1 Samuel 25, starting at verse 1.
And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife, Abigail.
And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance.
And the man was harsh and evil in his doings.
He was of the house of Caleb.
When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
David sent ten young men.
And David said to the young men,
Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.
And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity,
Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have.
Now I have heard that you have shearers,
and your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them,
nor was there anything missing from them.
All the while they were in Carmel.
Ask your young men.
Then they will tell you,
Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes,
for we come on a feast day.
Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son, David.
So when David's young men came,
they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David and waited.
Then Nabal answered David's servants and said,
Who is David?
And who is this son of Jesse?
There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.
Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shears and give them
when I do not know where they are from?
So David's young men turned on their heels and went back,
and they came and told all these words.
Then David said to his men,
Every man gird his sword.
So every man girded his sword,
and David also girded on his sword.
And about 400 men went with David,
and 200 stayed with the supplies.
Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying,
Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet your master,
and he reviled them.
But the men were very good to us,
and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything,
as long as we accompanied them when we were in the fields.
They were a wall to us,
both by night and day,
all the time we were with them,
keeping the sheep.
Now therefore know and consider what you will do.
For harm is determined against our master
and against all his household,
for he is such a scoundrel that no one can speak to him.
Then Abigail made haste and took 200 loaves of bread,
two skins of wine,
five sheep already dressed,
five sayas of roasted grain,
100 clusters of raisins,
and 200 cakes of figs,
and loaded them on donkeys.
And after she said to her servants,
Go on before me,
and I am coming after you.
But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
So it was, as she rode on the donkey,
that she went down under cover of the hill,
and there were David and his men
coming down toward her,
and she met them.
Now David had said,
Surely in vain I have protected
all that this fellow has in the wilderness,
so that nothing was missing
of all that belongs to him,
and he has repaid me evil for good.
May God do so,
and more also to the enemies of David,
if I leave one male
of all who belong to him by morning light.
Now when Abigail saw David,
she dismounted quickly from the donkey,
fell on her face before David,
and bowed down to the ground.
So she fell at his feet and said,
On me, my Lord,
on me let this iniquity be.
And please let your maidservant
speak in your ears,
and hear the words of your maidservant.
Please let not my Lord
regard this scoundrel Nabal.
For as his name is,
so is he.
Nabal is his name,
and folly is with him.
But I, your maidservant,
did not see the young men of my Lord,
whom you sent.
Now therefore, my Lord,
as the Lord lives,
and as your soul lives,
since the Lord has held you back
from coming to bloodshed,
and from avenging yourself
with your own hand,
now then let your enemies
and those who seek harm
for my Lord be as Nabal.
And now this present,
which your maidservant
has brought to my Lord,
let it be given to the young men
who follow my Lord.
Please forgive the trespass
of your maidservant,
for the Lord will certainly
make my Lord an enduring house,
because my Lord fights
the battles of the Lord,
and evil is not found in you
throughout your days.
Yet a man has risen to pursue you.
Seek your life,
but the life of my Lord
shall be bound in the bundle
of the living with the Lord,
your God,
and the lives of your enemies.
He shall sling out
from the pocket of a sling,
and it shall come to pass
when the Lord has done
for my Lord according
to all the good
that he has spoken concerning you,
and has appointed you ruler
over Israel,
that this will be no grief to you,
nor offense of the heart
to my Lord,
either that you have shed blood
without cause,
or that my Lord
has avenged himself.
But when the Lord
has dealt with my Lord,
then remember your maidservant.
Then David said to Abigail,
blessed is the Lord God of Israel
who sent you this day
to meet me.
And blessed is your advice,
and blessed are you
because you have kept me this day
from coming to bloodshed
and avenging myself
with my own hand.
For indeed,
as the Lord God of Israel lives,
who has kept me back
from hurting you,
unless you had hurried
and come to meet me,
surely by morning light
no males would have been left
to Nabal.
So David received from her hand
what she had brought him
and said to her,
go up in peace to your house,
see,
I have heeded your voice
and respected your person.
So Abigail went to Nabal
and there he was
holding a feast in his house
like the feast of a king.
And Nabal's heart was merry with him
and he was very drunk.
Therefore,
she told him nothing,
little or much,
until morning light.
So it was in the morning
when the wine had gone from Nabal
and his wife had told him
these things that his heart
died within him
and he became like a stone.
Then it happened
after about 10 days
that the Lord struck Nabal
and he died.
So when David heard that Nabal was dead,
he said,
blessed be the Lord
who has pleaded the cause
of my reproach
from the hand of Nabal
and has kept his servant
from evil.
For the Lord has returned
the wickedness of Nabal
on his own head.
And David sent the proposal
to Abigail
to take her as his wife.
When the servants of David
had come to Abigail at Carmel,
they spoke to her saying,
David sent us to you
to ask you
to become his wife.
Then she arose,
bowed her face to the earth
and said,
here is your maidservant,
a servant to wash the feet
of the servants of my Lord.
So Abigail rose in haste
and rode on a donkey
attended by five of her maidens.
And she followed
the messengers of David
and became his wife.
David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel.
And so both of them
were his wives.
But Saul had given Michal,
his daughter,
David's wife to Palti,
the son of Laish,
who is from Gallim.
The word of God
for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Please be seated.
Let's pray.
Lord, we ask that by your power,
your word will be like a mirror.
Your word will cause us
to see who we are
before you,
God our creator
and our great need
for Jesus Christ.
We ask, Lord,
that your Holy Spirit
will take the word of God,
the sword of the Spirit,
and pierce into our souls
and do the work
of a surgeon, Lord.
