I Samuel 25
Samuel dies verse 1a
And Samuel died – and all the Israelites were gathered together
and lamented him – and buried him in his house at Ramah
Introduction of Nabal whose wife is Abigail verse 1b- 3
And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran
and there was a man in Maon
whose possessions were in Carmel
and the man was very great – and he had three thousand sheep
and a thousand goats
and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel
Now the name of the man was Nabab
and the name of his wife Abigail
and she was a woman of good understanding
and of a beautiful countenance
but the man was churlish and evil in his doings
and he was of the house of Caleb
David sends his men to Nabal with request verse 4- 9
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep
and David sent out ten young men
and David said to the young men
Get you up to Carmel – and go to Nabal
and greet him in my name
and thus shall you say to him that lives in prosperity
Peace be both to you – peace be to your house
peace be to all that you have
Now I have heard that you have shearers
now your shepherds which were with us
we hurt them not – neither was there aught
missing to them
all the while they were in Carmel
Ask your young men – and they will show you
wherefore let the young men find favor in your eyes
for we come in a good day – I pray you
whatsoever comes to your hand to your
servants – and to your son David
And when David’s young men came
they spoke to Nabal according to all those words
in the name of David and ceased
Nabal refuses request verse 10- 11
And Nabal answered David’s servants
and said
Who is David? – Who is the son of Jesse?
there be many servants now a days that break away every man
from his master
Shall I then take my bread – and my water
and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers
and give it to men – whom I know not whence they be?
David ready to fight Nabal verse 12- 13
So David’s young men turned their way – and went again
and came and told him all those sayings
And David said to his men
Gird you on every man his sword
And they girded on every man his sword
and David girded on his sword
and there went up after David about four hundred men
and two hundred abode by the stuff
Nabal’s servants tell Abigail verse 14- 17
But one of the young men told Abigail – Nabal’s wife
saying
BEHOLD – David sent messengers out of the wilderness
to salute our master – and he railed on them
But the men were very good to us – and we were not hurt
neither missed we any thing
as long as we were conversant with them
when we were in the fields
They were a wall to us both by night and day
all the while we were with them keeping the sheep
Now therefore know and consider what you will do
for evil is determined against our master
and against all his household
for he is such a son of Belial
that a man cannot speak to him
Abigail gathers provision to give to David verse 18- 19
Then 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 a hundred clusters of raisins
and two hundred cakes of figs
and laid them on asses
And she said to her servants
Go on before me – BEHOLD – I come after you
BUT she told not her husband Nabal
David meets Abigail verse 20- 22
And it was so – as she rode on the ass
that she came down by the covert on the hill – and behold
David and his men came down against her
and she met them
Now David
had said
Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness
so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him
and he has requited me evil for good
So and more also do God to the enemies of David
IF I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light
any that pisses against the wall
Abigail describes her husband verse 23- 25
And when Abigail saw David she hasted
and lighted off the ass
and fell before David on her face
and bowed herself to the ground
and fell at his feet
and said
Upon me – my lord – on me let this iniquity be
and let your handmaid – I pray you – speak in your audience
and hear the words of your handmaid
Let not my lord – I pray you – regard this man of Belial – even Nabal
for as his name is – so is he
Nabal is his name – and folly is with him
BUT I your handmaid saw not the young men of my lord
whom you did send
Abigail blesses David verse 26- 28
Now therefore – my lord – as the LORD lives – and as your soul lives
seeing the LORD has withheld you from coming to shed blood
and from avenging yourself with your own hand
now let your enemies
and they that seek evil to my lord be as Nabal
And now this blessing which your handmaid has brought to my lord
let it even be given to the young men that follow my lord
I pray you FORGIVE the trespass of your handmaid
for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house
BECAUSE my lord fights the battles of the LORD
and evil has not been found in you all your days
Abigail confirms LORD’S blessing verse 29- 31
Yet a man is risen to pursue you – and to seek your soul
BUT the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life
with the LORD your God
And the souls of your enemies – them shall he sling out
as out of the middle of a sling
And it shall come to pass – when the LORD shall have done to my lord
