25:1 Saul was king, but Samuel had been the nation’s spiritual leader. As a young boy and an older man, Samuel was always careful to listen to (3:10; 9:14-17) and obey (3:21; 10:1, 2) the Lord. With Samuel gone, Israel would be without this spiritual leadership until David became king. (For more on Samuel, read his profile in chapter 7, p. 557.)
25:2-11 Nabal rudely refused David’s request to feed his 600 men. If we sympathize with Nabal, it is because customs are so different today. First, simple hospitality demanded that travelers—any number of them—be fed. Nabal was very rich and could have easily afforded to meet David’s request. Second, David wasn’t asking for a handout. He and his men had been protecting Nabal’s workforce, and part of Nabal’s prosperity was due to David’s vigilance. We should be generous with those who protect us and help us prosper, even if we are not obligated to do so by law or custom.
25:24 David was in no mood to listen when he set out for Nabal’s property (25:13, 22). Nevertheless, he stopped to hear what Abigail had to say. If he had ignored her, he would have been guilty of taking vengeance into his own hands. No matter how right we think we are, we must always be careful to stop and listen to others. The extra time and effort can save us pain and trouble in the long run.
25:36 Because Nabal was drunk, Abigail waited until morning to tell him what she had done. Abigail knew that Nabal, in his drunkenness, may not have understood her or may have reacted foolishly. When discussing difficult matters with people, especially family members, timing is everything. Ask God for wisdom to know the best time for confrontation and for bringing up touchy subjects.
25:44 The story of David and Michal does not end here. (See 2 Samuel 3:12-16 for the next episode.)