#80. 1 Samuel 25-28 | Married to a Fool

Speaker: 00:00:00

This is a dwelling place

from a trusted Ministries.

2

: 00:00:02

I'm Stephanie Cock and we're

covering one Samuel 25 through 28

3

: 00:00:05

in studying Saul's downward spiral.

4

: 00:00:07

I couldn't help but notice that he

most often sins when he's afraid or

5

: 00:00:11

impatient, and that's pretty humbling.

6

: 00:00:13

'cause I would say that's

probably true of me too.

7

: 00:00:15

His fear often led him to disobey

God and to seek his own welfare.

8

: 00:00:19

But his sin removes God's

hand of protection from him.

9

: 00:00:22

thankfully we get to focus on

someone much more admirable.

10

: 00:00:25

And you guys, I am Phineas level,

excited to talk to you about Abigail.

11

: 00:00:29

Today.

12

: 00:00:29

it's about time we have a woman

we can look up to and admire.

13

: 00:00:32

Let's remind ourselves that when

scripture tells a story, it's not

14

: 00:00:35

elevating everything that someone did.

15

: 00:00:38

But in the case of Abigail

Scripture affirms how wise she was.

16

: 00:00:41

We're told she's beautiful and we can

see she's resourceful a problem solver,

17

: 00:00:46

and all the while incredibly humble.

18

: 00:00:48

When Abigail speaks to David, it's

the longest speech spoken by a

19

: 00:00:52

woman in all of the Old Testament.

20

: 00:00:53

We've seen a song sung by Miriam and

then by Deborah, but in terms of speaking

21

: 00:00:58

parts, Abigail has a starring role.

22

: 00:01:00

Unfortunately,

23

: 00:01:01

she's as unequally yoked as they come

She's married to Neal, whose name

24

: 00:01:05

means fool, and it's not a misnomer.

25

: 00:01:07

He's arrogant, and evil.

26

: 00:01:09

And for Samuel 25, we

find out Neal is rich.

27

: 00:01:12

He's got 3000 sheep and a thousand goats.

28

: 00:01:14

And apparently some of these

wilderness areas we're really

29

: 00:01:17

dangerous places back then.

30

: 00:01:19

People might steal your flock or attack

you, and David and his men have been

31

: 00:01:22

protecting Neal and his shepherds.

32

: 00:01:24

It's the time of year where it's the

annual shearing of the and this would've

33

: 00:01:27

been a time of celebration and feasting.

34

: 00:01:30

David sends some of his men to

greet Neal with peace and say,

35

: 00:01:33

since it's feast day and we've been

protecting you, might we share?

36

: 00:01:36

In some of your meal,

37

: 00:01:38

but Neal rebukes them for their request.

38

: 00:01:40

He decides to selfishly hoard what

he has and completely disrespects.

39

: 00:01:44

The ways that David and

his men have served him.

40

: 00:01:46

David's Men return to give

this offensive report,

41

: 00:01:49

and David says, basically it's on.

42

: 00:01:51

Get Your Swords, boys.

43

: 00:01:53

He sets out with 400 of his men.

44

: 00:01:54

But thankfully God intervenes but one

of the young men told Abigail Neal's

45

: 00:01:59

wife, behold David sent messengers

out of the wilderness to greet

46

: 00:02:03

our master, and he railed at them.

47

: 00:02:05

Yet the men were very good to us and

we suffered no harm and we did not miss

48

: 00:02:09

anything when we were in the fields.

49

: 00:02:10

As long as we went with them, they

were a wall to us, both by night and by

50

: 00:02:14

day, all the while we were with them.

51

: 00:02:16

Keeping the sheep now therefore,

know this and consider what you

52

: 00:02:19

should do for harm is determined

against our master and against all

53

: 00:02:23

his house, and he is such a worthless

man that one cannot speak to him.

