Trusting God’s Providence in a World of Vengeance
When Abigail stood between a king and a fool
One of the most frustrating aspects of our life as Christians is when we seem to have unanswered prayers. We are not sure what to do when we go to the Lord earnestly in prayer and then it seems to go unanswered.
We will pray for a job offer to come through, for a spouse to marry, for children in our marriage, or for provision and protection. And from our vantage point, sometimes it seems as if God is not working or God is not listening.
But we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. What are we to do with this?
Let’s see how 1 Samuel gives us context and wisdom regarding these matters…
The Death of Samuel (1 Samuel 25:1)
The text opens with simply one verse remarking on the death of Samuel. This is just one verse, but it is a turning point in the text. Samuel has been a major figure in the book with his name. The entire book opens with the story of Samuel, and he looms large in almost every story even if his name is not mentioned. He is the kingmaker, the one who goes and anoints the king selected by God. And now he is gone.
With his death, there is a passing of one age and the beginning of another. Anytime a high priest died in the land there was a type of liberation for fugitives as a new high priest, or judge, was coming into power. There is a type of cleansing that happens, or a reset, when the high priest dies.
And so with the death of Samuel, we have a similar reality we are facing. Something is changing. It is a passing-of-the-guard type of moment. What will happen?
Let’s look.
David’s Request to Nabal (1 Samuel 25:2-9)
David is still on the run. He has just spared the life of Saul and professed that vengeance belongs to the Lord. David finds himself in the wilderness and a feast day is approaching. He and his men need food to celebrate.
In the area lives a man named Nabal, whose name means "fool." This is a man who is very wealthy and powerful, with thousands in his flock. The text is very explicit that he is harsh and badly behaved. This is not a good man. He is a bad man. We don’t see exactly what he is like yet, but we will. The text alludes to his wife, who we will hear from in just a bit—she is discerning and beautiful.
David sends emissaries to Nabal requesting sustenance for the upcoming feast day.
Think of it this way: David had a relationship of friendship already established with the house of Nabal. Some of his shepherds had been with David and received care and protection while they were with David. That would have been known to Nabal.
Imagine if you were to lend a friend some money to get through a difficult season—whether in business or personally—and then that friend gave the money back and then some. That’s the kind of relationship David had with Nabal.
David had taken care of Nabal’s men. And so David reaches out, thinking this is a very normal request that would be honored. This is a type of petition or prayer that David asks of his nobleman, expecting it to be honored.
But listen to this harsh and badly behaved man.
Nabal’s Rejection (1 Samuel 25:10-13)
David’s men come and share this message and request with Nabal. Pay attention to Nabal’s response. He knows very well who David is, and he is trying to insult them. Like he doesn’t know who David is.
David has just greeted him as father, referring to himself as son, and Nabal responds with condescension, calling David a slave who is rebelling against his master. Notice he says my, my, my, my and claims he does not know David.
Nabal is a self-consumed man. He is truly harsh and badly behaved. This isn’t even a negotiation for him. He is simply rejecting and insulting David—the anointed king, the great warrior, the man after God’s own heart—who has taken care of his men.
You have to get into the world of the Bible to understand what will happen next. This type of response was not just a rude text message or email that you might get from time to time. Back then, and for much of human history, there was a high value placed on honor and respect.
You were expected to practice hospitality not out of sentimentality or being nice, but out of duty and honor. Men fought duels over far less, because to let an insult go unanswered was to accept shame before everyone. Why? It wasn’t just an insult and how it made you feel—it was about maintaining public honor. Nabal was shaming David publicly, trying to destroy his reputation and honor.
David recognizes what is happening. And so he tells his men to strap on their swords because this guy has just declared war on him. He is ready to take up this challenge. David, who had just said that vengeance belongs to the Lord, is about ready to take vengeance himself.
But God has provided a way.
Abigail’s Intervention (1 Samuel 25:14-31)
One of Nabal’s servants hears this exchange and tells Abigail what happened. He relays the message that Nabal has invited destruction on his own head. Nabal may not respect or honor David, but this man knows. He spent time with David and his men, and he knows what they are capable of.
Abigail takes food—figs, grain, lamb, raisins, and wine—in secret and goes to make concessions with David. She is bringing provisions to David to honor the original request he made. Where Nabal rejected David, Abigail honors him.
We get a closer look into the mind of David here. He has not just protected some of Nabal’s men, but his entire land. He intends to destroy every male—or as the King James puts it, "all those who pisseth against the wall," including Nabal himself. David here doesn’t sound like David here. In fact, he sounds like Saul—bloodthirsty and eager to kill anyone who dishonors him.
Abigail comes to David to restore his honor and remind him of his purpose. She bows before him and spends many words to explain what is going on. She reminds him that he has previously spared his hand from bloodguilt against Saul. She speaks of how the Lord will keep him from evil, referring to David as her lord throughout. She knows he is the Lord’s anointed. She knows that David taking vengeance would not just go against what he already professed, but would stain his conscience. She pleads that, as the Lord has remembered David and will fight his battles, he would remember her.
David’s desire and intention to avenge his good name is easily understood. We have all had these things. Even in our prayers, when we pray with David that God would strike down the evildoer and overcome our enemies, we might often feel that God does not hear us or honor our petition.
But notice David’s response: Oftentimes, God is working out a greater plan but not letting us walk into foolishness or accomplish things exactly as we had in mind.
