The Fool
Here is an audio link for Part Two of today’s story of David.
As Part Two of our story opens, David and his men are living in the wilderness of Paran. It is here that David will face another test from an adversary. This time it isn’t King Saul. It is a man called Nabal. He was a wealthy landowner in the city.
While David and his men were living in the area they never harmed or took advantage of the inhabitants. As a matter of fact, they offered some security.
“… 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. They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.”
Before we read about what caused David’s anger, take a look at the main characters in the story:
Nabal
The Hebrew meaning of Nabal is “The Fool” or “The Senseless One”.
For the Hebrews, the meaning of their name was important. It often defined who they were. You will find examples of this throughout Scripture.
Nabal’s name is no exception. Scripture tells us that he did not appear to be ashamed of his name. In fact, Nabal may have been one of those people who wanted to live up to his name.
His wife, Abigail, describes Nabal best-
“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…”
Nabal was foolish and meanspirited.
David
David’s part in this story illustrates how God restrains David from taking easy, deadly vengeance on Nabal.
Abigail
By the way, Abigail’s name means “Joy of my father”
In the story, Abigail’s actions are a foreshadowing of the propitiation of Christ for sinners. In other words, Jesus appeased the wrath of God for sin. (1 John 2:2).
David and his men have been in the wilderness and need supplies. David sent a message to Nabal asking for provisions.
“…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.’”
Here is Nabal’s foolish reply:
… “Who is David? … There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat…and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”
Of course, Nabal and all of the people of the city knew who David was. Nabal knew that David had protected all of the people, including Nabal, his home and his herds. (1 Samuel 25:4-8)
Nabal’s rejection of David was, in fact, a rejection of God’s man, and it was a rejection of God.
Now, David’s anger began to boil.
And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
Believers we must always remember to trust God in every situation. When you are tempted to take control from God’s hand, stop and pray. Thank Him for knowing every outcome. Recognize His unfailing provision and know His Word to respond in a godly way.
In the heat of the moment, David was not considering self-control. But the Spirit of God would impress that upon him. Abigail became an unlikely heroine that day.
Abigail’s servants told her all that they knew about the situation. With calmness and forward thinking, Abigail constructed a plan.
The Scripture tells us that Abigail made haste to prepare food and wine for David and his men. Now, remember, David was travelling with about six hundred men, and possibly some of their families were with them. Abigail’s task was monumental. She had to move quickly to prevent certain bloodshed.
Wisely, Abigail did not tell Nabal about her plan. Abigail and her servants met David in the shadow of a mountain. She approached David with humility.
When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground…and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, …because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt…now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.
Did you see the shadow of Jesus? “On me alone, be the guilt…” That is propitiation. Jesus would receive our guilt centuries later.
Did you see how the Spirit moved in Abigail’s words? “…because the Lord has restrained you from guilt…”
You see, as believers, we still struggle with sin. David’s own life would be dotted with failures. But this time, he found the power of restraint and self-control. Those can only come from the Spirit of God.
And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
…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.”
Abigail went back to her home and found her drunken husband. The next morning, she told him all that had happened.
In 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. And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
The chapter ends with the marriage of David and Abigail, so read the remaining chapter.
Psalms of David inspired by these events:
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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