according to all the good that HE hath spoken concerning you
and shall have appointed you ruler over Israel
that this shall be no grief to you
nor offense of heart to my lord
either that you have shed blood causeless
or that my lord has avenged himself
BUT when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord
then remember your handmaid
David blesses Abigail verse 32- 35
And David
said to Abigail
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel – which sent you this day to meet me
and blessed be your advice – and blessed be you
which have kept me this day from coming to shed blood
and from avenging myself with mine own hand
For in very deed – as the LORD God of Israel lives
which has kept me back from hurting you
except you had hasted and come to meet me
surely there had not been left to Nabal
by the morning light any that pisses
against the wall
So David received of her hand that which she had brought him
and said to her
Go up in peace to your house
SEE – I have hearkened to your voice
and have accepted your person
Nabal dies of stroke verse 36- 38
And Abigail came to Nabal – and behold – he held a feast in his house
like the feast of a king
And Nabal’s heart was merry within him – for he was very drunken
wherefore she told him nothing – less or more
until the morning light
BUT it came to pass in the morning
when the wine was gone out of Nabal
and his wife had told him these things
that his heart died within him
and he became as a stone
And it came to pass about ten days after
that the LORD smote Nabal
that he died
David asks Abigail to marry verse 39- 40
And when David heard that Nabal was dead
he said
Blessed be the LORD – that 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 upon his own head
And David sent and communed with Abigail – to take her to him to wife
and when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel
they spoke unto her – saying
David sent us to you – to take thee to him to wife
Abigail marries David verse 41- 44
And she arose – and bowed herself on her face to the earth
and said
BEHOLD – let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the
servants of my lord
And Abigail hasted – and arose – and rode on an ass
with five damsels of hers that went after her
and she went after the messengers of David
and became his wife
David also took Ahimoam of Jezreel
and they were also both of them his wives
BUT Saul had given Michal his daughter – David’s wife
to Phalti the son of Laish – which was of Gallim
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings and he was of the house of Caleb. (7186 “churlish” [qashhe] means stiff necked, hard, cruel, hardhearted, obstinate, impudent, difficult, or shameless)
DEVOTION: How can a sensible or a woman of good understanding marry a man who is crude and mean? We find this to be true many times. Sometimes it is because the man hides his true nature while dating his future wife. He may act like a gentleman all the time they are dating and then changes to his real nature after the wedding day.
Also during this time there were arranged marriages made with the parents of the children and so the personality of the individuals are not known at all because only the parents are involve. Sometimes the girls were given in marriage at a very young age to men who were older. It is thought that the girl could be as young as fifteen marrying a man who is twenty years older than her.
Whatever the case we have two individuals who are married with two different personalities. One is crude and mean while the other is sensible and beautiful. Sounds like a combination that was not made in heaven.
The LORD wants us to realize that marriage is important and that every date is a potential mate for both the man and the woman. There should be standards set today for who our children should date, so that, something like this doesn’t happen to one of our children.
The first standard has to be that our children should be believers at a young age and know what they believe. It should be taught in a loving manner, so that, they know the truth of the Word of God and want to know more as they grow older. This will help them be able to discern between who they should date and who they shouldn’t date.
Sometimes people can fool each other for a while. Sometimes those who are followers of Jesus can rebel against what they know to be true and yet want to date those who don’t want to follow the LORD. Some think that after they are married they can change them. This usually doesn’t happen.
CHALLENGE: If the standard is that no Christian will date someone who is not a believer it will save a lot of grief later.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 25 Let not my lord, I pray you, regarding this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I your handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom you did send. (5039 “folly” [nabalah] means villainy, stupidity, willful sin, trait of acting rashly, disgraceful thing, sacrilege, inhospitable churlishness, or disgraceful folly.)
DEVOTION: Our names have meaning. In the Old Testament it seems that a name was chosen to represent the person who has the name. Here we have a man who acts like his name.