Whatever needs done
according to your will
in each of our lives,
that you will apply
your truth with power
to our hearts
in a way that only
you can do.
We ask this for Christ's sake
and for your glory.
Amen.
Well, we live in a very
messed up world,
don't we?
This world
of first Sam of 25
was very messed up
in many ways.
We know that
the natural law,
the law that God has put
on all of his image bearers,
it causes us to react
when things are not right.
So let me ask you this question,
which has made your blood
boil recently?
Injustice,
pride,
greed,
people trying to act
as a king or queen
of their little fiefdom
or retaliation.
Well, we're going to get
all of these and more
in the verses
that we have today.
1 Samuel 25.
And these are
a dark backdrop
that only expose
the glory,
the diamond
of the gospel
of Jesus Christ
all the brighter.
The purpose of this chapter
is to cause us
to not look to this world
or to put our hope in man,
but to elevate our thoughts
by faith in the kingdom
of Jesus Christ.
So the sermon title
for today is
A Kingdom
Not Built on Blood.
I believe this is
one of the great revelations
for us
of the coming kingdom
of Jesus Christ,
a kingdom
not built
on blood.
Let's begin
by observing
the first set
of verses,
verses 1 through 9.
When we talk
of the kingdom
of God
coming
to earth,
we see this
prefigured in some ways
with this wilderness kingdom
that God has set up
with David.
While they're poor,
while they don't have food
to feed this army,
this first observation
I want to bring to you
is that resources
are not the problem.
In the coming
of the kingdom,
resources are not
the problem.
Look at verse 1.
Then Samuel died,
and the Israelites
gathered together
and lamented for him
and buried him
at his home
in Ramah.
Remember,
Ramah was to the north
and east,
and David
has been hiding
out in the deep
south of Judah.
We're told
that Israel
gathered
and lamented
and mourned
the death
of Samuel.
We're not told
explicitly
whether David
is there
or Saul
is there,
but Israel
is represented.
And we are told
that next,
David arose.
So we get the sense
even if he's not
right next to Saul
or the action,
he's part of this
lamenting corporately
with the nation.
The death of Samuel,
the man
who God used
to anoint kings.
We call him
a king maker,
the one who God
would use to Messiah,
the next ruler
of God's own people.
And he was the last judge.
He was this transitional
figure
leading into the monarchy.
And even though
they're up in the mountains
of Ramah
where Samuel lived
and the school
of the prophets
was the last scene
where we saw Samuel,
we're told
David then arose.
So even if he's
in the mountaintops,
his soul
and his spirit
is low.
He has to get up
in order to travel.
And he goes back
to the deep south.
Some translations
combine these words,
the name of the village,
which is Maon,
and the name
of the region,
the desert,
which is Paran.
Paran is a large
desert region
much further south.
But sometimes
the name of that region
would be used
to describe
that entire
southern desert
starting from
just a few miles
south of Maon,
the village.
In verse 2 we read,
there was a man
in Maon
whose business
was in Carmel.
These two towns
were very close
to one another,
just about a mile
away.
So it makes sense.
You have your home
and your household
and you live here,
but you have these
wonderful fields
that are fertile
and rugged,
a great place
to keep your
massive herds
of sheep
and goats
in the nearby town
of Carmel.
We're told.
We're told the man
was very rich
and he had
3,000 sheep
and 1,000 goats
and he was
shearing his sheep
in the town
where his business
was.
It's called Carmel.
It's not Mount Carmel
from other famous stories,
but it is an important
hub in southern
part of Israel
in Judah
and it's the same
town
as 1 Samuel 15
where King Saul
built a monument
for himself.
Do you remember
that story?
God gives a great victory
and Saul
takes the credit
and the glory
for God's victory
by building a monument
for himself
in this very same town
marking out
his kingdom
and trying to preserve
his name.
So if you are
this man,
Nabal
and his whole household,
every day
you have that visual
reminder
Saul is king.
You could say
he's like the patron
of this town
if we're thriving
in our agriculture
and we think like pagans,
we give glory to Saul
for our success here.
He's the one
with the monument.
This town
most likely
supported Saul's kingdom
and he could use
his army,
the army of Israel
to protect their businesses
and keep the enemies away.
It was most likely
a win-win relationship.
And this fool
that lived there,
his name was Nabal,
which means exactly that,
fool.
I don't know
what kind of parents
named their children that.
We don't recommend that.
But this was his name.
And the name of his wife
was Abigail.
Abigail has a very
significant meaning
as well.
It can mean
either the joy
of her father
or
she rejoices
with her father.
It's the word
father and joy
put together.
And she was a woman
of good understanding,
we're told,
and beautiful appearance.
But the man was harsh
and evil
in his doings.
We have a sharp contrast
set up.
It's a divided household,
husband and wife.
One is the opposite
of the other.
We're told he was
of the house
of Caleb.
Caleb was
in the southern region
absorbed into Judah.
we're not told
much more about this man,
but the word Caleb
in Hebrew
sounds a lot like
the word for dog.
And so even in just
the first three verses,
we have quite
a lot of information
about Nabal.
Verse four tells us,
when David heard
in the wilderness
that Nabal
was shearing his sheep,
David sent
his young men
and they said to them,
go up to Carmel,
go to Nabal,
greet him in my name.
And verse six,
thus you shall say to him,
who lives in prosperity.
Shalom be to you.
Shalom to your house.
Shalom to all
that you have.
David comes bringing
shalom,
bringing peace.
It's the greeting
that Jonathan,
the blessing Jonathan
gave David.
He's passing this on
to this man
whom God has blessed.
In verse seven,
he begins his request.
He says,
I have heard
that you have shears.
