Beginning of the Downfall

"When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, 'David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.' She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, 'Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.' Then Abigail quickly arose, and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife. David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives." -1 Samuel 25.40-43

God brought justice on Nabal, taking his life. When David hears of this he sends a marriage proposal to Nabal's widow Abigail. He was already married to Saul's daughter, but verse 44 informs us that Saul had given her to another man. David takes a new wife, but we see that she is not the only one. In addition to Abigail he has also married Ahinoam of Jezreel.

Throughout the Old Testament we have seen several men with multiple wives, but even though it was cultural and political, it violates God's design, and it begins to set up David's downfall. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman until death. David is compromising that here, and it will lead to the future compromises he makes.

Men, daily we have the opportunity to compromise. We are presented with situations where we can do something for an advantage or simply because we want to. How often do those things lead us away from God's original design? Each time we compromise it makes the next time that much easier. What compromise will be your final downfall?

Let us be men who refuse to compromise. Let us be men who never let the downfall begin.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

The Voice of Reason

"Then David said to Abigail, 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. Nevertheless, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, unless you had come quickly to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.' So David received from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, 'Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and granted your request.'" -1 Samuel 25.32-35

There was a rich man named Nabal whose shepherds had received protection from David's men. David sends a request to Nabal, seeking supplies, and tells him of how he has taken care of his works. Nabal refuses David's request and insults him, and so David and 400 of his men arm themselves and march out to destroy Nabal. Fortunately, for both parties, Abigail, Nabal's wife, is informed of what has happened, and rides out with supplies to make peace with David. She presents the offering to him, and persuades David not to pursue his course of violence. David listens to the voice of reason and bloodshed is avoided.

Men, there are things that make us fighting mad. Some of those things are worth getting upset about, and some of them are worth fighting over, but some of those things are not. Probably a majority of those things. When you're mad about the wrong things, who is the voice of reason? God has placed women in the world for a variety of reasons, and one of them is to serve in this capacity. There are times my wife tells me things I don't want to hear. She serves at that voice of reason causing me to stop and reassess things.

Let us be men who listen to the voice of reason.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor