Dealing with the fools in your life #5b

I heard of a situation recently where a parent was very stressed. There were pressures on the job, pressures financially, demands from family, time constraints on projects, and on and on it went.

The parent called their child into the room to do a simple task – sign a form and date it. After the child finished doing as was asked, the parent looked at the signature, shook their head, then gave a ten minute lecture on their poor penmanship, how it could effect their future, and what a poor testimony it was.

The next day, after a good night’s rest and time to rethink the situation, the parent went to their child and apologized for overreacting due to the stress in their life. They’d let all the pressures from life make this little thing a huge thing! We’ve all probably done the very same thing at some point in our lives. Being hungry, angry, lonely or tired makes a small matter a mountain to us.

That’s exactly what David did in our story in I Samuel 25. Nabal had been rude, unkind, disrespectful and denied David’s men supper, but this is not a capitol offence! David has turned it into a war. David really is acting out of character. He’d been so longsuffering with King Saul. But now, due to the condition he’s in he’s out of control. Proverbs 19:11 reminds us that it is a man’s glory to overlook a matter. That’s what David should have done – overlooked Nabal’s rude behavior, but instead he made it a battle.

In our study, in verse 24 Abigail has now reached David and his men and dismounts off her donkey and bows herself to the ground showing respect for David. We see her humility in her speech, her attitude and now in her actions.

She begins talking to David in one of the longest speeches made by a woman in Scripture. She’s not on a tirade. She’s calm. She’s in control. She knows what to say and to whom. Once again we see her godly discernment. She’s not bawling and upset. She’s calm, quiet, and respectful. Think about the last “speech” you made; perhaps it was to your husband, your child, boss, or neighbor. Perhaps you were talking to the fool in your life. Were your words calm, quiet and respectful?

As Abigail talks to David she doesn’t tear Nabal down; she’s just honest about what Nabal was like. Her goal isn’t to defend her husband or get David on her side. I believe the Lord was guiding her words, giving her the “tongue of the learned.” When we are in a crisis situation we must stop! This is the time to ask God for wisdom to know what to do, how do do it, who to go to, when to go, and what to say. Our Savior, Who is our Wonderful Counsellor, will give us the wisdom that we need so He will be glorified, we won’t be acting out of control, and we’ll know how to deal with the situation.

Thank the Lord we can be like Abigail rather than Nabal, or even overreacting David – if we’ll stop and pray before we respond. Who will you imitate today?