He was not willing to work with David. He offended David and found that he didn’t care. David cared enough to start on the way to kill him for his actions toward him. He had acted as he should and thought that he should be rewarded for not hurting or stealing from Nabal.
Nabal was the type of man who didn’t care about anyone’s feelings or expectations. He was there to use people and take advantage of anyone and anything he could. He was not concerned with what others thought of him. He didn’t care.
His wife, however, was not of the same attitude and she wanted to make sure that David and his men were taken care of. So she acted on what she thought and took things to David to stop him from doing something foolish like her husband.
Too often we react to people the wrong way. Once they offend us we want to get even with them and offend them. Or as David was thinking, deal with them in a manner we think is appropriate. Our thinking is not always right. In fact, most of the time we act before we think of what the LORD would have us do in a given situation.
If we are the type that acts before we think or consult the LORD we need to have someone who knows us and can do us some good by giving us good advice when we want to go off and deal with someone in the wrong manner.
The LORD sent Abigail into the life of David to help him think straight. She did and he allowed the LORD to deal with him rather than his going and acting without the LORD. We need those type of people in our life to help us think straight from day to day.
The LORD gives us a wife to help us in this area like he gave Nabal who didn’t listen to his wife. Not all wives are gifted as Abigail but most who know the LORD and are staying close to the LORD can help their husband make good decisions.
That is why wives are called helpmates. They are supposed to help us make wise decisions. After consulting the LORD and our wives we should make decisions that honor the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Are we allowing our wife to be a helpmate if she genuinely loves the LORD and us? Things go better in a home that is honoring the LORD with both spouses. Nabal was stubborn – we don’t have to follow his example men!
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: 28 I pray you, forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fights the battles of the lord, and evil has not been found in you all your days. (4984 “forgive” [mithnasse] means to raise high, lift, carry, pardon, bear, be carried off, or to receive someone in a friendly manner.).
DEVOTION: Abigail brings a peace offering to David. She had heard what her husband had done to the servants of David. She had heard what David’s servants had done to protect the belongings of Nabal. She knew that she had to act quickly or there would be trouble coming their way. David intended to kill every male servant of Nabal as well as Nabal. He didn’t want to leave any of the alive.
Abigail asked for forgiveness. We want people to forgive us when we ask for it. We want the LORD to forgive us when we ask for it. We should do the same for those who ask forgiveness of us. Abigail knew the principle of forgiveness that the LORD taught.
She also knew who David was and what he was doing for the LORD. She knew of his defeat of Goliath. She knew that he had fought and won many battles against the Philistines. She knew that he was going to be the future king of Israel. She was well informed about what was going on in her world.
When she faced David she told him that what he was planning was a sin. She wanted him to stop and think about what he was doing before he did it and regretted it later. Sometimes or most of the time when we are angry, we say and do things we wish we could take back but it is too late.
So David had a choice to make. He could continue on his way to kill all the men of the house of Nabal or turn around and let the LORD handle it. He chose wisely. He turned around and let the LORD handle it.
We have the same choice to make on a regular basis because there are many times in our life that we are angry at someone or something and want to handle it ourselves. We need to turn around and let the LORD handle it. Not an easy choice when someone insults or hurts you.
CHALLENGE: Are you letting the LORD fight your battles for you?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 31 That this shall be no grief to you, nor offence of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood causeless, or that my lord has avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid. (2600 “causeless” [chinnam] means devoid of cost, in vain, reason or advantage, without compensation, for nothing, out of favor or gratis)
DEVOTION: Have any of us wanted to get revenge on someone who has hurt us? Have we ever treated someone good and they just turn on us? Does it hurt? Our life here on earth is full of events that cause us to wonder if we are doing things the way the LORD wants us to. Have we every wanted to avenge ourselves of those who have hurt us?
David is hiding from Saul with about six hundred men. While he was in his wilderness hideout, he was helping the servants of Nabal to keep enemies from stealing their sheep. The time of shearing was come and David wanted something for his protection. He sent some of his men to Nabal to ask for some provisions. Nabal refused to give him anything. Nabal also insulted David. His men reported what he said.
