June 4 – The Good Guy Wins – I Samual 25
The two main characters in this story are Nabal and David. Nabal was described as “churlish (stubborn, hard-hearted) and evil in his doings.” David is described by Nabal’s servants as good and a wall of protection. We find David sending messengers to Nabal to humbly request any food that Nabal is able to spare. David’s messengers are to come humbly to Nabal and remind him that when his shepherds joined David’s crew to take advantage of safe passage, Nabal’s shepherds were fully protected and suffered no losses. Although Nabal was a wealthy man, he responded in a very disrespectful way and turned David’s messengers away with insults for David. David wants to punish Nabal, but Nabal’s wife intersects David and asks for mercy for Nabal which David grants.
It seems that another wicked person will get away with his actions while seemingly still being blessed. Have you ever wondered why a certain wicked person seemingly enjoys prosperity while good people struggle and suffer? This story emphasizes the importance of trusting God. It is not our job to correct or punish those that do evil. We sin when we try to take over God’s job of vengeance or correction. David was glad that he had not acted out, but allowed God to handle Nabal in God’s own way.
“when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head” 1 Samuel 25:39
