Sermon Central
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Just Because You Live With A Fool, Doesn't Mean You Have To Be One
Contributed by Tom Rhodes on Jun 1, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: Don’t let peer pressure and foolish influence destroy you.
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
1. The story is about a man and his wife.
2. The man’s name was Nabal which means “fool”
3. The bible says he was “churlish” which means selfish and mean.
4. This fool was rich and had much possessions.
5. Just because you live with a fool – doesn’t mean you have to be one
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
1. David was on the run from Saul. He was in the wilderness and hungry.
2. He had come across some servants of Nabal and protected them.
3. David decided to ask help of Nabal and sent 10 men to ask.
And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
1. David sent his servants in his name.
2. Nabal was of the house of Caleb – he was an Israelite.
3. Was he out of touch? Surely he had heard of David – who slew Goliath and had been anointed King?
4. Nabal began to hassle David’s men and treated them horrible.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
1. Nabal only saw 10 of David’s men. He was over-confident.
2. He kept up the trash talk – maybe threatened to turn the dogs on them.
3. The world promotes the "No Fear" attitude.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
1. David’s men acted like gentlemen and went back to tell David.
2. When you are around someone in a rage – it is best to just nicely excuse yourself.
So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. 13And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
1. It was easy for Nabal to be cocky when he saw only 10 – but now he was going to face 400 hungry men.
2. You don’t want to mess with a man when he is hungry - let alone 400.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
1. The fool believes he can act as bad as he wants because there won’t be any consequences.
2. Men really don’t believe in God – or they would not play the fool.
3. God is invisible – men don’t see him – so men don’t fear him.
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
1. Abigail heard what was going on – the servants told her how nice David’s men were.
2. Abigail rode out to try to head off disaster.
3. How many times have we seen the work of the fool and tried to fix it?
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
1. A wise person knows to be humble.
2. Abigail had done no wrong – but she took responsibility for it.
3. She gave the food to David and his temper was calmed.
And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
1. Abigail told David she knew of his problems – being chased – but that one day he would be made ruler.