54

: 00:02:27

Then Abigail made haste and took

200 loaves and two skins of wine and

55

: 00:02:32

five sheep already prepared, and five

se of parched grain and a hundred

56

: 00:02:36

clusters of raisins and 200 cakes

of figs, and laid them on donkeys.

57

: 00:02:40

And she said to her, young

men, go on before me.

58

: 00:02:43

Behold I come after you.

59

: 00:02:44

But she did not tell her husband, Neal.

60

: 00:02:46

and continuing in 23, when Abigail

saw David, she hurried and got down

61

: 00:02:50

from the donkey and fell before David

on her face and bowed to the ground.

62

: 00:02:54

She fell at his feet and said on

me alone, my Lord, be the guilt.

63

: 00:02:58

Please let your servant speak in your

ears and hear the words of your servant.

64

: 00:03:01

Let not my Lord regard this worthless

fellow nal for as His name is.

65

: 00:03:05

So is he.

66

: 00:03:06

Nal is his name, and Folly is with him.

67

: 00:03:09

but I, your servant did not see the

young men of my Lord whom you sent.

68

: 00:03:12

Now then my Lord.

69

: 00:03:13

As the Lord lives and as your

soul lives because the Lord has

70

: 00:03:17

restrained you from blood guilt

71

: 00:03:19

and from saving with your own hand.

72

: 00:03:21

Now then let your enemies and those who

seek to do evil to my Lord, be asal.

73

: 00:03:26

And now let this present that your

servant has brought to my Lord, be given

74

: 00:03:30

to the young men who follow my Lord.

75

: 00:03:31

Please forgive the

trespass of your servant.

76

: 00:03:34

For the Lord will certainly make my

Lord a shore house because my Lord

77

: 00:03:37

is fighting the battles of the Lord.

78

: 00:03:39

An evil shall not be found

in you so long as you live.

79

: 00:03:41

If men rise up to pursue you and to seek

your life, the life of my Lord shall

80

: 00:03:45

be bound in the bundle of the living

and the care of the Lord your God.

81

: 00:03:49

And the lives of your enemies, he shall

sling out as from the hollow of a sling.

82

: 00:03:53

And when the Lord has done to my Lord,

according to all the good that he has

83

: 00:03:57

spoken concerning you and has appointed

you print over Israel, my Lord shall have

84

: 00:04:01

no cause of grief or pangs of conscience

for having shed blood without cause, or

85

: 00:04:06

for my Lord working salvation himself.

86

: 00:04:08

And when the Lord has dealt well with

my Lord, then remember your servant.

87

: 00:04:12

And David said to Abigail, blessed

be the Lord, the God of Israel

88

: 00:04:16

who sent you this day to meet me.

89

: 00:04:18

Blessed be your discretion and blessed

be you who have kept me this day

90

: 00:04:22

from blood guilt and from working

salvation with my own hand, for surely

91

: 00:04:25

as the Lord, the God of Israel lives.

92

: 00:04:27

Who has restrained me from

hurting you unless you had

93

: 00:04:30

hurried to come and meet me?

94

: 00:04:31

Truly by morning there had not been

left in a ball so much as one male.

95

: 00:04:35

Then David received from her hand,

which she had brought him, and he said

96

: 00:04:38

to her, go up in peace to your house.

97

: 00:04:41

See, I have obeyed your voice and

I have granted your petition, and

98

: 00:04:44

Abigail came to Neal and behold.

99

: 00:04:46

He was holding a feast in his

house like the Feast of a King.

100

: 00:04:49

And Neal's heart was married within

him for he was very drunk, so she

101

: 00:04:52

told him nothing at all until the

morning light in the morning when

102

: 00:04:55

the wine had gone out of Neal.

103

: 00:04:56

His wife told him these things

and his heart died within

104

: 00:04:59

him, and he became as a stone.

105

: 00:05:01

And about 10 days later, the

Lord struck Neal and he died.

106

: 00:05:04

When David learns that God brought

justice, he rejoices and sends word

107

: 00:05:08

to Abigail to take her as a wife.

