Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction:

Once again David experiences poor treatment from his fellow countrymen.

This time it was a cruel affront from a prosperous farmer named Nabal who lived "in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel" (v.

2).

It was bad enough that Saul should pursue David's life.

But it was like pouring salt into a wound for David to also have to face contempt and harsh treatment from those of his own tribesmen who should have been loyal to him and who, as in the case of Nabal and the Keilahites, especially owed much of what they had to his valiant performances against the enemies of Israel.

But David learned well what all God's people have to learn sooner or later; namely, this world does not do well in duly rewarding faithful service.

* *

!! A.           Samuel’s Death (v.1).

!!! 1.            “Samuel died…  Israelites gathered together, lamented for him and buried him…”  (v.1a).

!!!! a)            Samuel’s funeral (v.1a).

!!!!! (1)           Samuel was one of the greatest men in Israel's history.

His death was a great loss to the nation of Israel.

The funeral and lamentation at his death was a /great /and /fitting /tribute to Samuel, but it was also a /delinquent /and /hypocritical /tribute.

!!!!!! (a)           *It was a/ great/ tribute *in that "all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him.”

The whole nation came to a standstill for the funeral (like it does when a president of our country dies suddenly) thus showing Samuel's greatness.

!!!!!! (b)           *It was a/ fitting/ tribute* in that great men should receive this kind of tribute at death.

!!!!!! (c)           *It was a/ delinquent/ tribute* in that during Samuel's lifetime, the Israelites did not pay due respect to Samuel.

They rejected his counsel regarding a king and in general gave little heed to him.

Too late they realized his value.

We need to give our honors and tribute to people before they die as well as after they have died.

!!!!!! (d)           *And it was a/ hypocritical/ tribute* in that much of the lamentation and honor for Samuel at his death was not sincere.

Why?

The people went on their wicked ways after he died.

Like many in our day, they eulogized great spiritual leaders but were careful not to follow their examples or exhortations.

*This reminds me of the book of Judges which says that* "The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died" (Judges 2:20-21, NASB95)

*Then the last chapter and verse of Judges says* "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

(Judges 21:25, NASB95)

!!!!!! (e)                 In Judges 2, we see the transition of the goldy to the ungodly generation *(2:6-19)*.

!!!! b)            All of us must die.

PSOB affront

 

 

!!! 2.            “David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran…”  (v.1b).

!!!! a)            David lost a great friend.

!!!!! (1)           David's move reflected the fact that in Samuel's death he had lost a great friend and supporter and protector.

!!!!! (2)           This meant that Saul could become even more dangerous to David *because* Saul would feel less restraint in doing evil now that Samuel was gone.

I want my kids to feel the same restraint wether I am there or not.

They must fear God!

 

 

 

 

 

\\ !! B.           The Cause of the Offense (v.4-6, 8).

!!! 1.

The Man Given the Request (v.2-3).

!!!! a)            “The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats…”  (v.2).

 

 

!!!! b)            “Abigail… was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance…”  (v.3a).

!!!! c)            “The man was harsh and evil in his doings…”  (v.3b).

!!! 2.            The Motive for the Request (v.16).

!!!! a)            “They were a wall to us both night and day… keeping the sheep…”  (v.16).

!!! 3.            The Manner of the Request (v.6-8).

!!!! a)            “Peace be to you, your house, and to all that you have…”  (v.6).

!!!! b)            “Your shepherds were with us… we didn’t hurt them, nor take anything, ask them…”  (v.7-8).

!!!! c)            “Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants…”  (v.8b).

!!!! d)            “For we come on a feast day…”  (v.8c).

!! C.           The Character of the Offense (v.10-11).

!!! 1.            His Denial of the Request (v.10a-11).

!!!! a)            “Who is David…?

And who is the son of Jesse?

Shall I then take, & give it…”  (v.10-11).

!!!!! (1)           */Nabal was untruthful/* - 

 

 

!!! 2.            His Disrespect for the Requesters (v.10b & 14).

!!!! a)            “There are many servants… who break away from their master…  (v.10b).

!!!! b)            “He reviled them…”  (v.14b).

!! D.           The Confrontation About the Offense (v.12-13, 21).

!!! 1.            David’s Desire for Revenge (v.12-13).

!!!! a)            “David’s men turned on their heels… went back… and told him all these words…”  (v.12).

!!!!! (1)           Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5

 

 

 

!!! 2.            David’s Declaration of Regret (v.21).

!!!! a)            “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness…”  (v.21a).

!!!! b)            “He has repaid me evil for good…”  (v.21b).

!! E.           The Conciliation About the Offense (v.14-35).

Before David had opportunity to execute a bloody and cruel vengeance upon Nabal and his household, Abigail, Nabal's wife, interceded to conciliate David.

Abigail was a peacemaker, not a troublemaker.

Divine blessings are for the peacemaker (Matthew 5:9) but not for the troublemaker (Proverbs 6:16,19).

Would that we had more peacemakers in society.

We need more peacemakers on the job, at school, in the home, and at church.

But we seem to abound in troublemakers instead.

!!! 1.

The Warning for Abigail (v.14-17).

!!!! a)            “One of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife… he reviled them…”  (v.14).

!!!!! (1)           /The trust for the warning/

!!!!! (2)           /The timelessness of the warning/

 

 

 

 

!!!! b)            “David’s men were good to us, did not harm us… they were a wall to us…”  (v.15-16).

!!!!! (1)           /The testimony about David (v.15-16) - /

!!!!! (2)           /The testimony about Nabal (v.17) - /

 

 

 

!!!! c)            “Know and consider what you will do…”  (v.17a).

!!!!! (1)            

 

 

 

!!!! d)            “Harm is determined against our master and against all his household…”  (v.17b).

!!!!! (1)           As a father, I know that every decision, good or bad will not only affect me but also my wife and children (see Joshua 7:22-26; Romans 5:12).

!!!!! (2)            

 

 

 

!!! 2.            The Wisdom of Abigail (v.18-31).

!!!! a)            “Then Abigail made haste…”  (v.18a-22).

!!!!! (1)           /The promptness of her response/ – She realized there wasn’t a moment to waste.

!!!!! (2)           /The provision in her response – /

 

 

 

!!!! b)            “Abigail fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground…”  (v.23).

!!!! c)            “On me, my lord, me, let this iniquity be…”  (v.24a).

!!!!! (1)           Abigail repented of the offense.

Later she repeated her repentance when she said, /"Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant" /(v.

28).

If David was going to be conciliated, guilt had to be admitted and confessed; and Abigail addressed that need quickly.

!!!!! (2)           Of course, Abigail was innocent of sinning against David /("I . . .

did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent" /v.25); but the principle regarding her repentance, which is so prominent in the Gospel, is that of substitution in which the innocent one takes the guilt of the transgressor in order to save the condemned.

!!!!! (3)           Abigail's approach to David is also an illustration of the only way we can come to God for reconciliation.

We must admit our guilt in sinning if we want forgiveness and salvation.

Those who do not sense their sinfulness will not be saved.

!!!! d)            “Let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal… folly is with him…”  (v.25a).

!!!!! (1)           Abigail was not about to justify Nabal in anyway.

She described him for what he was—a fool.

How differently Nabal thought of himself than what his wife knew him to be. 

 

 

!!!! e)            “The Lord has held you back… from avenging yourself with your own hand…”  (v.26).

!!!!! (1)           God intervened to stop the vengeance.