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While David is on the run, he and his men provide security for the flocks and herds of a man named Nabal. Remember there is a constant war against the Philistines around Israel’s borders, so David’s men serve as cattle rangers for Nabal’s huge herds and shepherds.
David sends his men to get paid for their services. Nabal refuses to pay and rails on David and his men as though they are some kind of criminals. Nabal’s own employees try to convince the old fool – Nabal – that David’s men have been a great help to them and protected his cattle and the ranch hands. But Nabal adamantly refuses to pay for their services.
David gets word that his men are being taken advantage of and stiffed on paychecks. He gathers ⅔ of his men and heads to Nabal’s house to serve justice on this rich, ignorant fool.
(Just a note of clarification here. In the previous chapter, David would not put a hand on Saul because Saul is God’s anointed king, unfortunately. David will not touch God’s anointed and he doesn’t even hate Saul. This case with Nabal is different. Nabal is not God’s anointed. Nabal has no special protection from God. He is just some prosperous fool taking advantage of David’s men and railing against David.)
Nabal has a wife named Abigail. She is a good woman, pretty, and very wise. She hears that David is coming with an army to deal with her fool husband and any other men involved in this injustice. But Abigail puts together a plan to pacify David and his army, risking her life, making good on payment, and appeasing the future king of Israel.
Abigail meets David and his army and mediates a solution between a man of war and a fool’s vulnerable household. Abigail says what will become our main text for this morning. In verse 24 she says to David, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be. In other words, charge someone else’s sin to my account. Now, who does that sound like? The LORD Jesus Christ.
David accepts Abigail’s offer, but only because of Abigail’s wisdom. Otherwise, David has no concern for Nabal. When Abigail tells her fool husband what has happened after he’s sobered up, Nabal is petrified. He knows what he’s done has no remedy. The only connection he has to the king’s good graces are his wife Abigail. Nabal dies ten days after he was informed of his stupidity and what it nearly cost him.
Abigail becomes a very young widow. But David has found a kindred spirit in Abigail. She is like him. They both share the spirit of Christ. David and Abigail marry and everything that belonged to Nabal now belongs to David.
Gospel according to Abigail
- Goodness of God
- David, as God, speaks peace to man in verse 6.
- Your sin
- Nabal, mankind, you, refuse to honor God’s requirements for the blessings he’s provided.
- Impending judgment of God on your life
- God’s judgment is swift and real. It is irrevocable. The moment you die and go to hell, there is no changing that.
- Many souls just like you sat in church, heard the words of God, but never once thought the judgment of God was for them. As they carried on their lives as “Christians” or church members, or generally decent people, ignorant to the coming judgment for their sin just like Nabal. They die without accepting God’s sentence against them, and shocked to wake up in hell fire.
- Listen, when you understand God’s judgment against you, I don’t need to tell you a prayer to pray. I don’t need to tell you what words to say. You’ll know how to plead your case. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
- John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- Christ’s sacrifice for YOU
- Abigail is aware of impending judgment on her household while Nabal is partying and ignorant of the oncoming slaughter. Abigail is an innocent party, but says charge Nabal’s sin to my account.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
- God the Father is satisfied with Christ’s sacrifice
- David looks on Abigail’s sacrifice and humility and is satisfied. God the Father looks on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and is satisfied. Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
- David is willing to spare Nabal’s house for Abigail’s sake.
Nabal at least had the sense to be terrified of the consequences of his sin. How about you this morning? Does your sin against a holy God frighten you? It should. But that’s not enough. It’s the beginning of wisdom, but not the end. Humble yourself, and look to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and life.
