Nabal – Recognizing our true Need

1 Samuel 25 tells us a story of an interaction between three people, David, Nabal and Abigail. The three of them respond in three different ways and we will be looking into all three. Our actions affect our outcomes and we see this clearly through this story. As we spend time in this passage of scripture may the Lord speak to each one of us, teaching us in a manner that only he can do.

The passage can be read in its entirety here

A brief overview of the story

There was a certain wealthy man named Nabal and his wife Abigail, whose home was in Moan and had property in Carmel, a few miles away. David was in the wilderness at the time, and it was sheep shearing time. While Nabal’s men were out doing their job, David and his men offered protection to Nabal’s men. David sends ten men to Nabal and asks for some food for him and his men, for the kindness that he showed towards Nabal. Nabal responds in a mean and insulting way to David which spurs David’s anger and David is ready to set out with his 400 men to kill all the men in Nabal’s household. Abigail upon hearing this intervenes and approaches David and causes him to refrain from attacking and killing. Nabal is struck down by God soon after and David makes Abigail his wife.

In today’s post we will look at Nabal

Nabal

1 Samuel 25:2-3 “A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.”

The name ‘Nabal’ means fool. He is described as wealthy, harsh and mean. His lineage is a people of God, the Calebites. But Nabal does not seem to reflect any qualities in either how he is or how he deals with people that would reflect his lineage.

When David sends word to Nabal to extend some kindness in return for how he treated and protected Nabal’s men in the wilderness during sheep shearing time, Nabal’s response is the opposite of kindness and generosity.

1 Samuel 25:10-11 “Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

Nabal asks ‘who is this David, who is this son of Jesse’? David at this point was anointed by Samuel to be king. He had killed Goliath, served under king Saul for a while until king Saul got jealous and wanted to kill David, so at this point David was on the run. Knowing this, we can guess that most people were very aware of who David was. I am sure everyone knew who slayed Goliath when every other warrior cowered in his presence. When David fought battles for Saul and there were songs made about him that he slain tens of thousands (1 Samuel 18:5-7) everyone would have heard them including Nabal.

And we gather that Nabal knew for sure who David was from his very own words when he recognises and says “who is this son of Jesse” From this Nabal would have known that David is a descendant of Judah. Nabal is a Calebite (verse 3), and in Numbers 13:6 “From the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh”, we learn that Caleb is the representative of the tribe of Judah sent into Canaan to spy out the land. This would mean that both David and Nabal are descendants from the tribe of Judah.  

Nabal pretends ignorance of knowing who David was. He further insults David by saying “Many servants are breaking away from their master these days.” By saying so, Nabal does not acknowledge that David was anointed to be king by God. Although yet to assume his position as king, by treating David as such, Nabal behaves more like Saul wherein he refuses to see with clarity who David is and shows his lack of discernment.

Further on, what do we see in Nabal’s response, arrogance and selfishness. He places a lot of emphasis on the word ‘I’ as he speaks about his possessions. This reveals that all that he has, is not acknowledged by him as a blessing from God and therefore neither has he the heart to be generous with it, nor is he even willing to share just purely to help someone in need.

About ten days after this interaction, Nabal is struck down by God. Nabal’s earthly abundance blinded him from realizing his true need, that of God in his life.  

Self-Reflection

• Seeing how Nabal is described here, what do you think others would primarily describe you as? How would you like to be described?

• Nabal was blessed with a lot, and yet he seemed extremely stingy with what he had. His actions and words do not acknowledge that his abundance came from God but rather reflect an arrogant and selfish heart.

Reflect on how we view what we hold as our own, for it can reveal what we truly treasure in our hearts.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 says “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

• Nabal responded to David with harsh words and a lack of kindness. In your own life, is there anyone in particular or any situation that can trigger a response like Nabal’s?  Words and actions can reveal what is in our hearts as it did with Nabal.

Where in your own life might you want to reflect if there is something in your heart that you need to submit to God? Is it pride, selfishness, what you value most, a relationship, your material possessions. Whatever it may be, bring it before the Lord and allow him to be what dictates your motivations and actions.

Prayer: Lord, your word reminds us to always be grateful and do good. May all that you give us to personally steward be an offering of worship to you in various ways, pointing to you and bringing you glory. Lord, may what we hold as ours not cause us to feel secure in ourselves but may we always remember that you are our true need. Amen.

God Bless.