This is something
that doesn't mean
a lot to us
who buy our clothes
with a few clicks
on a phone.
We have no idea
where the fabric
comes from.
But in the ancient
Near East,
shearing season
was like harvest time
for those who owned
flocks.
It was a time
to cash in
your investment.
You get to liquidate
your assets
when it's
shearing season.
Think about that.
Here's your,
here's your walking
bank account.
These 3,000 sheep
and goats.
1,000 goats.
You fed them.
You've cared for them.
You've protected them.
And as you're doing that,
their wool
is slowly growing
little by little
each day.
So when you harvest
the wool,
you are raking in
that investment.
And it was customary
just like
the first fruits
of a great harvest
if you're a farmer.
It was customary
for those who own flocks
to bring in the shears
and celebrate
God's provision.
It was a time
of abundance.
David even referred
to him as a man
who lives in prosperity.
And you're to thank
those who helped
make this great harvest
happen.
It was a time
of generosity,
celebration,
and gratitude.
If you were traveling
through or if you were
poor,
you also had rights
in the kingdom of God
protected by the civil law
to glean,
to take some
that you would need
to survive.
This was one
of God's mercies
through his civil law.
And so,
if your shepherds
were in charge
of these flocks,
and here David's men
are watching over them
day and night,
they were contributing
to the success
of this great
sheathing feast.
We're told in verse 7,
David asks,
there was nothing
missing from them
while they were in Carmel.
See,
we were in a position
of power.
We could have easily
just taken some
and fed ourselves,
but we're doing this
in a customary,
proper way.
We're coming
and asking you
as the head
of the household
to feed these poor servants
who also contributed
to preserving
your assets.
In verse 8,
he says,
ask your young men
and they will tell you.
We were here
taking care.
Therefore,
let my young men
find favor in your eyes,
for we come
on a feast day.
David's reminding Nabal,
we were patient.
We waited for the
appropriate time
to make this request.
And even the request
is very modest.
He says,
please give whatever
comes to your hand.
Anything you can find,
he's saying,
to your servants
and to your son,
David.
He's putting himself
below Nabal
at his mercy.
Verse 9,
so when David's men came,
they spoke to Nabal
according to all these words
in the name of David
and waited.
It seems like the problem
for the kingdom
in the wilderness
is resources,
doesn't it?
They don't have
the basic supply
to feed the army
and to keep going.
It'd be very easy
from that position
of worldly weakness
to covet
what is seemingly
in abundance
in the world
and to think
if only we had
this,
then we could
really advance
the kingdom.
If only God
would put some
of that into our hands,
we could steward
his so much better.
And by doing that,
we're believing
something false,
that resources
are the real problem.
God's kingdom
is a kingdom
of abundance.
He owns
all the cattle
on a thousand hills,
which is poetic language
to say
God owns everything.
Resources
are never
the problem
in God's kingdom.
second observation.
And I'll give you
the second and third
back to back.
Second is this,
that it's what
the proud
in heart deserve.
We get a picture
of that next.
What did the proud
in heart deserve?
But then right after
that we get
what the proud
do not deserve.
So listen for those two.
First,
here's what the proud
in heart deserve,
starting at verse 10.
Then Nabal
answered David's servants
and said,
who is David?
And who is
this son of Jesse?
That's Nabal's
way of saying,
David,
your master
is a nobody.
He says,
there are many
servants nowadays
who break away
each from his master.
He's calling David
a common
runaway slave.
He says,
Saul
is David's
real master.
And you are not
a man of integrity,
David.
You're disloyal
to Saul.
Why do you expect
special treatment
from me?
That's what Nabal
is saying.
Verse 11,
shall I then
take my bread
and my water
and my meat
that I have killed
for my shears
and give it to men
who I do not know
where they are from?
Remember,
he's in Judah.
David has
this vast army,
600 men
who have been
all around Judah.
And the servants
in Nabal's household
they know very well
who David
and his men are.
And so does Abigail.
I think these words
are disingenuous.
I think it's a slap
in the face.
And here we have
a wonderful illustration
of what we read
in the Proverbs.
And as I studied
various Proverbs,
I just started to see
Proverbs 11
captures this whole chapter.
So I'm going to give you
many snippets
from Proverbs 11.
And this is just
such an illustration
of these truths.
Proverbs 11 verse 9 says,
With his mouth,
the godless man,
Nabal,
would destroy his neighbor.
But by knowledge,
the righteous
are delivered.
Whoever belittles
his neighbor
lacks sense.
But a man of understanding
remains silent.
Can't you almost hear
Nabal's servants
and all the household
embarrassed for him?
He's mocking this man
who everyone knows
he may be the next
king of Israel
if God's promises
come true.
In verse 12,
we're told,
So David's young men
turned on their heels
and went back.
This is the language
for when an army retreats.
Quick,
get out of here.
We are not welcome.
And they came
and told David
all these words.
Verse 13,
Then David said to them,
Every man
gird on his sword.
Take up your weapon,
strap it onto your belt,
and march after me.
Proverbs 11, 11,
By the blessing
of the upright,
a city is exalted,
but by the mouth
of the wicked,
it is overthrown.
The mouth of wicked Nabal
going off
is going to overthrow
his entire household.
A man who is kind
benefits himself,
but a cruel man
hurts himself.
And so we keep reading
that every man
girded his sword
and David also
girded on his sword.
About 400 men
went with David
and 200
stayed with the supplies.
Verse 14,
Now one of the young men
told Abigail,
Nabal's wife.
This servant
knows something.
He knows that
she is wise.
She is of understanding.
She can be trusted.
We are told that
no one could talk
to Nabal.
