Today’s passage: 1 Samuel 25:1-22
Helpful thoughts:
- Nabal’s name means fool.
- One of Nabal’s greatest faults was that no one could speak to him (He would not listen to any criticism). This rendered him a “worthless man”. (Verse 17)
- David’s appeal was two-fold. (1) David and Nabal were of the tribe of Judah together, and (2) David and his men had protected Nabal’s flock and servants. (Nabal would have nothing to give if it weren’t for David’s protection. Which was confirmed by Nabal’s servant in verse 16.)
- Nabal mocked David and his father and dishonored their family connection.
- Nabal rebuked David as a runaway servant of Saul. “There are many servants these days that are breaking away from their masters.”
Questions to consider:
- What is strange about David’s oath (Verse 22)? Who would be the ones to suffer if David didn’t execute all of Nabal’s men, whom he now considers to be his enemies? How did David’s oath differ from Saul’s in 14:44?
- Even though this oath seemed to possess some kind of wisdom, who does David sound most like in making the threat at all?
- What is inconsistent with the way David has treated Saul and the way he is planning to treat Nabal? Romans 12 was appropriate to reference yesterday, is it not worthy of consideration today as well?