David grieves with the nation of Israel over Samuel’s death. And moves once again to the region of Carmel. Carmel in Hebrew means fruitful garden and that is what David and his men find. They discover that the land and livestock are owned by a wealthy man named Nabal. As David and his men reside in this area of Israel, scripture tells us that they voluntarily surround his shepherds and livestock and act as a protective barrier for Nabal’s possessions. I couldn’t help but think about the years David had on the hillside shepherding his family’s flock. I can imagine those instincts drove him to protect flocks that weren’t even his. His heart remains tender even in his years on the run.
He asks his men to go and give a blessing to the landowner, and request to be invited to a festive celebration. Now I don’t think that Emily Post would have recommended this request, but I can imagine that those in Israel who knew David, and knew of his victories over the Philistines would have been honored to host David and his men.
But Nabal apathetically and harshly refuses to serve David. He even acts like he has no idea who David is but refers to him as one who had fallen away from his master. When David’s men come back and tell him the reaction of Nabal, we see David’s fury rise up within him. This is a side of David we have not observed until now. He asks his men to prepare for battle. He is ready to go to war with Nabal-the fool.
But God intervenes on everyone’s behalf and uses Nabal’s wife Abigail to answer David’s wrath with kindness, and lots of delicious food for he and all of his men.
In the last portion of this chapter, we will see how God provides for David in the fruitful land of Carmel.
Take a moment to remember the times God has intervened in your story with an unexpected and undeserved kindness or act of grace. Is it possible this grace changes the outcome of your next steps? If you’ve had this experience, or even need an experience like this-I encourage you to ask the Lord for his intervention or thank Him for the beauty of His provision to you.