About Unclean things and the Curious Case of David and Nabal – 1 Samuel 25.

In one of my discipleship classes, we read about Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 vs 23 “When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. ²⁴ She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. ²⁵ Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.”

So, our pastor was saying Abigail was sounding patronizing to David and making herself available to David. In my mind, I said I see nothing wrong with that. He went on to say Abigail called her husband a fool. And I am like we all think he is wicked as for the fool it is arguable that he is, you can’t take care of pasture and you hire someone stronger to handle it for you then start insulting him. Arguably, you are FOOL. And a fool is seldom wicked. Let’s not forget Abigail was Bethrowed to Nabal as an arranged marriage, more like Ned and Regina. She now sees another man whose destiny is better than Abigail says “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. ²⁹ Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. ³⁰ When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing, he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, ³¹ my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”

And men are upset, I’m like why? if it’s you, will you stay married to a rich, wicked fool. It was probably condition that forced her into the marriage. As far as honor is concerned, you can’t honor someone you don’t love, why do you think the pharisees where calling Jesus, the lord of Beelzebub, if they can’t honor God is it man they will honor. Another thing is above, here from 29 – 30. Where Abigail was hailing David, calling the sugar in my tea, the lord brings you success and praying for him and all. You think she was stupid, if I want something from you wouldn’t I be nice, I Samuel 25: 2 the bible didn’t call her intelligent and beautiful woman for nothing, plus David did not correct her not to call her husband a FOOL, he was eyeing her too. Another thing is if Nabal could provoke a righteous man like David to anger imagine what Abigail had been dealing with all this while. Someone who could protect his pasture. In all ramifications, if a man cannot tolerate his fellow man, why should a woman tolerate it? Is it fair. So, when Abigail saw Davids’s destiny, she laid up her plan and it’s not like David resisted it, because he knew Abigails husband at this time was very much alive.

Yet David coveted. In life it takes two to tangle. Even Potiphar’s wife when she saw Josephs destiny, she was being nice to him, come to my room and all. Was because she saw his glory and star was good, you think women are stupid. When a man cannot help me spiritually what is his use to me. But David did his play on advantage.

Matthew 15: 11 -20

It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

So, things we eat can be unclean or defiled but:

Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Jeremiah ate the word of God. So, back to David and Nabal’s wife story. When Abigail knew she didn’t obey her husband, she went on to tell him the truth, when he was drunk, which consequently led to his death see verse 36 – 38

³⁶ When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So, she told him nothing at all until daybreak. ³⁷ Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him, and he became like a stone. ³⁸ About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

And this man said Abigail killed Nabal to be with David. I am like why put it on the woman’s head, since when is telling the truth a SIN. Anyway, he called for Nabal’s wife after Nabal’s death. see verse 39 – 40 and she came and married him. Happily, ever after you would think? But Abigail was joined to a wicked man, who was unmerciful and became joined to man, who was potentially covetous but righteous and the lord hand was on.

So, David this time repeat what Abigail did to Nabal on Uriah and Bathsheba. It almost, seem like the nature of Abigail was transferred to David. He was already covetous but didn’t harm Nabal. But this time, he harms Uriah. The pastor says it’s probably because Abigail killed Nabal. So, it’s only fair to think David could harm Uriah being joined to a woman like Abigail in marriage has its pecks it seems.

So, what we eat can be Gods word, food, the kind of women we choose, the kinds of people we meet and it’s not just an apple in the garden of Eden, that is good or evil, it is when we go against Gods command in our hearts. whether Nabal’s wrongdoing was on his own head as the scriptures suggest. There are things better left unsaid. But you can’t ask a woman to stay with a man who has sold his destiny. When you as a man cannot stand that same man as a man. A woman in distress is a damsel in distress, but a woman married to man she thinks is a fool and everyone knows is a fool, is even more dangerous. Money doesn’t buy honor. It’s on the grounds of love marriage is formed and honor breaks out from there.

But God reward every man according to his way, if a man defiles another man’s wife or looks at a woman adulterously in Jesus voice it is sin. So, every man mouth will be shut he brings us all to humility. It’s what David in Abigail that consumed him. And we think Adam is the biggest fool who ate wrongly.

So, its whatever a man decides to call unclean that becomes unclean to him, David decided to call Nabal’s wife clean and even it defiled him later, his faith could carry it, Afterall he was righteous in the sight of God. But Joseph, would not let Potiphar defile him, his faith could not take it. So, he did not eat. One thing is for sure, the eye of man is never satisfied. Proverbs 27: 20. Deductively, it could be argued that Nabal being a wicked man transferred his wicked nature to his wife after all the two have become one flesh. And she wanted someone more noble than him, David imparted his righteousness to her and well, we can’t say but he chooses. Abraham gave Melchizedek and

Genesis 14: 18 – 20

¹⁸ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

¹⁹ And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

²⁰ And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

So, Abigail gave David and preserved him from murder. It’s only fair she shows kindness to one the lord favors… the way of this world is not straight afterall.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1: 30