Confronting Nabal!

1Samuel 25:36-38

Confronting the abuser can be scary and often calls for both wisdom and a cool head, as well as a heart that leaves the abuser for God to deal with.

Abigail was definitely in a troublesome position, she had defied Nabal and now stood to face a man who´s violent nature was well known, but she acted full of wisdom and courageous most certainly full of comfort that God would be with her. In verse 36-37 we see her wisdom in not confronting Nabal in his selfrighteous boasting and drunkennness, instead she tells him in the morning and she most likely told him about the full conversation with David, so Nabal would have understood that Abigail was the only thing that stood between himself and Davids anger this insight was probably part of why he didn´t act against her, out of fear that Davids anger would come back at him.

36ThenAbigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was having a feast in hishouse, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was cheerfulwithin him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anythingat all until the morning light. 37Butin the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife toldhim these things, and his heart died within him so that he becamelike a stone. 38Aboutten days later, the LordstruckNabal and he died.

Abigail didn´t speak more to Nabal but God wasn´t done with him. Here we have a man who had celebrated his own ego, sure he was in control,now in a heartbeat the control is ripped away, it is not strange that a man who is so full of himself celebrating his success in wrongdoings would feel it as his heart died, his whole self-image must have been shattered. Still God was true to His promise that if we return to Him He will show us mercy (1Sam7:3 Deut 30:2 Jeremiah15:19). But Nabal who´s heart was dead leaving him like a stone unable to feel any remorse or regret was not moved, and God´s punishment reached him 10 days later, setting Abigail free from his tyranny.

What an amazing and inspiring strength and trust in God Abigail must have had, to not act by her own force, she could have hidden or conspired against Nabal but she stood up protecting those weaker and left the judgement to God.

Let us pray that we have the faith and strength of Abigail to trust in the Lord when we face oppressors .

Let opressors be humbled when confronted with their sins, so they can turn back to God and not face judgement and death like Nabal.

By: Mike Petersen