David was coming to kill all the males in the household of Nabal. He took 400 of his soldiers with him to complete his statement. David was acting in anger. He thought he had a cause.
Abigail, the wife of Nabal, was told what happened and came to David and offered him a gift of supplies. She also told him that he would be sorry if he acted in anger. She told him that there wasn’t a reason for him to be angry. She told him to let the LORD handle the situation.
David listened to her advice. He blessed her for coming. He believed that the LORD had sent her to him to settle him down. He complimented her. The Bible calls her a woman of good understanding and beautiful.
Note that the meaning of the name of Nabal is fool. He was acting as a fool. He was called a son of Belial or the devil. He was acting like his name.
Praise the LORD for good advice. Are we willing to listen to good advice or do we want to get even with those who have done us wrong? Are we going to let the LORD handle those who offend us? It is hard but it is necessary.
We also have to deal with the bitterness that comes from such events in our lives. Are we dealing with our bitterness? Holding a grudge is not going to hurt the one we are angry at – it is going to only hurt those around us and us. We can either become bitter or better in any circumstance that the LORD sends our way.
CHALLENGE: We need to decide to be like David and listen to good advice from individuals who are wise. Willingness to listen is hard to find in our present generation. Be different!!! Listen to wise counsel.
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: 39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that 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 and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. (2781 “reproach” [cherpah] means shame, taunt, disgrace, reviling, contempt, abuse, or insults.)
DEVOTION: David thought that he had to protect his honor. He had done nothing wrong. He had done everything right by asking Nabal for some payment for the work his men had preformed for him. They had protected his possessions from his enemies.
It was because of his actions that he thought he deserved some payment and sent his men to ask for the payment. When they arrived at Nabal’s house he didn’t think they deserved anything and insulted David in the process.
David took his men toward the house of Nabal to avenge the insult that was given to him by Nabal. Nabal’s wife met him on the way and convinced him to let the LORD handle the discipline of Nabal. He agreed with her and stopped coming to kill every man in the house of Nabal. He was going to let the LORD handle it.
Well, the LORD did handle it and caused Nabal to have a stroke because he acted like a fool toward David. David realized that he was acting just like Nabal but was prevented by the actions of Abigail.
The LORD can deal with those who want to hurt us if we allow HIM too. Too often we think that we have to deal with individuals who mistreat us, but that is not the case. The LORD wants us to allow HIM to deal with those who hurt us because HE loves us and doesn’t want anyone to hurt us.
We are motivated by selfish desires for revenge when that is not the actions genuine believers should be motivated by toward others. Our actions toward others are to be to love them as the LORD commanded us to love our enemies. We are to bless those who curse us.
CHALLENGE: When tempted to avenge ourselves we should think of this account of David and let the LORD handle it.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator) verse 22, 29, 34
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 26, 28- 32, 34, 38, 39
LORD lives verse 26
Battles of the LORD verse 28
LORD thy God verse 29
LORD God of Israel verse 32, 34
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemies verse 22, 26, 29
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Churlish verse 3
Evil verse 3, 17, 21,
26, 28, 39
Railed verse 14
Son of Belial verse 17
Iniquity verse 24
Man of Belial verse 25
Folly verse 25
Avenge thyself verse 26, 31, 33
Trespass verse 28
Shed blood causeless verse 31, 33
Drunken verse 36
Reproach verse 39
Wickedness verse 39
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Lament the death of prophet verse 1
Good understanding verse 3
Peace verse 6, 35
Servants verse 8
Good verse 15, 21, 30
Blessing verse 27, 32, 33
Forgive verse 28
Appointed verse 30
Listen to advice verse 33
Accepted verse 35
Blessed the LORD verse 39
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Samuel died verse 1
