While David is on the run, he and his men provide security for the flocks and herds of a man named Nabal. Remember there is a constant war against the Philistines around Israel’s borders, so David’s men serve as cattle rangers for Nabal’s huge herds and shepherds.

David sends his men to get paid for their services. Nabal refuses to pay and rails on David and his men as though they are some kind of criminals. Nabal’s own employees try to convince the old fool – Nabal – that David’s men have been a great help to them and protected his cattle and the ranch hands. But Nabal adamantly refuses to pay for their services.

David gets word that his men are being taken advantage of and stiffed on paychecks. He gathers ⅔ of his men and heads to Nabal’s house to serve justice on this rich, ignorant fool.

(Just a note of clarification here. In the previous chapter, David would not put a hand on Saul because Saul is God’s anointed king, unfortunately. David will not touch God’s anointed and he doesn’t even hate Saul. This case with Nabal is different. Nabal is not God’s anointed. Nabal has no special protection from God. He is just some prosperous fool taking advantage of David’s men and railing against David.)

Nabal has a wife named Abigail. She is a good woman, pretty, and very wise. She hears that David is coming with an army to deal with her fool husband and any other men involved in this injustice. But Abigail puts together a plan to pacify David and his army, risking her life, making good on payment, and appeasing the future king of Israel.

Abigail meets David and his army and mediates a solution between a man of war and a fool’s vulnerable household. Abigail says what will become our main text for this morning. In verse 24 she says to David, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be. In other words, charge someone else’s sin to my account. Now, who does that sound like? The LORD Jesus Christ.

David accepts Abigail’s offer, but only because of Abigail’s wisdom. Otherwise, David has no concern for Nabal. When Abigail tells her fool husband what has happened after he’s sobered up, Nabal is petrified. He knows what he’s done has no remedy. The only connection he has to the king’s good graces are his wife Abigail. Nabal dies ten days after he was informed of his stupidity and what it nearly cost him.

Abigail becomes a very young widow. But David has found a kindred spirit in Abigail. She is like him. They both share the spirit of Christ. David and Abigail marry and everything that belonged to Nabal now belongs to David.

Gospel according to Abigail

Goodness of God

David, as God, speaks peace to man in verse 6.

Your sin

Nabal, mankind, you, refuse to honor God’s requirements for the blessings he’s provided.

Impending judgment of God on your life

God’s judgment is swift and real. It is irrevocable. The moment you die and go to hell, there is no changing that.

Many souls just like you sat in church, heard the words of God, but never once thought the judgment of God was for them. As they carried on their lives as “Christians” or church members, or generally decent people, ignorant to the coming judgment for their sin just like Nabal. They die without accepting God’s sentence against them, and shocked to wake up in hell fire.

Listen, when you understand God’s judgment against you, I don’t need to tell you a prayer to pray. I don’t need to tell you what words to say. You’ll know how to plead your case. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Christ’s sacrifice for YOU

Abigail is aware of impending judgment on her household while Nabal is...

Are children accountable as soon as they understand right from wrong?

Or is there an age when God makes children responsible for their souls?

Heathen nations don’t believe souls are responsible until a certain age. For instance in the U.S. the age is 16 for some things, 18 for other things, and 21 for other things. But in some places you can decide to change your sex at any time, even if you can’t drive, vote, drink, or be tried as an adult.

Do children need to be “born again”?

What is it that makes a soul accountable?

Genesis 2:16-17.

It was the knowledge of good and evil that changed mankind. Accountability all depends upon their knowledge of good and evil. (James said he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.)

Adam and Eve knew to do good which meant eat freely of every tree around, just don’t eat from this one. Maybe the tree wasn’t meant for food? Maybe a cherub/serpent lived there? Adam and Eve knew what good was. But if they eat of this particular tree, that act of unbelief will give them knowledge of evil.

Look at Deuteronomy 1:39 because this explains what it means to know good and evil.