David’s Response (1 Samuel 25:32-35)
David responds positively to this. He is a man who is open to reason, unlike Saul, and he recognizes when he is wrong.
It would have been wrong for David to avenge himself because it is the Lord who made David’s name anything worth knowing in the first place. It is not David’s right to do this. Nabal had committed no crime worthy of death to deserve the sword of David. This would have hurt his conscience and standing before the Lord.
You have to put yourself into their world. This was a public shaming. Now we may think we have moved beyond this, but you know how this feels. If someone says something publicly about you—whether in class, in front of your friends, or online—it is very tempting to lash out and avenge yourself.
But we must remember that Jesus teaches that we should consider ourselves blessed when people slander us and utter all kinds of falsehoods against us, for our Father rejoices in heaven. We should leave vengeance up to the Lord.
If a crime has been committed, we can seek legal recourse. But the basic human instinct to defend one’s name is something common to all of us, and we should be careful not to become bitter and ensnared in taking vengeance.
How will the Lord avenge David?
The Lord’s Judgment on Nabal (1 Samuel 25:36-38)
Abigail returns to Nabal and finds him completely inebriated—very drunk, as the text says. He is holding a feast after having denied David’s request. He is relishing in his power, behaving like a king.
Abigail tells him nothing until he is good and hungover the next morning. When she does, his heart dies within him. The text doesn’t tell us exactly why, but one could presume that he is struck by her words in such a way that he has a physical reaction akin to a heart attack. So shocked was he that he became as a stone. He remained that way until 10 days later, when the Lord strikes Nabal dead. The Lord has avenged David.
David’s Reward (1 Samuel 25:39-44)
With Nabal dead, David takes that which belongs to Nabal. He gets provision for his men and he gets the treasure of Nabal—his wife. David’s first wife, Michal, Saul’s daughter, had been taken from him and married off to another woman. But here, David takes Abigail to be his wife, along with other women.
This will be a recurring challenge in his life, culminating in the taking of Bathsheba. Even in this temporary reprieve from foolishness, we see that it does not eliminate other sins that haunt.
How is the Lord working in this passage?
Summary: God’s Providence in Action
David was about to make a rash and foolish decision. In this time of transition—a liminal space where things are uncertain—David is immediately put to the test to see if the character he professed about vengeance was true. And he nearly fell into a snare.
Taking vengeance on Nabal would have been foolish, reckless, and tainted his conscience and rule. But the Lord intervened with Abigail, who models what it is like for a wife and woman to lead with humility and respect, calling David to something greater while humbling herself before him. She restores her future husband’s honor and reminds him of his purpose.
This is a wonderful example to wives. They have a unique opportunity to restore respect and honor by speaking it over their husbands. And it speaks to husbands, as they have a God-given instinct to make war and defend, that they should do so with wisdom and not rashness.
The Lord intervenes by sending Abigail to keep David from foolishness.
Consider how the Lord has intervened for you. While you were dead in your trespasses and sins, the Lord intervened by sending His Son to die for your sins. He has called you from the domain of darkness into His marvelous light.
The ultimate foolishness, that of sin and rebellion to God’s ways, has been thwarted by the Almighty. He comes to us bearing gifts, the Holy Spirit ministering to us and interceding for us before the Father. Christ stays the wrath of God against us and secures peace. This is the wisdom of God.
He will take that which appears foolish—a Savior dying on a cross—and weave it into a tapestry of His redemptive plans. On that cross, where Christ was subjected to open shame and mockery, He was working out a plan to disarm the principalities and powers of darkness. In rising from the grave, Christ avenged Himself, showing that all efforts to stop Him were done in vain.
And if this were not enough, the Lord often intervenes in our lives to keep us from foolishness. He sends counselors—whether a wife, pastors, or friends—to reason with us.
I mentioned unanswered prayers at the beginning because often, when we think the Lord has not answered, He is keeping us from foolishness. The Lord holds nothing back from you. Whatever the Lord ordains is done for your good and His glory.
Conclusion: A Call to Trust God’s Providence
When we think of the Lord’s providence and our unanswered prayers, we should praise the Lord. How often has He intervened in our lives to spare us and keep us near Him?
It is astounding to marvel at God’s providence. How many times has He kept our hand from accomplishing desires motivated by malice? This should not depress us that we cannot do what we want, but turn us to worship the wisdom of our Creator, who in His goodness will keep us close and shield us from actions that would harm us and our reputation.
We should aspire to be receptive to God’s instruction and warnings, like David with Abigail. When the Lord intervenes and sends people into our lives who are wise and humble, warning us of our actions, we should display deference and heed the wisdom from above.
Ultimately, we should hear Scripture’s warning: those who rebel against God face eternal torment. And we should receive the good news, the wisdom God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, by repenting of our sins and turning to Him in faith.
A church walking in the light in this way will be built up in good works and love. But a church that imitates Nabal—in greed and selfishness—or David—in foolhardy aspirations to avenge himself—will not walk in obedience to the Lord. The Lord will ultimately remove their lampstand.
A church walking in the wisdom of God and trusting His promises will be a light in the darkness. In a world filled with wrongdoing and vengeance, the church will stand as a beacon of hope, trusting in God’s providence to be our avenger and execute justice against all who wrong us. We can stand upon the promises of God and trust in His providence.
Thanks for reading! How has God’s providence shown up in your life to keep you from foolishness? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe for more sermons from The Well Church.