Buried iin his house at Ramah
Israelites gathered for funeral verse 1
David verse 1, 5- 35, 39- 44
Send ten young men to Nabel
Nabel answered them badly
David prepared to battle Nabel
Abigail stops him
Ruler over Israel
Blessed Abigail’s advice
Blessed the LORD
Took Abigail as wife
Took Ahinoam as wife
Nabel verse 2- 17, 19, 25, 26, 36- 39
Possessions in Carmel
Wife’s name was Abigail
Churlish and evil man
House of Caleb
Answered David’s men badly
Son of Belial
LORD smote him
Abigail verse 3, 18- 42
Woman of good understanding
Beautiful countenance
She takes things to David
Didn’t tell her husband
Took David as husband
Saul had given Michal to Phalti the son of Laish verse 44
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Samuel died verse 1
Nabal died verse 38
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QUOTES regarding passage
Nabal’s servant continues to apprise Abigail of his favorable impression of David and his men (v.15), repeating some of their terminology (cf. v.7). He especially stresses the physical proximity of Nabal’s shepherds to David’s men (“near them,” vv.15–16) during “the whole time” (v.15; “all the time,” v.16) they were in the fields. Like the fortress “wall” enclosing a city (v.16; the same metaphor is used of God in Zech 2:5), the protection provided by David and his men continued around the clock (“night and day”). Afraid that the “good” deeds (v.15) of David’s men will be repaid by “disaster” (v.17) against Nabal and his household because of his moral obtuseness, his servant appeals to Abigail for help. “Think it over and see,” he says to her (lit., “know and see,” a common phrase in 1 Samuel; see comment on “realize” in 12:17 and on “find out” in 23:22–23), pleading with her to make up for her husband’s dereliction. “Disaster is determined/inevitable” (kāleṯāh hārāʿāh; NIV, “disaster is hanging [over]”; cf. 20:7, 9 [“determined to harm”]; Esth 7:7 [“decided (his) fate”]), because Nabal is a “wicked man” (ben-belîyaʿal; cf. 2:12 of Eli’s sons; cf. also 10:27 [“troublemakers”]; see comment and Notes on “wicked woman” in 1:16; cf. further ʾîš belîyaʿal in v.25). The servant concludes his appeal by observing that no one can talk to Nabal, implying that perhaps his wife Abigail may be able to persuade him of the folly of his ways. (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 756–757). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Nabal, however, with utter contempt, refused to comply (vv. 4–11). This so angered David that he took about 400 men with him to take forcibly from Nabal what he wanted. Were it not for the intervention of Abigail Nabal’s wife, Nabal surely would have been slain. She learned about Nabal’s foolish reply from one of the servants. To avert disaster she took with her food supplies in sufficient abundance to meet David’s requirements (vv. 14–19). When she met him, she begged him not to punish her husband for, she said, He is just like his name—a fool (nāḇāl, “foolish”). Instead, she continued, God would bless David and would eventually make him king (v. 28). For him to kill the senseless Nabal would only burden his conscience needlessly (v. 31). Impressed by her wisdom, David followed her advice and gratefully accepted the food she had brought (vv. 32–35).
Abigail’s judgment was vindicated shortly thereafter when Nabal, after a drunken night, found out how narrow an escape he had had from David. The news so shocked him that he had a heart attack and died in about 10 days (vv. 36–38). David saw in this turn of events a sign from God. Obviously struck by the beauty and character of Abigail, he proposed marriage to her, a proposal she gladly accepted. Thus David added another wife to Ahinoam and Michal, whom he had previously married, though in his absence from Gibeah, Saul had given the latter to Paltiel (vv. 43–44; cf. 2 Sam. 3:15–16). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 452). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The servant reported how David and his men had protected the shepherds and their flocks, and how Nabal had refused to repay them. Did the young man know that David and his men were on their way to confront Nabal, or did he simply surmise it? Perhaps it was the Lord who gave him a special intuition that trouble was coming. Nabal and his servants were defenseless against David’s 400 men. But if David had succeeded in this venture, it would have given Saul the evidence he needed that David was a dangerous renegade who had to be dealt with drastically.
