1 Samuel 25:9-12
Verse 10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.
While David’s request from Nabal was reasonable and done in a kindly manner the response from the foolish rich man was anything but kind. His question about who David was not an honest one. David was well known ever since the battle with Goliath and anyone in the region would have not only heard of David but would have known of his multiple military conquests. David was famous and Nabal would have known of him.
Nabal didn’t just know about David, he knew about his father, Jesse. It wasn’t that Nabal and Jesse ran in the same circles, but by naming Jesse as David’s father it is the punctuation on the fact that he knew exactly who this David was. He wasn’t just some random man with the name, he was THE David. And Nabal didn’t stop there in his revealing his knowledge of David.
The rich man’s comment about there being lots of servants that were breaking away from their masters shows that he has knowledge about David’s relationship with Saul. Maybe even a Saul supporter, Nabal wants no part in aiding running away from a person’s master. He may have heard about the histories of David’s men and thought they were a bunch of no good renegades.
God had directed His people to be a hospitable people and this descendant of Caleb was showing that he was not living up to those standards. In fact he was showing that his wealth probably came from his mean dealings and that he was quite selfish. Sure he tried to make it out that he needed his provisions for his own men but the truth was, he didn’t want to share with the likes of David.
Nabal was proving that his name fit him and so the men went back to David and reported all that the man had said. David had sent them off in hopes of gaining some things for the men who have been supporting him throughout this ordeal. He could have just sent his men in to rob the man and his family but he had acted as a man of God would. God had provided all along and He would do it again. It wasn’t up to David to provide for his men.
Making It Personal
Do your responses to requests depend on who is asking? Why is it hard to be generous with some people? How generous has God been with you?
Making It Personal Kids
Is it hard to be kind to people that you don’t like? Why is it hard to be kind to them? How many times has Jesus been nice to you?
Closing Prayer
Father, You are always so generous with us, why do we try to withhold generosity to others? Help us learn to reflect You in our giving to others so You are magnified. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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