So this might have been
the path they are used
to taking.
When Nabal is
lacking common sense
and going to do
something very foolish
that is going to hurt
all of us,
go to Abigail.
It seems like she is
accustomed
to having to step in
and serve the greater cause
with such a husband.
Verse 15,
After she finds out
that these messengers
of David
were reviled.
Some translations say
Nabal yelled at them.
Then the servant
bears good witness.
He says,
The men were very good to us.
We were not hurt
nor did we miss anything
as long as we accompanied them.
He is saying
what they reported is true.
We could have easily
been picked off.
We could have lost so much.
We knew to stick with David
and his men.
They were like a wall to us.
Now verse 17,
Now therefore,
no one consider Abigail,
says the servant,
what you will do.
For harm is determined
against our master
and against all his household,
including you and me.
For he is such a scoundrel
that no one can speak to him.
Proverbs 11, 2,
When pride comes,
then comes disgrace.
But with the humble
is wisdom.
And we get to see
the wisdom of Abigail.
The stage is set for us.
Nabal has been a fool.
And he's about to get
exactly what the proud
in heart deserve.
He's about to have
400 men with their swords
coming through,
slicing and wiping out
any remnant of his household.
Anyone who could oppose David.
And what he wouldn't give,
even a small thing,
graciously,
David is about to come
and take by force.
That's what the proud
in heart deserve.
It's justice.
But look at what the proud
do not deserve.
And this is what they get
because of Abigail.
In verse 18,
Abigail made haste
and took 200 loaves of bread,
two skins of wine,
five sheep already dressed,
five sayas of roasted grain,
100 clusters of raisins,
200 cakes of figs,
and loaded them on donkeys.
And she said to her servants,
Go on before me.
See, I am coming after you.
Do you remember
when David had his 400 men,
he's going out in front.
He's leading the charge.
And the 400 are marching
in line behind him.
For Abigail,
it's inverted.
She's sending these gifts
ahead of her
to soften it.
So David will be the one
to see these coming
around the bend.
And after all these gifts,
it will be Abigail
to meet him next.
But she did not tell
her husband.
Proverbs 11, 24,
and 25 tells us
that one gives freely,
Abigail,
and grows all the richer.
And another withholds
what he should give
and only suffers want.
Nabal,
whoever brings blessing
will be enriched
and one who waters
will himself be watered.
Abigail is a picture
of wisdom for us.
In verse 20,
So it was,
as she rode on the donkey,
that she went down
under cover of the hill
and there David and his men
were coming toward her
and she met them.
Now David had said,
Surely in vain
I have protected
all that this fellow
has in the wilderness
so that nothing was missing
of all that belongs to him.
And he has repaid me
evil for good.
And look at verse 22.
David says,
A rash vow before God.
May God do so
and more also
to the enemies of David.
If I leave one male
of all who belong to him
by morning light.
We have a hint here now
foreshadowing David
has it within him
to be just like Saul.
Making rash vows,
calling on the name
of the Lord in vain.
And what he says
in verse 22
is war language.
It's something
way more crude
than our English
translations give us.
And you should come
ask me later on
what does he actually
say in Hebrew
and I'll tell the men
what he actually says.
David's rage here
was
the sin
of him
and his flesh
as a man.
David could have
done something
horrendous.
David could have been
exactly like Saul.
Remember how Saul
wiped out the priests
in the entire city.
this blood
of these innocent
people of Judah
in this moment
right now
could have been
on David's hands.
David could have
ruined
all hope
of God bringing
Judah
much less
all Israel
to follow him
as their king.
But God
limited David
even in his flesh
and God
even ordered
by his providence
what would happen.
It was God
who sent Abigail
and through her words
her truth
her wisdom
God
governed
David.
David's anger
could have ended
in a massacre
but because
the truth
was spoken to him
by God's servant
Abigail
this story ends
with David
repenting
instead.
God used
this friction
of Nabal's
falling
to fulfill
God's
holy
purpose.
And in the meantime
to bring David
low
to humble him
and refine
this future
king of Israel.
In verse 23
let's see how it
happens.
When Abigail
saw David
she dismounted
quickly from the
donkey
fell on her
face before David
and bowed down
to the ground.
Remember David
had called Nabal
he said I'm your
son
you know
we are your
servants
he had made
himself low
under Nabal.
Now Abigail
comes even lower
than David
before him.
In verse 24
she fell
at his feet
and said
on me
my lord
on me
let this
iniquity
be
the evil
of my husband
put it on me
charge it
to my account
and please
let your
maidservant
speak in your
ears
hear the words
of your
maidservant
please
let not
my lord
regard this
scoundrel
Nabal
for as
his name
is
so is
he
Nabal
is his
name
and
folly
is
with
them
but
I
your
maidservant
did not
see the
young men
of my
lord
whom
you
sent
she's
owning
her
part
if I
would
have
seen
them
going
to
talk
to
Nabal
and I
know
his
foolishness
I
would
have
intervened
quicker
and
not
let
your
men
be
reviled
so
humiliating
of a
way
verse
26
now
therefore
my
lord
as the
lord
lives
and
as
your
soul
lives
since
the
lord
has
held
you
back
from
coming
to
bloodshed
and
from
avenging
yourself
with
your
own
hand
now
then
let
your
enemies
and
those
who
seek
harm
from
my
lord
be
as
Nabal
and
now
this
present
which
your
maidservant
has
brought
to
my
lord
let
it
be
given
to
the
young
men
who
follow
my
lord
look
at
verse
28
please
forgive
the
trespass
of
your
maidservant
she
confessed
her
part
and
she
asks
his
forgiveness
for
her
part
here
abigail
!