Abigail put together enough food for David’s men but said nothing to her husband. She was the mistress of the house and could dispose of the family provisions as she saw fit, even to the extent of sharing it with others. Nabal would have opposed her even though she was doing it for his own good. She wasn’t stealing from her husband; she was paying a debt that he refused to pay. In order to save a little money, Nabal was foolishly jeopardizing the lives of everybody in his household, especially his own. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 137–138). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)
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25:17 no one can speak to him. Nabal was a “son of Belial,” a worthless fellow (see note on 2:12). Nabal’s situation was the product of his own wickedness. His unwillingness to seek the counsel of others ultimately led to his demise. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 25:17). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 17. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do, &c.] For the preservation of her family: for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household, which he concluded, either from something that dropped from David’s messengers, as they turned away from Nabal; or from the martial spirit of David himself, who would never put up such an affront and indignity cast upon him; or from some intelligence he had of David’s arming his men, and marching to take vengeance: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him; meaning Nabal, who was such a worthless, passionate, and ill-natured man, such a lawless and imperious one, that he would not suffer a man to speak to him about anything; and it was to no purpose to attempt it, which was a reason this servant, did not choose to speak to him about this affair, but to Abigail; and suggests, that it would signify nothing for her to speak to him about it, but it would be most advisable for her to consider with herself what was to be done immediately, without consulting him: the words maybe rendered, for he is a son of Belial that speaks unto him; or when he speaks unto him, or it is told him; meaning not the servant that reported to David what Nabal said; for Abarbinel observes there were ten of them, and therefore it could not be said of them, he is a son of Belial; but rather David himself, as he and Kimchi observe it may be interpreted of; that though he was so good and upright a man, yet when it should be told him how Nabal had treated him, he would he so provoked at it, that he would become and act like a son of Belial; storm and rage, and vow destruction to Nabal and his family, and come out with his whole army to destroy them; but the first sense is best. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 539–540). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Matthew records Jesus’ miraculous conception and birth.
INSIGHT
The birth of Jesus splits time and space like a lightning bolt in a hot July sky. The stage is set for the most important event in history. It has been planned before the foundation of the world. It is promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. The prophets have heralded it, the people long for it, and the culture is ripe for it.
The Messiah is coming to establish His kingdom. More importantly, He is coming to effect a new relationship between God and man.
Jesus is not just another world leader. He is God in the flesh. God, who has previously made Himself known through a nation, and through a law, is now coming to make Himself known through a man, a God-man, Jesus. (QuietWalk)
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OUR SAVIOR PRAYS FOR US
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. John 17:9
Our Lord prays for His followers here. Some would put it as strongly as to say that He pleads for them; He does not merely make requests—He produces arguments and makes statements. This is a point that we must surely observe, for it is of great value to us. It reminds us that God’s omniscience is no reason for our not telling Him things that He already knows.
You must have often found yourself facing a particular difficulty or situation. You feel that because God knows everything, there is no point in telling Him anything about it. God knows our need, He knows all about us before we get on our knees to pray; so why then do we need to tell Him anything? What seems to be the obvious conclusion to that thought is that there is no need to pray at all: If God knows all about us, why not let things take their course and all will be well.
Now the answer to that is what we find in John 17. Our Lord knew, in a way we can never know, about God’s omniscience, His perfect and complete knowledge, and yet He told His Father certain things about those disciples, things that God knew already. He prayed about them and repeated them, and, of course, that is characteristic of Bible prayers everywhere—not only the prayers of our Lord but also those of the apostles and of the saints of the Old Testament. This is something that is wonderful the moment you begin to contemplate it. God after all desires us to think of Him as our Father. It is a kind of anthropomorphism; God is stooping to our weakness.
So when we come into the presence of God with our requests and our petitions, let us never fear to bring the details, for nothing is too small for God’s loving care and attention.
A Thought to Ponder
God’s omniscience is no reason for our not telling Him things that He already knows.
(From Safe in the World pp. 9-10, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Daily Cross
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
This same conversation and challenge is also recorded in Matthew 16:24 and Mark 8:34, except that only Luke included the term “daily.” Except for one brief reference in Matthew 10:38, this conversation marks the first explicit reference in the Bible to the practice of crucifixion, and it apparently assumes that the disciples were already well aware of this typically Roman method of execution.
