1Sa 25:1 | KingComments | STEP | Here, it seems, the history which describes the relationship between Saul and David is briefly interrupted. Yet there is a connection with the history of Saul. Nabal, one of the main characters of this chapter, looks a lot like Saul. Like Saul, he rejects David. This is at the same time satan’s attack on David. Satan failed in setting David up against Saul, but he succeeds in doing so against Nabal. When a sudden event occurs, it suddenly turns out what is in David. All the beautiful features have suddenly disappeared and we see that the flesh in David reveals itself. This history is a great warning to us. In the history of David there are several attractive characters, such as Jonathan, Mephiboseth and Ittai. Abigail, Nabal’s wife, occupies a special place among all these friends of David. In her we see in this chapter beautiful qualities of faith. It is a chapter about a woman for women. Here we see what a woman can do for a man. Many men will be able to testify, if they will, that their wife has often prevented them from doing foolish things. When Samuel dies, it indicates the disappearance of the Word of God from Israel. Also, with this an intercessor for the people disappears ( ) and it is also over with intercession. Word and prayer are no longer present. The people acknowledge the great loss and mourn for him. During his life they have discarded him ( ). Now that he has died, they feel the loss. This is more often the case with prophets. During their life they are denied, after their death they are honored. However, this tribute does not consist of taking their words to heart, but of decorating their tombs ( ). It is easy to honor this man, now that he no longer troubles their conscience with his faithful admonitions. The flesh is even able to have a certain self-satisfaction that they have had such a man in their midst. However, what God appreciates is willing obedience to the message of His servants while they are still alive, and a remembrance of their words after they have died ( ). True servants do not want to be mourned when their bodies lie in the grave. They much more prefer their words to be listened to. When they see this, they will be encouraged in their hearts and will give an account to the Lord “with joy and not with grieve” ( ). The praise of the dead while their teaching is rejected can be called religious hypocrisy. An example of this hypocrisy can be seen in the tribute given to Peter in professing Christianity. Beautiful buildings bear his name. But what would happen if the apostle returned to us today and preached the truth of his letters from the pulpit of the building bearing his name? Then he would be as despised and cast out as his Lord and Master from the synagogue of Nazareth ( ). For example, Peter clearly teaches that being born again is the fruit of faith in the seed of the Word of God that is accepted in the heart ( ). In some parts of professing Christianity, however, it is stated that being born again occurs through baptism performed by a ‘clergyman’. The same goes for the priesthood of all believers that Peter teaches in his letter ( ). Christianity shows that priesthood is exercised only by a select group of ordained people. For David it is different than for the people. For him, Samuel’s death is a great personal loss. He took refuge with him and found protection for some time ( ). Now he cannot go to him anymore. However, that does not mean that he is without the Word of God, for the prophet Gad is with him. He also has the priest Abiathar with him. Everything that is valuable to Israel is with David. After the news of Samuel’s death, it is mentioned that David arises and goes to the wilderness of Paran. It seems to be so that David heard of Samuel’s death and therefore leaves. The wilderness of Paran evokes memories in connection with the wilderness journey. It is one of the resting places during the wilderness trip ( ). It lies south of Israel and west of Edom. Israel has sent spies from there to spy out the land, and they returned there after spying out the land ( ). So David went outside the land to stay out of Saul’s hands. The death of Samuel and David’s departure from the land seem to be the introduction to the events described in this chapter. Both seem to have had a very discouraging effect on David. We can deduce this from his request to Nabal for support and his response to Nabal’s refusal. There is no evidence in either action that God has told him to do so.

‏ 1 Samuel 25:1

Introduction

Here, it seems, the history which describes the relationship between Saul and David is briefly interrupted. Yet there is a connection with the history of Saul. Nabal, one of the main characters of this chapter, looks a lot like Saul. Like Saul, he rejects David. This is at the same time satan’s attack on David. Satan failed in setting David up against Saul, but he succeeds in doing so against Nabal. When a sudden event occurs, it suddenly turns out what is in David. All the beautiful features have suddenly disappeared and we see that the flesh in David reveals itself. This history is a great warning to us.

In the history of David there are several attractive characters, such as Jonathan, Mephiboseth and Ittai. Abigail, Nabal’s wife, occupies a special place among all these friends of David. In her we see in this chapter beautiful qualities of faith. It is a chapter about a woman for women. Here we see what a woman can do for a man. Many men will be able to testify, if they will, that their wife has often prevented them from doing foolish things.

Samuel dies

When Samuel dies, it indicates the disappearance of the Word of God from Israel. Also, with this an intercessor for the people disappears (1Sam 12:23) and it is also over with intercession. Word and prayer are no longer present. The people acknowledge the great loss and mourn for him. During his life they have discarded him (1Sam 8:5). Now that he has died, they feel the loss. This is more often the case with prophets. During their life they are denied, after their death they are honored. However, this tribute does not consist of taking their words to heart, but of decorating their tombs (Mt 23:29).

It is easy to honor this man, now that he no longer troubles their conscience with his faithful admonitions. The flesh is even able to have a certain self-satisfaction that they have had such a man in their midst. However, what God appreciates is willing obedience to the message of His servants while they are still alive, and a remembrance of their words after they have died (Heb 13:7).

True servants do not want to be mourned when their bodies lie in the grave. They much more prefer their words to be listened to. When they see this, they will be encouraged in their hearts and will give an account to the Lord “with joy and not with grieve” (Heb 13:17). The praise of the dead while their teaching is rejected can be called religious hypocrisy.

An example of this hypocrisy can be seen in the tribute given to Peter in professing Christianity. Beautiful buildings bear his name. But what would happen if the apostle returned to us today and preached the truth of his letters from the pulpit of the building bearing his name? Then he would be as despised and cast out as his Lord and Master from the synagogue of Nazareth (Lk 4:28-29).

For example, Peter clearly teaches that being born again is the fruit of faith in the seed of the Word of God that is accepted in the heart (1Pet 1:23). In some parts of professing Christianity, however, it is stated that being born again occurs through baptism performed by a ‘clergyman’. The same goes for the priesthood of all believers that Peter teaches in his letter (1Pet 2:3-8). Christianity shows that priesthood is exercised only by a select group of ordained people.

For David it is different than for the people. For him, Samuel’s death is a great personal loss. He took refuge with him and found protection for some time (1Sam 19:18). Now he cannot go to him anymore. However, that does not mean that he is without the Word of God, for the prophet Gad is with him. He also has the priest Abiathar with him. Everything that is valuable to Israel is with David.

After the news of Samuel’s death, it is mentioned that David arises and goes to the wilderness of Paran. It seems to be so that David heard of Samuel’s death and therefore leaves. The wilderness of Paran evokes memories in connection with the wilderness journey. It is one of the resting places during the wilderness trip (Num 10:12). It lies south of Israel and west of Edom. Israel has sent spies from there to spy out the land, and they returned there after spying out the land (Num 13:3 ; 26). So David went outside the land to stay out of Saul’s hands.

The death of Samuel and David’s departure from the land seem to be the introduction to the events described in this chapter. Both seem to have had a very discouraging effect on David. We can deduce this from his request to Nabal for support and his response to Nabal’s refusal. There is no evidence in either action that God has told him to do so.