Village Schools of the Bible

A Devotional Study of 1 Samuel 24 - 25
by Max Frazier, Jr.

So, what does God's Word have to say? Let's look this week into 1Samuel, chapters 24 and 25. Chapter 24 describes the occasion when David spared Saul's life once again; while chapter 25 relates the story of the kindness and love of Abigail to intervene on behalf of her cruel husband.

I. David spares Saul's life (1 Samuel 24:1-4)
II. David confronts Saul (vs. 5-15)
III. Saul's response (vs. 16-22)

In a moment when Saul was most vulnerable, David was presented with an incredible opportunity to destroy his adversary. The very cave in which he and his men were hiding became the place Saul used as his bathroom. David's men saw this vulnerability and added a spiritual twist to it. "Here is your God-given opportunity to smite your enemy," they said. Now many of us might have heeded their advice. How sweet would have been the revenge. Kingdom and throne, here I come. But that was not David's attitude. Yes, Saul was his enemy - why, he was not sure. Yes, life for him would be sweeter without Saul. But Saul was anointed by God just as David had been. He was God's man ordained to lead Israel. David was confident that Saul needed discipline, but that was God's responsibility and not his. What a godly attitude to maintain in the presence of those who oppose us. This attitude can only come as we have surrendered ourselves to the Lord and we are content in Him. How we need to heed this example of David. I know it would have a real healing effect upon many of our troubled relationships.

In his dialogue with King Saul, after refusing to kill him in the cave, David exposes Saul for who he really is. He asks God to judge between them and for God to settle the accounts. I was intrigued by Saul's response, especially what was missing. First, Saul did acknowledge that he would not have acted as David had. Were the tables reversed, Saul would have killed David (see verse 19). Second, he asked a favor of the very man he was hunting. He desired David to be kind to his offspring. Saul was really good at looking out for his own welfare. But, what was missing in his response? Saul showed no repentance. He never apologized to David for his actions. He never asked David's forgiveness. I think this showed a very cold heart, a very insensitive heart. Would God have forgiven Saul? Most assuredly! But because of his pride, Saul persisted in his evil ways. A cold heart can only bring tragic consequence.

I. Death of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1)
II. David encounters Nabal and Abigail (vs. 2-35)
III. Nabal's death (vs. 36-38)
IV. David marries Abigail (vs. 39-44)

As one reads the story of this woman of character and integrity, one is left to wonder how it happened that she had become the wife of such a foolish man. Perhaps the marriage had been arranged by her parents and she was left with no other choice. But a remarkable woman she was. I am sure hers was a difficult marriage, perhaps even an abusive one, if not physically at least emotionally. Her husband had shown none of the proper hospitality toward David and his men after they had provided protection for Nabal's shepherds. A rebuffed David suddenly becomes a revengeful David. Shepherd crooks are exchanged for swords. And off he goes to destroy this vile man. Now one might think that Abigail would applaud those coming to liberate her. But, as David could not stretch out his hand against Saul, so Abigail could not stretch out her hand against her husband. David was wrong to react in anger and God intervened to prevent him from doing something for which he would later feel regret. Abigail has certainly earned a place of honor. What role she played in David's household after her marriage to him we are not told. But I would like to think that David drew counsel from her. She was a model of that godly woman described in Proverbs 31.

As I read this story I was drawn to the words of Paul in Romans 12:19-21. There Paul reminded his readers that vengeance belonged to God and that by doing good evil would be overcome. Abigail understood the important of that lesson. Through her actions two things were accomplished. First, she prevented David from the folly of his own retaliation in anger. Nabal's offense against David certainly was of a different nature than that of Saul whom David was willing to spare. Abigail really spared David from shedding innocent blood. Second, Abigail's kindness really did heap coals of fire upon the head of her husband. Through her kindness he was exposed as the kind of man he really was. Yes, it is always better to leave everything in God's hands. He is much better at righting the wrongs than are we.

1Samuel 22-23 Return to the Table of Contents 1Samuel 26-27