is giving
us
a
beautiful
picture
of the
true
nature
of the
kingdom
of god
she
ultimately
gives us
a picture
of christ
himself
here's
Nabal
a wicked
man
deserving
justice
that's
you
and
me
we
are
Nabal
we
are
the
fools
we
are
the
proud
ones
and
here
comes
the
king
whose
the
sin
of
the
fool
has
offended
the
king
and
invoked
the
wrath
that's
deserved
now
on
the
fool
and
abigail
puts
herself
in
between
the
two
she
stands
as
a
lovely
mediator
the
guilt
of
the
fool
Nabal's
guilt
you're
in
my
guilt
before
god
it's
undeniable
we're
just as
proud
just as
guilty
as
adam
or
saw
or
Nabal
and
we
stand
guilty
before
the
wrath
of
the
righteous
lord
whose
kingdom
is
coming
and
the
lovely
mediator
stands
in
between
and
says
let
the
sin
let
the
ugly
foolish
disrespect
of
this
wicked
person
be
on
me
show
forgiveness
by
showing
it
through
me
taking
the
blame
the
curses
and
the
wrath
in
the
place
of
God's
enemy
see
what
Nabal
does
not
deserve
is
grace
Nabal
does
not
deserve
a
mediator
to
stand
and
to
shield
him
but
that's
what
he
gets
the
coming
kingdom
is
even
for
the
enemies
of
God
who
will
look
to
this
mediator
let
that
melt
our
hearts
and
we
respond
in
gratitude
the
next
observation
is
what
God
does
two
things
the
first
one
is
that
God's
love
restrains
our
flesh
it's
what
God
does
toward
David
and
then
the
second
one
is
that
God
will
build
his
kingdom
that's
what
he
does
through
this
vessel
David
for
all
his
people
so
God's
love
restrains
our
flesh
notice
how
God
restrains
David
in
his
flesh
through
Abigail's
words
this
is
the
longest
speech
coming
from
a
female
mouth
in
all
of
the
Old
Testament
which
means
it's
very
significant
and
there's
so
much
we
should
absorb
and
appreciate
here
Abigail
begins
by
encouraging
David
putting
courage
back
into
him
remember
he's
grieving
the loss
of
Samuel
he's
certainly
attacked
by the
enemy
and
wondering
will
God
be
faithful
to
his
covenant
or is
now
the
time
where I
take
matters
into
my
own
hands
and
she
reminds
David
of
God's
covenant
faithfulness
in
verse
28
she
says
the
Lord
will
certainly
make
for
my
Lord
an
enduring
house
that
promise
of
building
a
kingdom
through
the
family
line
of
David
it
will
come
true
believe
the
promises
of
God
she
says
because
my
Lord
you
David
you
fight
the
battles
of
the
Lord
and
evil
is
not
found
in
you
throughout
your
days
verse
29
that's
King
Saul
and
he
seeks
your
life
she's
saying
I'm
not
on
the
side
of
Saul
God
will
do
what
he
said
and
Saul
is
the
one
opposing
what
God
has
promised
and
she
gives
him
this
wonderful
imagery
she
says
the
life
of
my
Lord
look
at
verse
29
how
is
yours
translated
in
English
the
life
of
my
Lord
shall
be
bound
it's
literally
in
the
pouch
of
the
living
most
likely
this
is a
reference
to
shepherds
this
story
is all
about
shepherds
being
keeping
the
sheep
safe
and
this
is
David's
own
roots
this
is
maybe
why
he
had
such
compassion
and
became
a
wall
to
these
young
shepherds
of
Nabal
by
night
and
by
day
to
be
bound
in
the
pouch
of
the
living
what
a
shepherd
would
do
is
take
this
pouch
and
find
a
rock
and
every
little
pebble
or rock
would
represent
one
of
the
sheep
and
so
you
would
empty
out
this
pouch
and
you
would
bring
the
sheep
now
into
the
fold
and
you
would
count
them
by
putting
the
rock
of
each
into
the
pouch
and
so
you
know
in
the
end
all
the
sheep
that
are
in
this
fold
I
have
counted
here
in
my
pouch
and
I'm
keeping
them
safe
right
here
by
my
side
she's
using
this
wonderful
language
to
encourage
David
the
Lord
will
do
this
for
you
David
he
counts
you
he's
not
forgotten
you
he
makes
sure
that
you're
in
the
fold
and
you're
!
by
his
side
and
she
says
next
that
with
the
Lord
your
God
and
the
lives
of
your
enemies
he
shall
sling
out
as
from
the
pocket
of
a
sling
she's
reminding
him
David
God
will
do
again
for
you
what
he
did
through
you
to
Goliath
he
will
sling
out
as
from
the
pouch
of
a
sling
your
enemies
far
away
from
him
just
like
a
shepherd
would
cast
a
stone
far
away
God
will
do
that
to
your
enemies
and
we're
reminded
through
these
words
what
our
confession
of
faith
promises
in
Christ
chapter
17
paragraph
!