108

: 00:05:10

It is hard to know for sure, but one of

my commentaries believes that at this time

109

: 00:05:14

it would've been widespread knowledge.

110

: 00:05:15

That David was going to be King.

111

: 00:05:17

Abigail certainly affirms this

as she's not just concerned about

112

: 00:05:20

protecting her life and her household.

113

: 00:05:22

She's also concerned that David

would go into the kingship with

114

: 00:05:25

honor both Abigail and David credit

the Lord for keeping him from sin.

115

: 00:05:29

we've studied the name of

God, the Lord, my sanctifier.

116

: 00:05:32

And sometimes it Humbles

you to see how God has

117

: 00:05:35

kept you.

118

: 00:05:36

Maybe not just from sin, but maybe

from making it through after sleepless

119

: 00:05:39

nights and caring for everybody and

doing all the things how he sustains us.

120

: 00:05:43

There are a lot of implications

we could look to for this

121

: 00:05:46

to teach us about marriage.

122

: 00:05:47

It's fascinating that Abigail

is quite clear about the

123

: 00:05:50

kind of man her husband is.

124

: 00:05:51

But scripture agrees with her and she

actually moves to protect his life.

125

: 00:05:54

God ends up striking him dead,

126

: 00:05:56

but it's not because of

anything Abigail does.

127

: 00:05:58

she was still a blessing

to her husband in all this.

128

: 00:06:01

Neal was having the Feast of a King.

129

: 00:06:02

He had plenty to share and he still

wouldn't honor God's anointed.

130

: 00:06:06

Hospitality matters to God.

131

: 00:06:07

And Abigail moved quickly in wisdom

and wasn't her humility astounding.

132

: 00:06:11

She didn't cause the problem, but she was

quick to make restitution and she gets

133

: 00:06:15

a pretty sweet reward out of the deal

as she gets married to the future king.

134

: 00:06:19

They're not headed to the palace yet.

135

: 00:06:20

They'll still have to run for their

lives for a time, and it's not a

136

: 00:06:23

complete Cinderella story because she

doesn't get to be David's only wife.

137

: 00:06:26

In the next chapter, David

and his nephew Abbasi.

138

: 00:06:29

Sneak into Saul's camp by night.

139

: 00:06:30

Saul is once again on the move

to kill David, but God puts him

140

: 00:06:34

and his men in a deep sleep.

141

: 00:06:35

David sneaks in and steals

Saul's water jug and his spear.

142

: 00:06:39

Even though Abishai was more than

happy to put Saul to death, David once

143

: 00:06:42

again says he will not put out his hand

against the Lord's anointed six times.

144

: 00:06:46

In his chapter, it talks about Saul Spear.

145

: 00:06:48

Why is that so important?

146

: 00:06:49

Because it's probably the same spear.

147

: 00:06:51

Saul hurled across the room at David

multiple times when trying to kill him.

148

: 00:06:55

when they're awake, David I shows the

spear as evidence that Saul is wrong.

149

: 00:06:59

To think that David is a

danger to him, if it were me.

150

: 00:07:02

I'd probably say some snide

comment like, Hey, look at this.

151

: 00:07:05

Remember when he tried to kill me with it?

152

: 00:07:07

But David takes the high road

153

: 00:07:08

and says, you chasing after me is

as worthless as a king chasing a

154

: 00:07:12

flea and as hopeless as chasing

a cartridge in the mountains.

155

: 00:07:15

It's not worthy of a king,

it seems saltless convicted.

156

: 00:07:19

And that he realizes he's been in

the wrong, and this will be the

157

: 00:07:21

last time that Saul and David speak,

David even gives the spear back.

158

: 00:07:26

What a display of abundant

trust in God to protect him.

159

: 00:07:29

And Chapter 27, David hides

among the Philistines because

160

: 00:07:32

he still has some fear.

161

: 00:07:34

all in all.

162

: 00:07:34

He'll be on the run for about a decade.

