When Life Gets You Down

more from 1st Samuel

When Life Gets You Down
1 Sam. 25

Background: David had just prior had the chance to kill Saul but refused to dishonor the Lord. He spared Saul’s life. Samuel had passed away and David went to the Wilderness of Paran.

David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and sent his young men to Nabal to ask for food. Nabal arrogantly told him no. As soon as David got word of Nabal’s response he ordered an attack on Nabal.

Had Nabal searched for David trying to kill him? No. Had Nabal been the one to force David into hiding for all this time? No.

LIFE had happened to David. He was feeling the stress. Saul still wanted to kill him. He was living away from his family in the wilderness. Struggling for food. Samuel had died. Life was not good. Life was hard yet he still trusted the Lord, he still made wise decisions. He still cared for others (he took care of Nabal’s shepherds while they were together). Then he asked a favor of this prosperous Nabal…..the answer was the final straw.

When Nabal said no, every bit of wisdom left David for moment. He immediately went on the defensive and ordered an attack.

When life gets you down, you CANNOT give in!

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Trust in the Lord and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Ps. 37:3

He giveth power to the faith; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24


Enter Abigail. The bible says that Abigail was beautiful and wise. When she heard what Nabal had done and that David was on his way she was terrified. She knew she had to act quickly. She did not have time to think about what she was going to do. She had to move.
a) Abigail was prepared – when she heard the news she packed up a plentiful supply of food to bring to David – we as wives must always be prepared (with food, with our time, with our home, with our finances). Abigail obviously was wise in her day to day living or she would not have been ready.
b) Abigail was in tune with the Lord. She didn’t have to “go to the Lord” to find out what to do. She was in tune and KNEW immediately.
c) Abigail was not intimidated. She was grounded in who she was. She knew she was about to confront David face to face. David’s reputation had spread, she knew he had favor with the Lord, she knew of his battle victories, of his character and his strength. She stood strong.

When Abigail approached David she fell on her face to the ground, not out of fear, out of respect. When we confront people we need to confront them with respect.

When life gets you down, you must be willing to listen.

When Abigail started speaking, David did not interrupt her. She spoke with a sense of urgency, and she spoke with desperation, yet she spoke with wisdom and passion and respect. David let her finish, even in his desperation, he slowed down to listen.

“Then David said to Abigail, blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed in your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” 1 Sam 25:32-33

David was IMPRESSED! These are in the days when women were not respected, they were not listened to, they were belittled. Yet, David calls Abigail’s speech, “advice”. He calls her blessed. He gives her affirms her and gives her credit for helping him see clearly.

“So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “go up to in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.” 1 Sam 25:35

When life gets you down, you must only look up!

Abigail returned to Nabal and he was having a feast and was drunk so she did not mention anything to him. Can you imagine the thoughts in her mind! Yet she held her tongue. She waited until morning to tell Nabal. When he heard the things “his heart died within him, and he became like stone” (maybe a heart attack or stroke). Then after about 10 days, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. Then David married Abigail.

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” Hosea 10:12