsh.

You may have respond in anger and yes it is an unjust desire. There is something that needs to be remedied, but don't rush and don't do it out of anger committed to the Lord. Be patient, God was on the buy did not retaliate. Don't repay evil with evil turn the other cheek says Jesus and keep your trust in the Lord. Be a man be a woman after God's one heart with about Nabel come across characters like him.

I have over the course of my life very successful people. People are very proud of their success, but are marked by greed, selfishness, covetousness, materials, Americans had met many people who God is blessed tremendously and the some of them are the most humble people of ever known others whom God has blessed and given them success in the particular field on the most arrogant people Jesus said in Luke 12 verse 15 take care and be on your guard against all covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Remember the story Jesus tells in Luke 12 about the man.

He was also a rich fool. Remember the story.

He was a farmer as well. Like Nabel, didn't have sheep and goats much, but he had bonds in the crops, and he done so well.

He said I'm going to demolish my bonds and build bigger ones and I'm going to say take it easy. Eat drink and be merry. Copy DM sees the day enjoy life, but he was not rich towards God, and God said to him, according Luke 12 fool is the Nabel of the New Testament. Perhaps Jesus and telling the story is thinking of Nabel and first Samuel 25 fool, this night, your soul is required of you and the things you prepared who is will they be who's going to get the 3000 sheep in the 30s and goats that enable because you're gone. Jesus said so's the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God, you rich towards God to how we handle our possessions. How we handle the blessings of God reveals a lot about us doesn't every time we meet as we did tonight we take an offering is a will is is is the churches that we hear about is that why you want more more people to come to Kyle recently got more more money. Absolutely not know God owns everything. Leslie need to worry about is money, but each one of us is an act of worship. We give regular attire is a reminder that everything we have belongs to God and that we hold with open hands, Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord at this Paul says in first Timothy six verses 16 verses 17 and 19. As for the rich in this present age. Charge them not to be haughty not to be arrogant nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy God's blessed you material to apologize for that. God gives us everything to enjoy the art to do good to be rich in good works to be generous and ready to share people like that.

They're always ready to share another people look good always glass window.

The last person that you would go to for help, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future so they may take hold of that which is truly life you live like that from the mental is your life committed to Jesus Christ your trust in Christ you would you really trust Christ number Jesus says, and they will become some of them are not to worry about what you eat what you address because look at the lilies, how they grow, they died.

The Palmer Spaniard Solomon all all all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Look at the birds. God takes care of the birds while you weren't know you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these things will be added to you. Put your trust in Christ. This magnificent God great love sends his son to us to redeem us to rent rescue us from our foolishness and their sin and to give us eternal life, so that we would live life's pleasing God, reflecting the vetting grace of God I often say that we who follow Christ should be the most generous of people on the planet. I because we know something of the riches of his grace. Don't be a rich fool. Don't be a poor fool. Don't be a fool for your trust in Christ.

Father, help us to do that. Thank you for this is story. In some ways a strange story, very different from our culture, but we thank you that is given to us because we can learn from it turns all of us here want to be people after your own heart truly confessor covetousness agreed. Sometimes her anger and bitterness or desire for vengeance.

We we take that father didn't thank you the Christ came to forgive such sins grant to shift peace, grant us that strong faith in you that we will seek first your kingdom. We thank you for those who are baptized and pray that they will go from strength to strength as a daily put their trust in Christ waistcoat in his name