163

: 00:07:36

He's seen Saul's ups and downs.

164

: 00:07:38

It appears to be pretty

discerning to be on the lookout.

165

: 00:07:40

And then Aish, the head of

the Philistines, gets his men

166

: 00:07:43

ready to fight against Israel.

167

: 00:07:44

And Aish lets David know, Hey, you're

aware that you and your men are gonna

168

: 00:07:48

come out and fight with me, right?

169

: 00:07:49

Even though these are your people.

170

: 00:07:50

David's in quite the predicament.

171

: 00:07:52

So while we put a pause on David in

chapter 28, we find out that Samuel

172

: 00:07:56

dies and all of Israel mourns for him.

173

: 00:07:58

Rightfully so.

174

: 00:07:59

There were three ways that at this

time, that God communicate with people.

175

: 00:08:03

The first was their dreams, then

it was through the priest, through

176

: 00:08:06

the stones that they would carry to

cast lots, and then by the prophets.

177

: 00:08:09

Well, Samuel, the prophet is dead.

178

: 00:08:12

Saul has killed all of the priests

except one, and that one ran with

179

: 00:08:16

the EFA and the stones to David.

180

: 00:08:17

And God is not communicating

to Saul with dreams.

181

: 00:08:20

The Philistines are closing in and he's

just terrified and wants some reassurance.

182

: 00:08:24

Even though he was supposed to have

all of the mediums killed, he actually

183

: 00:08:28

just cast them outta the land.

184

: 00:08:29

But someone knows that there's

one remaining in Endor, Saul puts

185

: 00:08:32

on a disguise, which he's like

a head taller than everybody.

186

: 00:08:36

So what kind of disguise

do you put on him?

187

: 00:08:37

I don't know.

188

: 00:08:38

But they go, they promised to the medium.

189

: 00:08:40

We won't have you hurt.

190

: 00:08:41

And they call up Samuel.

191

: 00:08:43

We don't know if this medium was a

complete sham or if she was using

192

: 00:08:46

demonic power before, but when

God actually has Samuel appear to

193

: 00:08:50

her, she screams and is shocked.

194

: 00:08:52

It's not the normal visitation she's

used to and, and this is the only time

195

: 00:08:55

in scripture something like this happens.

196

: 00:08:57

Samuel has bad news for Saul.

197

: 00:08:59

First of all, he says.

198

: 00:09:00

You are gonna die tomorrow.

199

: 00:09:02

Your sons are gonna die tomorrow with

you, and the Lord is going to give

200

: 00:09:06

Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

201

: 00:09:07

This is pretty much as

bad as it gets, right?

202

: 00:09:09

Finding out you and your kids

are gonna die the next day

203

: 00:09:12

and your nation's gonna fall.

204

: 00:09:13

He was terrified before, but now

he's paralyzed in fear, literally.

205

: 00:09:17

Thankfully, we have a king sitting on

the throne right now that we can look to.

206

: 00:09:21

Let's pray.

207

: 00:09:22

Heavenly Father, we thank you that

you are the Lord, our sanctifier, you

208

: 00:09:26

began a good work in us and you're

being faithful to complete it.

209

: 00:09:29

But I'm convicted, that often.

210

: 00:09:30

I sin because I'm afraid or impatient,

and I pray for all of us that you would

211

: 00:09:35

guard our hearts and our minds with

your peace that surpasses understanding.

212

: 00:09:38

And help us to walk in Abigail's

example, to bless our household,

213

: 00:09:42

teach us to walk in wisdom so we

can support our husbands and guide

214

: 00:09:45

them to honor you with their lives.

215

: 00:09:47

May we be models of

restoration and of humility.

216

: 00:09:50

And Lord, we're not gonna

complain if you give us.

217

: 00:09:52

The blessing of beauty

that you gave her too.

218

: 00:09:54

And slow the aging process.

219

: 00:09:56

It's in the true anointed

king of Jesus that we pray.

220

: 00:09:59

Amen.