In 1 Samuel 25 there was a man named Nabal who was a land owner, farmer and a Lord of his time. Back during this time in history, around 1150 BC (3100 years ago), a Lord was a common name for Masters, wealthy men, and men who had earned the position of respect and power, they had earned that title at the hands of those who they had authority of provision over. So in modern times, we might look to a sound leader or someone who has demonstrated good leadership and acquired wealth as “sir”. But it carried a lot of earned clout.

Nabal was a “Lord” and he was very wealthy, he had a beautiful wife named Abigail, who was “of good understanding” according to verse 3 in 1 Samuel 25. How many of you have a good wife or a good girlfriend who is always looking out for your best interest? Blessed is the man who finds a good wife guys. You can read this story about Nabal and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 for yourself.

But here’s the thing. Nabal had a hard heart, he was arrogant, he was crass, and he was pompous. In other words, the wealth and power had gone to his head, therefore, he had come to a place in his life where it appears he took his position and wealth for granted, which ultimately indicates he had forgotten that grace and mercy, provision and wealth always comes from the Lord God ultimately. As it occurred, David came to Nabal (via his men) while he was out protecting the Israelites from the Philistines, and asked Nabal to feed his men, 400 of them. For Nabal, this would have been a minuscule task. Nabal had millions of dollars, resources, and plenty servants to spare to accomplish this. But Nabal took the attitude of arrogance, and scoffed at David’s men and turned them away. He didn’t know who David was, the future King of Israel, and he wasn’t just aloof and disinterested in providing for David and his men, he was crass and arrogant, as well as dismissive in his response when the food was asked for. Abigail, Nabal’s wife, was approached by one of David’s men and she was told what happened. Abigail, being the wonderful woman she was recognized that it was her husband’s responsibility to take in travelers (a custom of that time) and provide for them. So in her husband’s absence, “she hastily prepared 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys” and she sent them forward for David and his men, and told them she was coming after. However she didn’t tell Nabal she was doing this because she knew it would anger him. What she realized was that David and his men had been looking after Nabal’s men, protecting them in the wilderness, making sure that nothing was taken. At that time, the Philistines would raid camps, and families and pilfer all they had, rape the women, and treat the Israelites like savages.

So it angered David and he was prepared to kill the whole lot of men in Nabal’s camp. Abigail in her wisdom, knew that taking care of David and his men would be the only way to protect her family and camp, even if it meant doing it outside of what she knew her husband would want.

Long story short, the next morning after Nabal had woken from a night of drinking and being merry, Abigail told Nabal of what she had done. The bible says his heart died within him, and he became like a stone in verse 37. After ten days, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.

Draw your own conclusions guys, but this is a story about living with a right heart, having a heart to help when it’s in your power to do so, and it’s also a testimony to what it is to have a good wife. Men take care not to let your heart harden, ask God to keep you pliable and open minded, always considering how to assist others. Only the Lord knows your heart, and be sure that He sees everything you do and say, there are no secrets from God.