3
how
Christians
are
kept
by
the
Lord
and
though
they
may
fall
into
grievous
sins
just
as
David
did
and
continue
in
those
sins
if
you
are
truly
the
Lord
you
shall
be
renewed
again
to
repentance
and
be
preserved
through
faith
in
Christ
Jesus
to
the
end
God
will
preserve
you
some
of
you
need
to
hear
that
encouragement
today
the
Lord
will
keep
you
bound
in
his
pouch
with
the
living
to
the
very
end
he
will
preserve
you
he
will
sustain
you
next
she
gives
him
an
exhortation
first
she encouraged
him
now
comes
the
exhortation
to
exhort
it means
to
persuasively
move
a person
who
needs
to be
moved
in that
direction
after
suffering
injustice
she
says
in
verse
38
shall
come
to
pass
when
the
Lord
has
done
for
my
Lord
according
to
all
the
good
he
has
spoken
concerning
you
after
the
Lord
has
appointed
you
ruler
over
Israel
see
God
will
keep
his
promises
that
this
will
be
no
grief
to
you
nor
offense
of
the
heart
to
my
Lord
and
here's
what
she
boldly
and
uncompromisingly
but
lovingly
tells
the
king
she
says
you're
about
to
commit
two
sins
look
at
verse
31
either
that
you
have
shed
blood
without
cause
that
would
be
one
sin
or
that
my
Lord
has
avenged
himself
that's
the
second
sin
but
when
the
Lord
has
dealt
well
with
my
Lord
then
remember
your
maid
!
servant
she's
telling
him
this
David
I
know
God
will
establish
!
his
kingdom
he'll
make
your
house
endure
forever
don't
commit
murder
don't
wipe
out
all
the
men
of
this
household
because
of
one
foolish
man
who's
speaking
these
words
and
don't
take
vengeance
into
your
own
hands
vengeance
belongs
to
the
Lord
God
will
keep
his
promises
and
when
he
sees
you
onto
that
throne
which
I
know
he
will
remember
me
see
how
lovingly
and
with
how
much
faith
she's
speaking
to
him
but
she's
also
not
holding
back
the
truth
God
has
a
law
don't
break
God's
law
David
she's
a
picture
for
us
of
speaking
the
truth
in
love
may
God
help
us
to
do
the
same
in
verse
32
then
David
said
to
Abigail
notice
how the
Holy
Spirit
takes
the
words
of
truth
spoken
in
love
and
he
responds
this
way
blessed
is
the
Lord
God
of
Israel
who
sent
you
this
day
to
meet
me
just
like
David
recognized
it
was
God
who
sent
Jonathan
when
he
needed
it
most
that's
the
first
thing
he
says
this
lady
in
front
of
me
God
sent
this
is
from
the
Lord
may
you
be
blessed
for
obeying
him
God
sends
his
servants
to
meet
his
people
to
meet
those
God
loves
on
his
behalf
what
an
honor
we
get
to
be
like
an
Abigail
for
one
another
the
Lord
will
send
you
to
speak
truth
and
love
to
someone
and
when
you
feel
that
to
pray
for
someone
to
encourage
them
to
bring
them
a
word
of
encouragement
or
exhortation
or
both
know
that
it
is
God
who
is
sending
you
what
an
honor
to
be
the
recipient
of
that
as
well
God
loves
me
so
much
he
sent
this
brother
or
sister
to
speak
truth
verse
33
blessed
is
your
advice
he
says
blessed
are
you
because
you
have
kept
me
this
day
and
here
he
confesses
those
two
sins
that
she
presented
to
him
you
have
kept
me
by
your
words
this
day
from
coming
to
bloodshed
that's
the
first
sin
or
from
avenging
myself
with
my
own
hands
he
says
if
I'm
left
to
my
own
flesh
I
am
another
saw
that's
what
I
deserve
if
God
had
not
intervened
through
Abigail
verse
34
for
indeed
as
the
Lord
of
Israel
lives
who
has
kept
me
back
from
hurting
you
unless
you
had
hurried
and
come
to
meet
me
surely
by
morning
light
no
males
would
have
been
left
to
Nabal
I
would
have
done
that
in
my
flesh
he
says
verse
35
so
David
received
from
her
hand
what
she
had
brought
him
and
said
to
her
go
up
in
peace
to
your
house
I
have
heeded
your
voice
and
respected
your
person
so
David
tells
the
men
take
your
hand
off
the
sword
let's
turn
brothers
and
sisters
if
even
an
unholy
man
like
David
could
not
refuse
the
gracious
request
of
this
lovely
mediator
how
much
more
could
the
holy
God
refuse
the
pleading
of
Jesus
Christ
to
give
mercy
and
grace
to
sinners
like
you
and
me
because
Jesus
has
already
borne
God's
wrath
on
the
cross
in
our
place
our
Lord
Jesus
has
absorbed
the
wrath
of
God
that
we
deserve
just
let
your
mind
go
for
a
moment
David
these
men
in
the
wilderness
starving
with
their
swords
coming
to
slay
these
wicked
evil
men
that's
you
and
me
that's
the
fate
we
deserve
and
it's
our
God's
pleasure
to
withhold
the
punishment
we
deserve
because
it's
already
been
poured
out
on
Jesus
Christ
the
lovely
mediator
and
it's
because
of his
grace
and his
kindness
and the
power
of his
Holy
Spirit
that he
will
restrain
our
flesh
just like
he
restrained
David
in his
flesh
the
Lord
will
keep
you
and
me
from
sinning
and
he
will
get
all
the
glory
for
our
sanctification
we
will
still
sin
but
we
will
sin
much
less
than
if
God
did
not
constantly
restrain
us
and
we
need
to
recognize
that
and
praise
him
and
confess
our
utter
dependence
on
him
well the
fifth
observation
is this
that God
will build
his
kingdom
verse
36
tells us
Abigail
went to
Nabal
and there
was
there he
was
holding
a feast
in his
house
so
here's
David
the
anointed
king
in the
wilderness
without
food
and look
at
Nabal
in
verse
36
a feast
like
a
king
and
Nabal's
heart
was
merry
within
him
for
he
was
very
drunk
and
therefore
she
told
him
nothing
little
or
much
until
morning
light
she's
wise
again
picking
the
timing
verse
37
so
it
was
in
the
morning
when
the
wine
had
gone
from
Nabal
she
didn't
tell
him
a
lie
she
spoke
the
truth
again
everything
that's
come
out
of
Abigail's
mouth
has
been
gracious
and
loving
and
look
at
the
response
of
Nabal
in
contrast
to
the
repentance
of
David
in
his
heart
Nabal
!
