1 Samuel 25:14-17 – Being alert and wise

Offended, David and 400 of his men, each girded with a sword with devastating intent, were heading toward where Nabal was. Anticipating a severe consequence, one of Nabal’s young men showed alertness and quickly did something to avert it. He overheard the conversation between David’s men and Nabal and understood the impending disaster. Had it not been for that sensible young man the result would be shattering. So he quickly jumped into action. He approached Abigail, his master’s wife, and notified her of the impending tragedy.

In verses 14-17, he came to Abigail and narrated to her the exchange he overheard between David’s men and Nabal, his master. According to him, David sent messengers from the wilderness with goodwill to Nabal, but they were snubbed by him. This sensible young man could attest to the claim of David that his men had ensured the security for him and his fellow workers. They were so well protected that he and his fellow shepherds could go about their work in peace. So long as they were near the men of David, they were well protected. David’s men were like a wall to them, both by day and night, enabling them to go about their duties tending to their sheep unharmed.

With the calamity looming large, Nabal’s sensible young man urged Abigail to do something to avert it. We can sense that urgency in his words. He said to her, “Now therefore, know and consider what you should do, for evil is plotted against our master and against all his household; and he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.” Notice how he referred to his master. He called him a worthless man and he was not wrong. The way Nabal had responded to David’s kind gesture showed how foolishly he had acted. What’s sad was that he was so stupidly adamant that no one could persuade him otherwise. Nabal’s response to David’s men proved how worthless he was.  This word “worthless” was the same word used earlier to describe Eli’s sons. Unwittingly, Nabal had joined a class of people that were not only undiscerning but also a good-for-nothing.

Earlier we saw how contrasting David was with Nabal. Here in these four verses, we saw how contrasting one of Nabal’s workers was with him. This worker though young was alert, wise, discerning and sensible. He may not have much materially. But he had much in terms of quality to be of value to his master. Evaluating the situation, this sensible young man could sense impending danger. He could tell what’s right from what’s not. Being alert, he acted swiftly to avert a calamity. Being wise and discerning, he knew who he could approach to have the matter rightly dealt with. In the Lord’s work, there is a need for workers who are alert, sensible, wise and discerning. Let us be such disciples for God.