I always wondered how someone would know who knew good and evil? How would you tell?

Look how he characterizes unbelief. Evil heart of unbelief as interpreted in Hebrews 3:7-13

That generation of adults who knew the instruction of God to take the land chose unbelief.

The children in that generation did not know the commandment to take the land, or what that meant, and therefore didn’t have an opinion on God’s instruction.

David understood this in 2 Samuel 12:23.

What about mentally incapable people? Are there examples in the Bible?

What does this mean for those who want to baptize their baby?

What do you say to someone who argues since all babies are safe with the LORD, isn’t abortion a good thing since you’re sending children to heaven?

Proverbs is:

God’s education for children and in the first six verses He lays out His curriculum.

Perfect for the TikTok generation because statements are short, precise, and pack valuable lessons with few words.

Full of direct practical advice that has immediate application. You really don’t have to sort through much to get it. Why short? Because if Solomon wrote a 300 page dissertation on how wisdom is obtained, IF you even read it you’d forget half of it, or you’d get to the end and wonder what in the world he was talking about. Instead of a 300 page dissertation on how wisdom is obtained he writes a 10 word phrase that children can remember – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  And he does this over and over again.

Proverbs has a tragic backstory. Solomon wrote this down for his son who would be king. But the boy this was intended for never learned the lessons in Proverbs.

Not on the job training or learning by experience. Some people take pride in learning from the school of hard knocks, but according to Proverbs that’s a fool’s way of learning what NOT to do because it takes too long and it costs too much. (Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.  Proverbs 14:15 The prudent man looketh well to his going.)  

A book about educating children. There is not another book like it in the Bible that begins with the words of a father and ends with the words of a mother. God’s curriculum for children is superior to the world’s wisdom as is clearly seen in its benefits.

A book of principles and precepts about life and death, righteousness and wickedness, wisdom and foolishness. A good way of understanding principles and precepts is this. I could say, “Seat belts save lives.” If you’re in a car wreck wearing a seatbelt you have a better chance of surviving. Do some people who wear a seatbelt die in car wrecks? Yes. Occasionally people wearing a seatbelt die. Occasionally people not wearing a seat belt get thrown from a car and survive. That doesn’t make the statement “seat belts save lives” false. But it shows sometimes there are other principles at work.

A book about skillful living.

A book that makes a distinction between two trinities. The first one is good; it’s the trinity of righteousness, wisdom, and life. The second is evil; it’s the trinity of wickedness, foolishness, and death.

Knowledge base

To know wisdom and instruction

In your education and your child’s education, you ought to emphasize what God emphasizes because the decisions in your life that determine what kind of life (and death) you have are moral decisions.

If I have a child who can do quadratic equations, trinomials, etc… but cheats the people he works with, that child is not a success.

God said wisdom is the principal thing. It’s the thing you can build on.

Proverbs 1:2, Graduating from this book you will know wisdom and you’ll have the instruction manual of life.

Wisdom is available. (James 1:5). Wisdom is FREE. Contrast wisdom with the world’s education which comes with a high price tag.

Proverbs 2:6 – Wisdom comes from God. Where does wisdom come from?  

Proverbs 8:11 – Priceless. God puts the price of wisdom above all else.

Proverbs 9:10 – Begins with the fear of the Lord

Proverbs 10:21 – Preserves life

Proverbs 14:8 – Understand his way

Proverbs 29:15 – administered in chastening, corporeal punishment

Identifying understanding

To perceive the words understanding is like recognizing something. Do you remember in school when you had to identify verbs and nouns? The Lord wants you to be able to identify understanding when you run into it.

Understanding is to depart from evil (Job 28:28)

Now, I know you’ve never had the urge to get even with anyone. You’ve never enjoyed watching bad things happen to a certain someone. I know that’s not you. Because you’re too spiritual to relish the day that person falls. Because you’re too spiritual to see that day they fall and say thank God He’s teaching them a lesson. No. You’d never feel that way. You don’t have any anger or retaliation in you. So this isn’t for you.

