This evening we continue with God's help and grace our series of sermons in 1 Samuel. We reach 1 Samuel chapter 25 and we consider verses 1-31 this evening. And what we notice is that in the Lord's providence we have here in this text a clear picture of what it is to be One who professes allegiance to the anointed of the Lord and one who actually professes opposition to the anointed of the Lord. A theme that certainly should be very dear to us tonight as we consider this blessed moment of professing our faith. We see in the classic story of Nabal and Abigail an example of one who despises the anointed and the other who confesses the anointed to be the one, truly one, chosen by the Lord. Let me also encourage you to turn with me to the back of your Psalter, Hamanos, on page 83, if you will. Page 83, that's Article 28 of our Belgian Confession, a very fitting moment for us to be reminded of the duty of joining ourselves to the Church. So beginning with Article 28 in the Belgian Confession, this is what we confess together and our fathers taught us according to the scriptures. We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and outside of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever estate or condition He may be, ought to do, withdraw from it, content to be by himself, but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it, maintaining the unity of the church, submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof. bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ and as mutual members of the same body serving to the edification of the brethren according to the talents God has given them. So here we see at least two aspects of church membership. We see the obligation of church membership in the first portion But we also see the duties of church membership, maintaining the unity of the church, submitting to the doctrine and discipline, bowing our necks to the yoke of the Lord Jesus Christ, and serving for mutual edification. Let us then now turn our eyes and our thoughts to the Word of God, inspired and inerrant. Let us hear it with faith. This is God's Holy Word. Then Samuel died, and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in caramel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife is Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb. And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent a young man, and David said to the young man, Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity, Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have. Now I have heard that you have shears, your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all, and while they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give us whatever comes to your hand, to your servants, and to your son, David." So when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words, in the name of David, and waited. 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. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat, that I have killed for my shears, and give it to men, who I do not know where they are from?' So David's young men turned on their heels and went back, and they came and told him all these words. Then David said to his men, Every man gird on his sword, So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. No one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he reviled them. But the men were very good to us. And we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything, as long as we accompanied them when we were in the fields. They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider that you will do what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household, for he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him. Then Abigail made haste and took 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five sheaves of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs, and loaded them on a donkey. And she said to her servants, Go, go one before me. See, I am coming after you. But she did not tell her husband, Nabal. So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill, and there were David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them. Now David had said, Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him, and he has repaid me evil for good. May God do so, and more also to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light. Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said, On me, my Lord, on me! Let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant to speak in your ears and hear the words of her maidservant. Please let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young man, O of my lord, whom you sent. Now therefore, my Lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now, then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my Lord be as Nabal. And now this present, which your maidservant has brought to my Lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my Lord. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant, for the Lord will certainly make for my Lord an enduring house, because my Lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. Yet a man has reason to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my Lord shall be bound in the bungle of the living with the Lord your God and the lives of your enemies. He shall sling out as from the pocket of Isling. And it shall come to pass when the Lord has done for my Lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you ruler over Israel. That this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my Lord either, that you have shed blood without cause, or that my Lord has avenged himself. For the Lord has dealt well with my Lord. Then remember your maidservant." Let's start a reading of God's holy word. Let us pray. O my God in heaven, as we consider your word tonight, Lord, we pray, grant us understanding, grant us wisdom from above, Visit us powerfully, O Lord, through Your Word. Help us to understand, O Lord, this striking distinction between folly and true wisdom. Help us to examine our hearts and souls, O Lord, as true members of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, professing members. Help us to find ourselves. as those whom You have made wise for the glory of Your name. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Now I trust you have already noticed how parables are powerful instruments. Through parables we are enabled to examine our own lives and to compare our own lives with the characters or the circumstances of a parable. Take for example the parable of the man who built his house on the sand and the one who built his house on the rock. Those are two descriptions, two parallel descriptions of one who truly has faith in the Lord and one who has faith in his own resources. You see, parables are this powerful instrument of the Lord to make clear to us that which may be obscure, to reveal to us with clarity and with practicality truths that the Lord urgently seeks to teach us. As we turn our eyes to 1 Samuel 25 this evening, perhaps the first impression is that we don't have a parable before us. We just have another narrative in the Old Testament that describes what was going on with David during the time he was fleeing from Saul. But as we look deeper into the meaning of these two characters and as we understand these two characters in light of the upcoming king and the upcoming kingdom of the anointed of the Lord, we just can't help to see in both Mabel and Abigail two pictures. A picture of one who denies allegiance, faith in the anointed of the Lord and one who professes allegiance, submission and faith in the anointed of the Lord. Nabal and Abigail stand for us as a parable. A parable that helps us to search our own hearts as we tonight rejoice with another young lad who professes his faith in the Lord. And it helps us in the following way. It helps us to examine our own hearts, discerning if we are on the camp of the fools or if we are on the camp of the wise. If we have been forgotten and forsaken and placed on those who despise the anointed of the Lord, or if we have been rescued by the Lord Himself and been made wise by His Holy Spirit. This is a story of wise and fools. This is a parable of those who profess faith in the anointed and those who deny allegiance to the anointed. And as we then consider these verses tonight, let us have this very firm in our minds. That only fools defy the Lord's anointed. Only fools do not bow down before the Lord's anointed. Only fools do not confess that the Lord's anointed is Lord. but wisdom leads us to the anointed's presence, appealing for his favor. Fools defy the Lord's anointed, but wisdom leads us to the presence of the anointed, appealing for his favor. We consider then this text under two headings. First, we notice the example of Nabal. The example of the fool. There is no greater foolishness than to oppose the Lord's anointed. And we notice specific marks, specific characteristics of what it is to be a fool in biblical terms. But secondly, we notice that there is no greater prudence. There is no greater prudence than to honor the Lord's anointed. We notice that in the remainder of verses 14-31 as we notice Abigail's move it by faith as we will notice later on to submission to the Lord's anointed. Foolishness makes one defy the Lord's anointed. But true wisdom leads us to His presence appealing to His favor. Now the text places us in a very striking and crucial moment in the history of Israel. Samuel has died. And if you were here with us last Lord's Day, you noticed that Saul made a public confession in the last chapter that David would indeed be king. Before his 3,000 men and David's 600 men, Saul made a public profession that he was wicked and David was righteous. That he was pursuing evil, but David has only done that which was good. And therefore, through the mouth of the king himself, the kingdom of David had been in a way, if you will, prophesied by Saul. You will be king. Now I know clearly, Saul said. Then it is understandable that in the Lord's providence, it is precisely at this moment that Samuel dies. Samuel, who had been a striking figure in building the kingdom, in paving the way for the true anointed of the Lord. Now, the anointed has not yet occupied the office, occupied the throne, but from the mouth of Saul himself, his kingdom was declared in his proper place as the next king of Israel was publicly announced. And it is precisely in this circumstance, in this context, when David's future kingdom had been announced by Saul himself, that extends the story of Nabal and Abigail. Now the text describes Nabal as one who is very rich. The text tells us that this man is extremely prosperous. Verse 6 tells us that in addressing him, David describes him, and thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity, this is a very rich and prosperous man, and yet the text tells us that he is a fool, which is a reminder that it doesn't matter how rich you are, your riches, are of no avail if you are indeed a fool. There's another detail in this text that we must not miss, that Nabal comes from a very noble line. Look at the end of verse 3. He was of the house of Caleb. Now remember, Joshua and Caleb were those two valiant men who went into the land, who were the scouts investigating the promised land. And Caleb was one of those valiants who fought alongside the people of God. Another good reminder that it doesn't matter if your line is very noble. It doesn't really matter if you have a wonderful lineage. unless the Lord Himself reveals Himself to you and change your heart. Because this man who is from the house of Caleb, who's full of riches, who is actually rejoicing, there is a festival going on, the shearing of the sheep, that's a time of festivities, he's delighting in his riches. Look at verse 8, we come here now on a feast day, a propitious day for one to be generous. This is a day where Nabal would not be grumpy, he was not affected by any family problems. He was delighting in the riches that