Bad people affect all of us. There’s a man in the Bible who is described as “surely” in the NIV translation. Other words used to describe him are harsh and badly behaved (ESV), and harsh and evil (NAS). The King James uses a word that means vulgar. There was nothing good to say about his character.

When Bad People Prosper

Sometimes people without character are extremely blessed. It’s confusing when bad people have so many good things. One would think that poor character would automatically lead to poverty and a terrible life, but that’s often not the case.

Nabal was a man who had everything the world could offer. He was rich. He had servants, and land, and thousands upon thousands of livestock. He even had a beautiful wife. 1 Samuel 25:3 says about Abigail his wife, “She was an intelligent and beautiful woman” and then it adds about Nabal “but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings…”

When Good People Are Mistreated

There is a third person in this story. David is a fugitive and a refugee because of King Saul’s jealousy. David was forced to flee for his life and live as a fugitive. Over the years other fugitives had fled to his side. Many of them were runaway slaves and it’s possible that some had committed other crimes. David took them in and became their leader. In time, David had a small army at his side.

The problem with having a small army is they need food and water. David reached out to Nabal to help them.

1 Samuel 25:4-8 says, ⁴ While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. ⁵ So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. ⁶ Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!

⁷ “ ‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. ⁸ Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’ ” ^[1]

Dealing with Rejection

David appeals to Nabal by reminding Nabal that David’s men never took advantage of him, his sheep, his servants, or anything else. They had not committed robbery. They had not mistreated any of Nabal’s servants.

Nabal had certainly heard of David before this. A small army doesn’t go unnoticed. And yet, Nebal responded in the same way he is described in scripture. He responded in a mean, vulgar, sarcastic way.

Go0d People Protect Others

One of Nabal’s servants heard Nabal’s words and went to Abigail. His words are recorded in 1 Samuel 25:15–17 which says,

^“…these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. ¹⁶ Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. ¹⁷ Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”

Even Good People Get Angry

Remember how Abigail is described. She is beautiful, but even more so, she is intelligent. So, she went to David. She showed up just in time too. David and his men were preparing for battle. Abigail took David and his men more food than they would have received in any other situation. And then she encouraged David not to shed blood. She acknowledged her husband’s foolishness and asked David to overlook the offense, but not for Nabal’s sake. She asked David to overlook the offense for his own sake. She said, “You don’t want this blood on your hands. Let the Lord God bless you and keep you. Let Him fight your battles for you.” She even went so far as to tell David that even if someone took his life that he was secure in God’s hands.”

So, what does Abigail teach us, particularly about relationships?

Don’t Become One of Them

Mean people often don’t change, especially people like Nabal. So ignore their ignorance. Don’t become mean to combat their meanness. Don’t reflect their foolishness and anger. Ignore their ignorance.

Here are three things Abigail did:

1. She went to David. She went out to him to “enter his world.”
2. She identified with his hurt (offense).
3. She encouraged him to see the bigger picture.

How can you enter into other people’s world, identify with them, and help them see a bigger picture? What would an “Abigail” say to you when you need help?

Prayer Prompt

Lord, help me to see your big picture when affected by the evil of the world.

^[1] The New International Version. (2011). (1 Sa 25:4–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.