Peace Pride or Penitence

Peace Pride or Penitence

1 Sam 25 Samuel Dies, Rich guy named Nabal wife Abigail. Smart and Beautiful. Nabal- Harsh and evil. David goes to where Nabal is shearing the sheep and sends his guys to ask for some provisions. Nabal says no. They go back to David and David says to get ready to go to war with Nabal. Abigail finds out about this through one of Davids men. Abigail quickly brings a bunch of food to David and his men but didn’t tell her Husband. David is on the warpath. She goes to David and pleads- please- Don’t go to war- You’re going to be King and this will ruin you. David responds to her and says I’m not going to do it because you said I shouldn’t. Abigail goes back to find her husband drunk- so she waits til morning to talk to him, and she does and then nabal dies ten days later. David rejoices that Nabal is dead. So then David decides to take Abigail as a wife. He’s so happy he takes another wife.

There’s three main characters in this story- Nabal, Abigail and David
They all have a role to play- and in the story we can look and decide which person we want to be in this story- No one is perfect- but when we read a story like this- what do we get from it?

Peacemaker
Abigail is the peace maker in this story- The young men of David come to her and share what’s going on- and try to influence Nabal through Abigail
Abigail has a choice here- She can double down with her Husband and Destroy David- but she has awareness of a larger plan for David and Israel- Her allegiance is to God not her husband
Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.
Theres always a point in an interaction or relationship where a person has to decide- will I bring peace in this or will I stoke the fires of discontent and resentment?
She becomes a Peacemaker READ 23-26
As a kid- huge wooden structure to play on- years of fun- someone lit it on fire- hate others
So what does Abigail do? She pleads with David- begs him- goes so far to put the offense on herself ““On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!”
She wants what is right- not what is self-serving or beneficial for herself- She wants PEACE
She understands that conflict helps no one. Destruction helps no one. Peace is better
She could have easily gone back to her husband and got him in a tiffy and watched the fight
Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

What does it mean to?
The story of our faith is that we are at peace with God through Jesus- how can we not be?
Isa 9:6 Jesus is the Prince of Peace- Rom 15:33 our God is a God of peace
You were a vile sinner at war with God- and God brought you close to Jesus and forgave you
And NOW- you have the audacity to create strife and division instead of creating peace?
This isn’t a call to pacifism there is a time to engage and stand- this is more in the church
Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Everyone- Family, neighbors, friends, strangers, who ever. You don’t have to be friends- but you have to make it right- you have to try and make peace with them-
Back in apartment days- fighting over parking spot. Wife bought a jacket- will this make peace?
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
What are you doing to be a peace maker? What are the conversations you’re having at work, home and at church?
A coarse word is said- do you stop it, or pile on and watch the flames? Stop it before it stops
Abigail saw the big picture- the future of Israel and Davids life- she sought peace

2. Prideful-
10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master
Here’s whats going on- Nabal- whos name means “fool” is showing his foolishness here.
I’m not sure if he actually knows who David is- or if he’s just being snarky- but he demeans dave
During this time of shearing the sheep it was common practice for random people to come around and protect someones sheep for them- and then expect compensation.
Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
Nabal is about to be brought really low because of his pride. Refusing to realize what is going on- honor the culture, honor God, honor David. Concerned with his own stuff
Often times- the prideful will be confronted and have a choice to humble themselves
Proverbs 16:5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
God hates pride- Hates it- Why? Because a prideful person thinks they are above God and his word. Elevation of self becomes an idol- worship of self. Self serving. Self protecting. SELF
God’s plans, purposes and peace should be above our pride.
You look bad? So what. You get taken advantage of? So what. Someone else gets it? So
Obadiah 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

What does it mean to you?
What is the view you have of yourself? What do you think you deserve and deserve to get?
Gal 6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
The idea of self value is a value of the world. Its not the story of the Bible
People twist the Gospel into a story about how awesome you were v how awesome GOD is
Isaiah 66:2b But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
We have no right whatever to have any demands or requirements. We should all be dead
God chose to make us. To love us. To save us. To deliver us.
Someone can take advantage of you all day long. Hurt you. Put you down. And Jesus is still on the throne.
So what do we do? We stay humble! We take correction- we forgive. We love. humble
Matt 23:12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
The end result of Nabals life was that he got drunk and God killed him 10 days later
Remember- Jesus is God- The loving Jesus killed Nabal for going against David-
Psa 138:6 Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
The prideful is a wicked abomination in the eyes of God- we would do well to squash our pride
Do you? Always blame others? Never own your stuff? Elevate yourself? Minimize sin? Is it always about you? Desire others to envy you? Distance from lower status people?
A man I once knew- asked him “what are you working on in your life” “Nothing. I’m good”

Penitent
David didn’t start out well in this regard. His initial response was to go on the attack towards nabal when he didn’t give up the goods to David and his men- he was going to war with him
But when Abigal came around and got in his face about it- he repented- he admitted wrong
33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.
David listened to Abigal. He took her advice and didn’t to war. Listened about his future
Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
David shouldn’t have had a heart to go to war with Nabal- it wasn’t really that kind of issue
Perhaps he was justified- able to fight about it- but it just wasn’t right to go to war
Here’s the principle- when God or someone else confronts you? How will you respond?
Will you double down on your pride and die like Nabal (a fool) or repent and live?
PRIDE is what keeps someone from PENITENCE. Can’t admit they were wrong-
Pride says “how will I be viewed” penitence says “How can this be made right before God”
Ezekiel 18:21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Sin is sin. Sin is destructive. Continuing in sin never produces life- only repentance
READ v 32-35So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.”
A woman had no place to rebuke a man- let a lone a king- but David RECEIVED IT-

What does it mean to you?
Who in your life is trying to get you back on track that you’re rejecting? Me? Spouse? Friend?
Are you living a life of repentance? If you haven’t turned to God- the Bible declares that you are still in your sins and will die an eternal death and be tormented for eternity
Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
But on a pragmatic level- are you allowing God and others to help you see your blind spots?
Or are you so deep in your pride that you can’t allow anyone to challenge you and bring you back? Inability to receive correction and drop to your knees will destroy your life
When a person comes to you to help you- say ‘thank you’ or they’ll stop helping
Acts 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
If you haven’t repented of your sins ever- you’re an offense to God- Repent
If you are a CHRISTIAN- who needs to repent of a sin- REPENT- and STOP SINNING
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
The conviction of the Lord is a love cry to be in relationship with him
You must not continue in Sin- you must turn from it-
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,