We wrote yesterday of a time when David had the opportunity to get revenge on his enemy, Saul, and his conscience towards God stopped him. There was another time when David had been so slighted that David plotted revenge and it took the intervention of a woman to stop the bloodshed.
When Nabal’s household was feasting, David asked for supplies since David’s men had long protected Nabal’s flocks when Philistine raids were common. Nabal was a selfish and rude man and flatly refused. David was incensed and immediately despatched 400 of his men to kill Nabal and his household.
Nabal’s wife, Abigail, got wind of what was about to transpire and quickly assembled some provisions and met David and his men on their way and humbly apologised on behalf of Nabal and, as a result, appeased David. David graciously remarked to her, “Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands” (1 Sam 25:33).
Not long afterwards, when Nabal heard about what had happened he collapsed and died and David took the godly Abigail to wife.
There were 2 people in this story who could’ve taken matters into their own hands and avenged themselves. Abigail was stuck in a marriage to a notoriously rude and obnoxious person. She didn’t seek to divorce him but trusted in God to make things right.
David could’ve killed Nabal and rid the world of an obnoxious person but God stepped in to prevent David from sinning.
It’s the same with us. When we seek to get revenge we are interrupting the plans that God has for our lives and may even be thwarting blessings that would otherwise have come to us. Rather than looking for revenge, let’s seek to forgive and trust in God’s timing to set things right.
Reflect:
Is there someone you need to forgive instead of plotting revenge against?
Should we forgive our enemy or take revenge?
What can you do instead of plotting revenge?
Another article I wrote on Abigail may be found here.
#kristinatrott #christian #christianblogger #christian @kristina_trott #violence #unforgiveness #revenge #vengeance #David #Saul #Engedi
*All quotes from NLT.