1 Samuel 25

(From J.P.) Samuel died and the entire nation of Israel mourns. Notes indicate that this was because he helped reconstruct Israel's theocracy and establish the monarchy. He was mourned like Jacob, Aaron, and Moses.David continues moving into the Desert of Maon. A man named Nabal lived there who was very wealthy an owned thousands of herds of livestock. Notes indicate that Nabal means "fool" and he was widely knows as being a coarse, brutal man. His wife Abigail was, of course, the opposite; a kind, beautiful woman.David decides to ask Nabal to host he and his men for a while so he sends 10 messengers to make his request by first making clear that he protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks when they passed through their camp.Nabal tells the messengers that he doesn't know David and, for all he knows, they may all be runaway slaves.Well, when David gets this message, he tells 400 of his men to "put on their swords".Meanwhile, one of Abigail's servants told her about all this and asked her if there's anything she can do. Abigail prepares gifts of tons of food and wine and goes to meet them on their way.

24-31 Abigail makes an impressive plea to spare Nabal (her) household pointing out that he is the Lord's servant and the Lord blesses all he does. She also prays that his enemies fall as quickly as a "stone from a sling".

David praises her and agrees that God has sent her to spare needless bloodshed. He accepts her gifts and sends her home in peace.When Abigail gets home, Nabal is having a "king's feast" and is filthy drunk. She waits till the next moring to tell him everything (that David was about to wipe him out with an army of 400). When he heard this "his heart failed him and he became like a stone". Notes indicate that this was probably a stroke. He died 10 days later. This was because of Abigails "curse" on David's enemies.When David hears of his death he sends for Abigail to marry her which she gladly accepts. David also has another wife.

Notes indicate that Nabal is supposed to mirror Saul in that David was his faithful servant and he could care less, in fact, was willing to kill him. Nabal's death is supposed to foreshadow Saul's death, also from Abigail's curse.Personally this demonstrates that if we have "evil" employers or people above us in any way who mistreat us or ignore our contributions, God will deal with them. David keeps wanting to take matters into his own hands but God prevents this until He can do it Himself. We MUST stay in the Lord and focus on being God's faithful servant. Then we can KNOW from stories like this that the Lord will take care of us.