died
his
heart
died
within
him
literally
and
he
became
like
a
stone
Jonathan
pointed
out in
Sunday
school
this
was
what
Abigail
foretold
by the
power
of the
spirit
that
the
enemies
would
be
flung
far
away
like
a
stone
from
the
sling
of
a
shepherd
and
that's
exactly
how
Nabal
is
now
described
Proverbs
11
20
and
21
says
those
of
crooked
heart
are
an
abomination
to
the
Lord
but
those
of
blameless
ways
are
his
delight
be
assured
an
evil
person
will
not
go
unpunished
but
the
offspring
of the
righteous
will be
delivered
verse 38
says
it
happened
after
about
10
days
that
the
Lord
struck
Nabal
and
he
died
Proverbs
11
3
and
4
says
the
integrity
of
the
upright
guides
them
the
Lord
guided
Abigail
and
her
integrity
but
the
crookedness
of
the
treacherous
destroys
!
them
riches
!
do not
profit
on the
day
of
wrath
but
righteousness
delivers
from
death!
This
came true
exactly
all of
Nabal's
riches
could not
have
spared
him
from
the
blade
of
David's
sword
but
yet
the
righteousness
of
Abigail
in
the
story
delivers
her
and all
the
servants
and
Nabal
even
from
death!
In
verse
39
when
David
heard
Nabal
was
dead
he
said
blessed
be
the
Lord
who
has
pleaded
the
cause
of
my
reproach
from
the
hand
of
Nabal
and
has
kept
his
servant
from
evil
for
the
Lord
has
returned
the
wickedness
of
Nabal
on
his
own
head
he
says
blessed
be
the
Lord
who
has
kept
his
servant
from
evil
you
and
I
have
had
those
times
where
we
realize
looking
back
on
it
how
close
I
was
in
my
flesh
to
evil
and
the
Lord
kept
me
he
didn't
need
to
do
that
he
kept
me
from
evil
God
let
David
get
all
the
way
to
Nabal's
road
he
was
right
there
with
his
400
armed
men
and
at
least
to
minister
to
David
and
you
and
me
through
him
this
is
to
reveal
to
us
the
hidden
strength
of
corruption
in
David's
own
heart
David
likely
thought
that
he
was
a
good
man
should
get
what
he
deserves
from
Nabal
and
instead
Nabal
insulted
him
and
God
now
shows
us
just
how
capable
David
was
of
wickedness
himself
he's
no
better
it
would
have
been
the
sinless
violence
that
David
could
never
have
washed
off
his
hands
if
it
weren't
for
God's
restraining
grace
I
never
get
tired
of
using
chapter
five
paragraph
five
from
our
confession
the
most
wise
righteous
and
gracious
God
often
leaves
his
own
children
for a
time
to
manifold
!
temptations
and the
corruptions
of their
own
hearts
we
have
to
ask
why
he
does
this
to
chastise
them
for
former
sins
or
to
reveal
to
them
the
hidden
strength
of
corruption
and
deceitfulness
in
their
hearts
so
that
they
may
be
humbled
and
David
sent
and
proposed
to
Abigail
to
take
her
as
his
wife
verse
40
when
the
servants
of
David
had
come
to
Abigail
and
Carmel
they
spoke
to
her
saying
David
sent
us
to
you
to
ask
you
to
become
his
wife
then
she
arose
bowed
her face
to the
earth
and said
here is
your
maidservant
a
servant
to
wash
the
feet
of
the
servants
of
my
lord
what a
picture
we have
of the
church
so
Abigail
arose
in
haste
and
rode on
her donkey
attended
by five
of her
maidens
and she
followed
the
messengers
!