providentially the Lord had given him. And yet he is a fool. As we read in verse 25, his wife himself explained to us that this is associated with his name. Now it is important for us to understand that a fool in the Bible is not a description of one who has lesser understanding. It's not a description of one who cannot make clear connections or rational engagements or can rationally engage with things. Fool in the Scriptures is a description of one who is morally corrupt and is in moral decay. We see that clearly, for example, in the book of Proverbs. A fool is one who stands in a reprehensible position. He's one who is morally condemnable. Notice the text describes Nabal as one who is rude and harsh. Not only his servants, but his wife addressed him as a scoundrel. This is a man who, regardless of his riches and regardless of his line coming from the tribe of the group, the family of Caleb, his behavior condemns him. His external testimony is reprehensible. And this is what the Bible then calls a fool. It's someone who is morally corrupt, who is in moral decay, who is morally reprehensible. David sends his men, the text tells us, to Nabal asking for resources. And it is precisely through the response of Nabal. Now again, please keep this in mind, keep this in perspective. The kingdom, the future kingdom of David has already been announced. Saul himself, in the previous chapter, has confirmed this is the new king. We notice, even through the words of Abigail, that that's exactly what she professes. Nabal has knowledge of that. But all we notice in Nabal's response are three specific marks that declares to us, that indicates to us one who is in opposition to the anointed. Number one, we notice the defiance. As a young man speaks these words to Nabal, notice in verse 10, what's the first thing that Nabal does? He disdains David. He even uses the very same formula that Saul uses. Who is this son of Jesse? You see, Nabal has no acknowledgement whatsoever for the relevance, authority, and position that David does have now and will have in the kingdom in the future. Nabal despises David just like Saul. This defiance also includes an insult. Look, David is implicitly called as a traitor. The text tells us, there are many servants nowadays who break away, each one from his master. That's an indirect criticism to David. Napoleon is saying, that's you. I don't acknowledge your authority. Actually, I see you as a traitor to the true king. Defiance. That's what marks one who is in opposition to the anointed of the Lord. defy his authority, defy his position, negates who he truly is. But secondly, the text tells us there is this self-centeredness, self-centeredness in the life of Nabal, which again is a second indication of his folly. Look at verse 11. Do you notice the purpose repetition of I's and my's? That's Nabal's favorite pronouns. Shall I take my bread, my water, my meat I have killed for my shears? You notice how self-centered is this man. There is not only an arrogance that these things belong to me, these things were conquered by me, and these things belong to me. There's no idea that this was God's gift, this belongs to the Lord, and therefore I may use it for the glory of the Lord. No. There is this arrogance that these things are mine, but there's also this idolatrous aspect of me. It is my will. It is my way. It is what I want. Self-centeredness. That's the second mark of opposition to the Lord's anointed. But thirdly, notice as well in the text how materialistic is Nabal. Still in verse 11, instead of not only he uses his preferred pronouns, I and my, but notice how everything revolves around his riches. Bread, water, meat, shearers, servants. All that Nabal thinks is the kingdom now. He has no vision for the kingdom to come, for the kingdom of David that is on the rise. No, all he cares about is the here and now. And the things that he can grab with his hands and see with his eyes and smell with his nose. There is this materialistic, self-centered, terrifying and deadly combination. that ultimately leads to the anger of the anointed. You see, that's the consequence of Nabal's resistance to the anointed. You notice that? We notice in verses 12 and 13 and also in verses 21 and 22, as the men bring back this news to David, he commends them to gird the swords. In verses 21 and 22, we read David's verdict. He's going to destroy Nabal and all his house. Opposition to the king is folly. Opposition to the Lord's anointed ends up in destruction. And see, beloved brothers and sisters, these are the two principles we learn from this passage regarding those who are outside of the Kingdom of Christ, regarding those who reject this Anointed One, those who defy, those who reject His government. David here stands as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, doesn't he? And Nabal at the same time, like a parable, Nabal stands as a picture of all those who stand in defiance and opposition to the Lord's Anointed. rejecting His authority, diminishing Him and His power in His kingdom, opposing Him and His kingdom. We have here a great tool for self-examination, don't we? The question that this first section of the text begs us to answer is, are you a fool? Is that who you are here sitting tonight? You see, we find fools that are clearly outside the kingdom of God. They have never professed faith in Christ. They have never grown into the church. They are those who are visibly among the wicked. But we also find fools like Nabal who were part of Israel, who was Israelite, who was even formed A very prestigious group, a prestigious family who himself is exhibiting, is expressing defiance, self-centeredness, and materialistic character. Let us search our hearts tonight. For if we profess truly faith in the anointed of the Lord, in no way these can be marks that are present in our lives. Perhaps you sit here tonight and you profess faith in the Anointed One, but you are living in defiance to Him. You are living in defiance to His standards, centered in your own