This sermon is for everyone else. You hate that girl because she’s prettier than you. You hate that guy because he makes more money than you do. You hate that girl because she has a boyfriend and you don’t. You hate that guy because he’s lost but has a bigger ranch than you. These are stupid reasons to hate people, but they are your reasons.

Now, let me turn your attention to a man who had a legitimate reason to hate. He had a real reason to get even. He was innocent while being hunted by a murderer. He was betrayed, set up, trapped, falsely accused, and hunted like a wild animal by his father-in-law and king.

David’s faith was exceptional against Goliath. His faith to step on the battlefield against the giant was outstanding. But what is more remarkable was his faith to endure daily running for his life while patiently serving the LORD. David did that because he truly believed the LORD is his reward; God is the judge. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Let these scriptures be direct. You don’t have faith if you don’t believe the LORD is rewarder of the evil and the good.

God says to Abraham early in Genesis, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Paul would say, And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Believing God is the rewarder is the opposite of being a man pleaser.

See Matthew 6:1,5,16…they have their reward.

The LORD Jesus Christ says, Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Hatred can feel so appropriate (vss 1-8)

This real threat justifies my hatred and my self defense (vss 1-2)

Saul’s 3,000 compared to David’s 600 in a cave.

There is not a single one of you here in David’s position with this level of threat. But you believe your hatred for that girl, that guy, that man, that woman, that family, is justified.

Get over yourself.

The circumstances justify my hatred and my self defense (vs 3)

Everything seems to have fallen into place. Why did Saul happen to choose the cave David and his men are in? This seems to be the opportunity!

There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.

The spiritual crowd agrees with my hatred and my self defense (vs 4)

Here’s your opportunity David. Everything has fallen into place.

These men even quote scripture to make the point. They say, The LORD said… Small problem. The LORD never said that.

David is momentarily persuaded. He is going to strike fear into Saul.

Hatred can seem so right! The threats say it’s right, the circumstances say it’s right, the spiritual crowd says it’s right. It must be right. The temptation to forget God and deal with things in your own desperation is so real.

A heart right with God (vss 5-8)

David’s conscience is informed by his faith in the LORD (vs 5)

Things don’t sit right with David. As he holds the piece of Saul’s clothes in his hand, that token of hatred bothers him.

You hate someone today.

The term born again occurs three times in the Bible. You might think it occurred more than that by the emphasis some folks put on the phrase itself. Two of those are in John 3 in a conversation the LORD Jesus Christ has with Nicodemus. And the other one is in 1 Peter.

What does it mean to be born again?

What are some misunderstandings about being born again?

John 3:1-2 Nicodemus says we KNOW you came from God because you do miracles.

John 3:3 Jesus corrects Nicodemus and says seeing miracles is no assurance I came from God. In fact, you couldn’t know if I came from God unless you’ve received what the Spirit of God has already said. The emphasis from day one was on hearing the words of God. (It reminds me of Abraham’s comments to the rich man in hell in Luke 16:31, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Or, My sheep HEAR my voice…) Fact is you can’t SEE God’s kingdom unless the Spirit of God describes it to you and you receive His description. This is the first time Jesus uses the phrase born again to mean born of the Spirit by virtue of receiving God’s revelation.

Can you know God’s future for His people without revelation from the LORD?

1 Corinthians 2:9-11

The Spirit of God acts as the camera, the lens, the eyes, to everything the LORD wants you to know about Him, heaven, judgment, the future, etc.

Isaiah 64 – Isaiah laments that the LORD will not physically reveal Himself.

The only connection anyone has ever had to God’s kingdom after sin entered is what? What’s the first thing that is required if you or I am going to know anything about God’s future rewards?

First, what God was willing to reveal.

Second, what a soul would believe about what God revealed.

