This Week’s Experience – 11/26/2023

Love your enemies! Do good to those who mistreat you.

-Luke 6:27

There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time. His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was not just beautiful but intelligent as well but her husband was harsh and mean. Nabal was a descendant of Caleb.

-1 Samuel 25:2-3

“Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”

-1 Samuel 25:10-11

“Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their camp.

 -1 Samuel 25:13

May God strike me dead if I don't kill every last one of Nabal’s men before morning!"

-1 Samuel 25:22

One of Nabal's servants said to Nabal's wife Abigail, "Have you heard? David sent some messengers from the wilderness with greetings for our master, but he insulted them. Yet they were very good to us; they never bothered us, and all the time we were with them in the fields, nothing that belonged to us was stolen. In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep. Please think this over and decide what to do. This could be disastrous for our master and all his family. He is so mean that he won't listen to anybody!" Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. She packed them on donkeys and said to her servants, “Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.

-1 Samuel 25:14-19

When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. Then she said, “Sir, let me be held responsible for this wrong. Please let me speak with you. Please listen to my words. Don't pay any attention to that good-for-nothing Nabal. His name means "fool," and it really fits him! I didn't see the men you sent. The LORD has kept you from spilling innocent blood and from getting a victory by your own efforts. Now, sir, I solemnly swear, as the LORD and you live, may your enemies and those who are trying to harm you end up like Nabal. Please, sir, accept this present I have brought you, and give it to your men. Please forgive me if I say a little more. The LORD will always protect you and your family, because you fight for him. I pray that you won't ever do anything evil as long as you live. Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! The LORD has promised to do many good things for you, even to make you the ruler of Israel. The LORD will keep his promises to you, and now your conscience will be clear, because you won't be guilty of taking revenge and killing innocent people. When the LORD does all those good things for you, please remember me. David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me. May your good judgment be blessed. Also, may you be blessed for keeping me from slaughtering people today and from getting a victory by my own efforts.

-1 Samuel 25:23-33