Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
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*1 Samuel 25:2-3*
§ “good understanding” – intelligent.
*1 Samuel 25:4-8*
§ Sheep shearing time was a festive occasion, and Nabal s~/b in a good mood.
*1 Samuel 25:9-12*
§ Nabal recognized no authority other than his own.
§ He is unwilling to even give the men bread and water, a basic courtesy.
*1 Samuel 25:13-17, 21-22*
§ David responds to the snub with anger, not going to let that pass, it wasn’t right, etc.
§ Nabal’s actions are not only known to Abigail.
§ She did not choose to explain away his behavior or make excuses for Nabal.
I. Abigail’s Craft
A. She made haste to resolve the conflict (18)
§ She does what should have been done.
§ She hopes to avert a disaster for herself and those she loves.
§ She wisely doesn’t approach or reproach Nabal (19)
§ What she does she does for Nabal’s benefit – to tell him would be to harm him.
B. She shows the consideration that her husband did not (23-24)
§ She is humble as she approaches a dangerous situation.
§ That confidence in the storm will come with trust in God.
C.
She puts a distance between herself and the offense (25-31)
§ She admits his folly in ignoring David and his men.
§ Yet she also appeals to the character of David to stay his anger.
§ She needed to win David without betraying Nabal.
§ Solution: intercedes on Nabal’s behalf while admitting he has no case or hope for survival.
§ In other words, while defending him, she disassociates herself from him.
§ Her urgency is modulated throughout by courtesy and politeness.
§ Her description of Nabal as “a fool” is neither disloyal nor heartless.
§ David would not have had a wife who displayed either poor trait.
§ Yet her integrity prevents her from pulling any punches.
§ Her plea is to Scripture: “vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”
D. David agrees to her request (32-34)
§ He admits she would have been harmed as well.
§ He heeds Abigail (34) not to make amends with Nabal, but out of respect for Abigail.
II.
Abigail’s Timing (36-38)
§ While Nabal had refused to give any food, now he is seen gorging himself with food.
§ Abigail chooses the right time to speak to her husband, when he will fully understand.
§ The shock did not kill him, he died ten days later by the hand of God.
§ But the news did turn his heart stone cold, the opposite of what repentance does.
§ *Ezekiel 36:26* "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
E. David recognizes that God is fully capable of taking vengeance.
(39)
§ The contrast is remarkable:
§ The Lord kept David from doing wrong.
§ The Lord brought Nabal’s wrong doing down on his own head.
§ *Joel 3:4* "Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia?
Will you retaliate against Me?
But if you retaliate against Me, Swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head”
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