John 3:4 Carnal mind thinks about physical things. Even if you could be physically born again it wouldn’t make any difference or change your condition or blindness.

John 3:5-7 The LORD clarifies for Nicodemus. Born of water is your first birth and being born again would be born of the Spirit – spiritual birth. How? By receiving what comes from God the Father.

John 3:9-10 The frustration in the LORD Jesus is evident. You’re a teacher in Israel, supposedly a teacher of the things of God, but you don’t understand that everything you’re a minister of you got from God?! So Nicodemus, you’re wasting your time overseeing religious duties about a God you’ve never known or heard from?! How is that even possible?

John 3:11-13 Jesus says the Spirit of God and the Son of God are telling you, this nation, the world, things we’ve SEEN. We aren’t philosophizing, we aren’t speculating. We bring you eye witness testimony of the things of God. This revelation has been going on for centuries. Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…

Being born again is being spiritually born when a soul receives God’s revelation. If man will receive the words of life, he will receive life. Jesus Christ was the Word spoken and the Word instructed in the Old Testament. The Word became flesh named Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…

John 3:14-17 Last thing about being born again. You’ve got some very famous verses about the love of God in this same conversation with Nicodemus. John 3:16. Now watch what Peter says about being born again and the love of God in 1 Peter 1:22-25.

Why is understanding being born again important?

It can’t be a water baptism because water baptism isn’t going to give you eyes to see the kingdom of God.

It can’t mean anything Calvinists say it means.

Missionary Fred Brashear PM

Missionary Fred Brashear

Missionary Fred Brashear (Sunday School)

2 Chronicles 14

Asa takes the throne and trusts the LORD by getting rid of the idols and seeking the LORD (vss 1-5). See verse 4.

Strengthened the cities of Judah putting up walls because he caused the nation to seek the LORD (vss 6-8). See verse 7.

Asa faces a terrible enemy and seeks help from the LORD (vss 9-15). See verses 11-12.

2 Chronicles 15

God moves the preacher to encourage Asa (vss 1-7). See verses 2 and 4.

Asa further removes the idols in the nation and restores the altar to the LORD in Ephraim. In 1 Kings 15:12 part of removing the idols in Judah was removing the Sodomites from the land. Ephraim is a mecca for idolatry for the northern tribes of Israel. Asa’s bold leadership inspires service to the LORD by many idolaters in Israel (vss 8-15). See verses 9-13 and 15.

Asa deals with idolatry in his own family – the royal family no less. He removes the idols in Judah, but the groves in the northern tribes of Israel stay. The northern tribes have their own king which is why  the groves don’t go away. Asa dedicates many more valuable things to the LORD’s service (vss 16-19).

God gives Asa many years of peace after this.

2 Chronicles 16

Asa makes a deal with the king of Syria who defeats his enemy (vss 1-6).

Notice that Asa’s plan works. He is successful. He is just successful w/o God.

Asa is insulted by the preacher (vss 7-10). See verse 9.

After trusting the LORD and seeing victories, if a person stops trusting the LORD, it is more costly in this life.

Asa’s pride is unchecked.

The message is the LORD actively looks to shew Himself strong to anyone looking for His strength!

Asa WILL not turn to the LORD anymore, even in his disease (vss 11-12). See verse 12.

Sarah’s death (vss 1-2)

Sarah is possibly the only woman in the Bible whose age is given at her death.

It looks like Sarah’s death is surprising and unexpected.

Stranger in the world (vss 3-16)

Notice what it means to be a stranger.

No home.

No place in death.

Testimony is important. Abraham has a good testimony among these folks.

Significance of the sepulchre (vss 17-20)

Her burial place becomes the place where Abraham is buried, Isaac and Rebekah are buried, and Jacob and Leah are buried.

It becomes the place where David rules for seven years of his kingdom before moving to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:11).

It’s one of the few places in the promised land that is not fought for, it is paid for with money.