of David
and became
his
wife
Proverbs
11
28
through
30
whoever
trusts
in the
riches
will
fall
but the
righteous
Abigail
will flourish
like a
green leaf
whoever
troubles
his own
household
will inherit
the wind
Nabal
the fool
will be the
servant
to the
wise
of heart
the fruit
of the
righteous
is a
tree
of life
and whoever
captures
souls
is wise
the
Lord
will
build
his
kingdom
and he
will
build it
on the
principles
modeled here
in
Abigail
not
David's
own
might
not
the
ways
of
the
world
like
Saul
God
will
build
his
kingdom
we
still
have
one
final
question
is
God's
kingdom
built
on
blood
is
the
kingdom
of
heaven
a
kingdom
built
on
blood
verse
43
says
David
also
took
Ahinoam
of
Jezreel
and so
both of
them
were his
wives
remember
Abigail
lives in
Judah
she's
from
this
southern
tribe
and
along
with
her
is
now
3,000
sheep
minus
their
wool
and
all
of
the
goats
you know
a
thousand
goats
so
now
she's
wealthy
David's
wealthy
he's
got
this
entire
estate
now
along
with
another
wife
from
Jezreel
and
Jezreel
is
another
prominent
city
in
Judah
and so
now
these
are
two
marriages
that are
to
extend
and
unify
a
kingdom
David's
going to
become
the king
of
Judah
before
he
becomes
the king
of
all
of
Israel
and
these
are
political
moves
in
that
direction
remember
Samuel
died
the
one
who
ministered
God's
law
to
God's
people
that's
exactly
Abigail's
role
in this
passage
she
gives
God's
law
to
God's
people
Samuel
was the
last
judge
who
reminded
God's
people
to
obey
and
fear
the
Lord
and
as
soon
as
Samuel
dies
isn't
it
interesting
immediately
David's
weakness
is
exposed
he
almost
broke
the
sixth
commandment
on a
mass
scale
and
he
started
to
act
like
he
was
God
taking
vengeance
in
his
own
hands
and
now
by
taking
multiple
wives
and
building
a
kingdom
through
these
political
alliances
which
will
be
the
downfall
of
Solomon
he's
breaking
Deuteronomy
17
which
says
the
king
shall
not
take
to
himself
many
wives
and we
read in
verse
44
that
Saul
had
given
Michal
Saul's
own
daughter
who
was
David's
wife
already
to
Palti
the
son
of
Laish
who
was
from
Galam
is a
city
up in
the
north
of
the
tribe
of
Benjamin
so
while
David's
down
here
uniting
Judah
Saul's
up
there
now
uniting
the
Benjamites
by
giving
away
David's
own
wife
now
as if
it
was
the
father's
right
to
do
Saul
was
declaring
war
on
David
he
was
going
back
on
the
final
exchange
they
had
Saul
was
saying
David
will
not
be
my
successor
through
my
own
family
David
has
no
place
in
my
royal
court
and
I
will
tear
away
my
alliance
with
David
my
wife
goes
to
a
man
from
Benjamin
think
of all
the
losses
David
suffered
in this
chapter
all
the
grief
chapter
began
with
David
losing
Samuel
much
of it
is about
David
losing
his
self
control
or
nearly
if it
weren't
for
God's
grace
he
lost
Michal
his
wife
and
he
lost
through
her
any
family
connection
he
would
have
had
to
Jonathan
he
lost
his
place
in
the
royal
court
of
Israel
it's
a
chapter
about
great
loss
but
more
than
that
chapter
25
is
a
story
of
God's
mercy
in
a
man's
deepest
time
of
grief
remember
the
name
that
in
God's
providence
Abigail
was
given
joy
of
her
father
or
rejoices
with
her
father
think
of
all
the
ways
Abigail
points
to
Christ
now
in
the
midst
of
this
dark
chapter
David's
failure
enables
foolishness
Isaiah
42
1
God
the
father
describes
the
Messiah
as
the
one
in
whom
my
soul
delights
Abigail
Matthew
3
17
God
said
this
is
my
beloved
son
with
whom
I
am
well
pleased
a
deep
soul
level
satisfaction
and
pleasure
Colossians
1
19
in
Jesus
Christ
all
the
fullness
of
God
was
pleased
to
dwell
Psalm
40
verse
8
Jesus
said
of
the
father
I
delight
to
do
your
will
oh
my
God
your
law
is
within
my
heart
God
could
have
easily
slain
an
entire
household
of
a
wicked
man
but
God
restrained
him
to
reveal
something
important
about
the
kingdom
of
this
beloved
son
Jesus
Christ
could
have
slain
everyone
in
Adam's
family
you
and
I
were
the
sinful
enemies
of
God
who
mocked
him
and
who
preferred
the
kingdom
of
this
world
instead
of
the
kingdom
of
God
his
kingdom
is
like
David's
now
it's
a
kingdom
by
faith
a
wilderness
kingdom
led
by a
humble
shepherd
that's
hidden
from
the
natural
eye
God
had
every
right
to
bring
his
kingdom
in
a
display
of
his
power
to
build
his
kingdom
on
our
blood
to
crush
us
under
his
feet
and
this
is
what
we
deserve
amen
but
Colossians
1 20
tells us
the
gospel
that
through
Jesus
God
reconciled
us
to
himself
making
peace
by the
blood
of
his
cross
Acts
20
28
tells
us
church
this is
who
we
are
we
are
his
kingdom
the
church
of
God
which
he
obtained
with
his
own
blood
in
God's
loving
and
gracious
nature
he
decreed
to
build
a
kingdom
not
on
our
blood
but
on
his
own
precious
blood
the
blood
of
Jesus
Christ
the
lovely
mediator
wearing
a crown
of
thorns
humiliated
with
wide
with
wide
open
arms
to
welcome
his
enemies
into
fellowship
with
God
and
just
like
Abigail
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
washes
our
feet
he
rides
in
haste
like
she
did
to
meet
you
and
me
and
to
pull
us
away
from
the
patterns
of
this
world
in
John
17
24
Jesus
prayed
he
said
father
I
desire
that
they
also
may
see
my
glory
for
you
loved
me
before
the
foundation
of
the
world
and
I
want
my
church
to
enjoy
the
pleasure
of
father
and
son
Jesus
marries
us
the
church
that
he
purchased
and
all
his
riches
become
ours
and
he
brings
us
before
God's
throne
the
true
king
of
the
true
people
over
every
generation
and
now
we
feast
at
his
table
let's
pray
and
thank
our
Lord
for
this
great
salvation
father
we
thank
you
that
yours
is
a
kingdom
not
of
blood
the
way
the
world
sees
it
the
blood
of
your
enemies
under
your
feet
but
yours
is
a
kingdom
of
grace
by
the
blood
of
Jesus
Christ
your
beloved
son
we
thank
you
Lord
for
your
wisdom
we
thank
you
Lord
for
your
covenant
faithfulness
when we
are weak
pray
Lord
that
you
will
cause
us
to
throw
ourselves
at
the
feet
of
Jesus
to
not
waste
time
but
to
run
to
him
and
receive
all
that
we
need
from
your
hand
our
provider
our
Lord
amen