Only a Boy Named David

It started innocently enough.


In season and out of season, through sunny days and stormy nights, David and his men had protected the sheep and shepherds of another man.  Even though David was still running from Saul, he and his band of a few hundred men guarded the shepherds.


Now the day had come to return the favor.  It was a feast day, and David and his men were hungry.  Who better to visit than the man whose shepherds and sheep they had protected?  So David sent some messengers to see Nabal.  "'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'" (1 Samuel 25:8).

"And Nabal answered David's servants, 'Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.'" (1 Samuel 25:10).

It was a simple concept, really.  Even young children can understand the trading concept of "I give you this, you give me that."  Not Nabal.  Commonly considered a "fool" by those who knew him, Nabal rashly and angrily responded to David's men, utterly refusing to give them anything.  Not a good idea on Nabal's part.


David was angry.  He and his men had expended so much energy to protect the sheep and shepherds of a man who did not even acknowledge the favor.  David's men had labored without reward or repayment.  And when they asked for a kind return, they were not only refused, but insulted.


Fuming, David led his men to the attack.  They were men of war, after all.  Four hundred men went stomping to Nabal's place, but they never got there.  David halted in his warpath, dissuaded by the words of a woman.  Nabal's wife Abigail humbly asked David to turn from his murderous intentions, telling him that "'...the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand...'" (1 Samuel 25:26).


Saving with his own hand.


Throughout the Bible, God proves Himself faithful to His faithless people over and over and over and over again.  When all else fails, when every earthly support crumbles away, God is the One who saves.  When Moses faced a despairing crowd and a lack of food, the LORD asked him, "'Is the Lord's hand shortened?'" (Numbers 11:23).  He saves us when we feel we can go no deeper (Psalm 103:4).  He rescues us and fulfills our desires (Psalm 145:19).  Paul told the Romans (5:10), as is true for us today, that we are saved by the life of Christ, not by our own doing.  After all, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).


Jesus.  His very Name means "Savior."


David was distracted.  Blinded by his fury and hate, he forgot all that had brought him to where he was.  Earlier, when he was dangerously close to his pursuer, Saul, David knew that God was sovereign over David's earthly situation, and that God would be faithful to fulfill His promises to him.  David had only to trust, obey, and wait.


David wasn't doing any of that as he hurried to confront Nabal.  Instead, he was seeking to be master of his own destiny and avenger of his reputation.  But God led Abigail to block David's path.


"'If 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,'" Abigail assured David.  As for his enemies, she told him, God would "'sling [them] out as from the hollow of a sling'" (1 Samuel 25:29).  A sling.  David was well acquainted with the sling.  Years before, he had been catapulted to royal recognition with a sling and a giant named Goliath.


It was as if Abigail was reminding David of his calling - his charge - from God.  It involved fighting God's battles, not executing vengeance in personal matters.  David had more pressing concerns.


David humbly thanked Abigail for her reminder, and praised God for leading her into his path.  He and his men retreated, leaving Nabal in the hands of God.  Within a few days, Nabal was dead.


God didn't need David's help with Nabal.  God didn't need our help in bringing salvation to earth.  Jesus alone saves us from our sin, its consequences, and the prison of a life addicted to that sin, even as he equips us to live a life of service to Him.  He has a sovereign plan for our life and it will come to pass.  No matter what struggles, trials, or unexpected circumstances we face, we can rest in the knowledge that God is in control.  We can trust Him as we obey His will in our lives.


Fight in God's time, strength, and cause.  But leave personal vendettas with Him.  As David (and Nabal's servants) found out, it just works better that way.  It always does.  After all, His ways are higher than ours.