“Taking up the cross” referred to the usual requirement that each condemned man haul his own cross to the place of execution. Jesus knew that He would soon have to be doing this Himself (John 19:16-17).
Christians sometimes use this phrase without appreciation of its true meaning, thinking of some burden (such as sickness or poverty) as “the cross” they must bear. Such things can be serious problems, but they are not instruments of execution, such as a cross. In effect, the Lord was telling His disciples that following Him must mean nothing less than a daily willingness to die for Him if need be. As Paul would say: “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20); “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
Many disciples have indeed suffered martyrdom for Christ’s sake, but all should at least be willing to deny themselves daily. “Taking up the cross” does not necessarily mean dying as Christ did, but it does mean consciously dying each day to the world and living unto Him. For “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24) and gladly affirm this testimony: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Thirty years ago, the idea of socially and medically experimenting on children to advance a controversial and unproven ideology was unthinkable. Today, it’s considered by some to be unquestionable. There is a full-court press to fully and finally embed transgender ideology in public life, especially with school-aged children, starting with the Equality Act.
In his promises and nominations, President Biden has made his priorities on this clear. In his first day in office, he signed an executive order forcing, K-12 public schools that accept federal funds to adopt sexual orientation and gender identity policies. As Emilie Kao at The Heritage Foundation points out, this paves the way for ending girls’ sports and violating the privacy of bathrooms and locker rooms. We can also expect curriculum that would expose elementary-age children to claims such as, “little girls might be little boys trapped in the wrong body.” So-called “gender-affirming” treatments, including social reinforcement, puberty blockers, and even mutilating surgeries, will be enforced as the only acceptable course of action for counselors, teachers, physicians, and parents.
At the root of this all-out assault on our children is the dangerously bad idea that adult desires matter more than the wellbeing of children. Each chapter of the sexual revolution, but especially the most recent ones, have placed “us before them,” repeating the same myth in various forms: “the kids will be fine.”
But they’re not. As author and children’s rights activist Katy Faust insists, “Our culture and our laws must incentivize and encourage adults to conform their behavior to the needs of their children.” We need, she says, “a new global children’s rights movement.”
Christians ask me all the time, but especially when it comes to the all-out cultural assault on children, what can we do? My first answer is that we must not sit this one out. In fact, Christian history is full of stories of Christians who confronted a pagan culture by seeking to protect children who were being abused and victimized. Two examples that come to mind are Amy Carmichael, who won souls and freed temple prostitutes, and William Wilberforce, who freed slaves and instituted child labor reforms.
This is our moment to live out our faith by looking after children.
To do just that is why the Colson Center has joined an important new coalition, consisting of over a dozen other organizations, thousands of parents, and dozens of lawmakers. The Promise to America’s Children (which is headed up by the Heritage Foundation, the Family Policy Alliance, and the Alliance Defending Freedom) has articulated a simple promise: that as adults, we will protect children in three areas: their minds, their bodies, and their most important relationships.
To quote here from the Promise:
Within each promise are a set of principles that identify the key ways children need protection. Their minds need to be protected from graphic pornography and harmful curriculum. Their bodies need to be protected with privacy in vulnerable places like bathrooms and from experimental surgeries that create permanent damage. Their relationships with parents need to be protected from unnecessary government intervention and educators who think parents don’t deserve to know what’s going on with their kids.
Read and sign this promise at promisetoamericaschildren.org. The statement can then be shared with your church leaders and legislators. In fact, the legislators that sign on receive model legislation that they can back and promote and that reflect the principles laid out in the full statement. Even better, you can share this statement and discuss the three areas to protect children and the ten principles of doing so, with your unbelieving friends and neighbors. Indeed, this statement will help you discuss this difficult issue with others.
To be even better equipped, check out today’s BreakPoint podcast. Dr. Ryan Anderson joins me to discuss the Equality Act, followed by Emily Kao, who is spearheading this coalition effort, The Promise to America’s Children. Also, for a gift of any amount this month, we will send you Katy Faust’s new book, Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement. (BreakPoint)
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NEW
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.