will, in your own desire, disguising your pursuit for what you want with the facade that that's what God wants. And yet, deep down, the text reminds us that that's in opposition to the Anointed One. And this text really calls us to search our hearts tonight, doesn't it? It helps us to search our hearts and also, in this search, trust in the Lord, that in the Lord is deliverance. The Word of God calls us to repentance, to abandon this sort of folly. As we acknowledge it, making no mistake, that the ultimate destination of those who are full is being destroyed by the anointed of the Lord. You see this very same idea that we see in this text we find very clearly in Psalm 2, remember? The very end of Psalm 2 reminds us that those who oppose the anointed, who deny His position, who resist to His government, they will find ultimate destruction. Psalm 2, beginning verse 10. Now therefore be wise, O kings, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son. And you see as we look at this parabolic, if you will, example of Nabal, let us search our hearts tonight. Are we fools? Is there self-centeredness and defiance to the kingdom of the Lord? Is our life centered in that which is material? Or do we have a view for the eternal kingdom of the anointed of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ? Let us make no mistake that those who flatter with foolishness will ultimately be destroyed. You see, the Lord Jesus said these very same words in Matthew chapter 12, didn't He? Regarding those who defied His messianic identity. regarding those who denied who He was. It's a very common, a very known text. Matthew 12, we notice when the Lord Jesus talks about the sin against the Holy Spirit. Verse 31, we read, The Lord Jesus said this precisely in the context when he was exercising his anointed authority as the anointed and promised of the Lord. And there came those who associated his works with the works of Satan himself. Oh, Christians, let us make no mistake. The end of the fools is the wrath of the anointed of the Lord. But at the same time, as we move on in the passage, we notice in this text that the contrary to folly or to foolishness is true spiritual wisdom. And the picture of spiritual wisdom in this parabolic passage here before us is Abigail. If you turn again your attention to verse 2, Abigail is described by the inspired writer as one who has understanding. Verse 3, the name of the man was Nabal and she was a woman of good understanding. and beautiful appearance. Understanding contrasted with folly. Wisdom contrasted with foolishness. What is the difference? Well, we have already noticed that it is foolishness to defy the anointed. It is foolishness not to confess who He is. It is foolishness to focus our lives in the I, my's and the things that surround us. Well, Abigail's name means my father is joy. Isn't that fascinating? Nabal's name is fool. But Abigail's name means my father is joy. Some commentators translated that my divine father is my joy. And right from the beginning, from Abigail's name, we gather why is she a wise woman? Why is she full of understanding? Because her joy is not in eyes or minds, her joy is in the Lord. Her defined Father is her joy. The text tells us that she receives in verses 14 through 17, she receives this report from the servants of Nabal's house and immediately she takes action. And here again we see three marks. We saw defiance, self-centeredness, and materialism on the side of folly. But we see also three marks here on Abigail that clearly describes her wisdom. The first one is service. Generous, open-hand service. We see that in verse 18. She prepares this generous meal. Abigail made haste and took 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five sheaves of roasted grains, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs and loaded them on a donkey. Several of these items are very precious, not only because they are nutritious, but because they take a long time to perish. David, as he receives these resources, he can really manage them and it would take a long time or a good time until they would be over. These are precious, precious items. Abigail herself is preparing these things. She is offering the best that she has, gifts and supplies, to the anointed king. to the anointed of the Lord. Not king yet, but anointed of the Lord. The other aspect we see here in this text very clearly is the aspect of submission. After preparing all this bountiful and generous gift to the anointed of the Lord, as she meets David, notice how she addresses. Notice the difference, the stark contrast between her husband Abigail dismounts, bowed down, and calls David repeatedly, Lord. She also calls herself, all the time, her servant. Over and over again throughout the narrative until verse 31, Abigail presents herself before David as one who acknowledges his position, who acknowledges his future kingdom. Notice also there is a lot of meekness in her approach. Notice verse 24, he says, On me, my Lord, on me let this iniquity be. She acknowledges that sin has been committed against the anointed of the Lord. She doesn't hide it. She doesn't disguise it. She owns it, admits it. Later on she says, Now my Lord, please forgive your maidservant. Look at verse 28. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. You see, that's the picture, Christian, of one who professes faith in the anointed. Submission, complete service, total surrender, the desire to serve. But ultimately, there is much desire for reconciliation. There's desire to live in peace with the anointed. and to live in peace, obviously, in the future kingdom. Notice, that's exactly her petition in the very last section. Verses 28 all the way down to verse 31. That's all that she does. Notice that kind of prophetically she announces that David will be king. His kingdom will indeed be established. The Lord Yahweh, notice the covenantal name of God in verses 28 and 29, it is the covenantal God who will establish the throne of David. She believes in that promise. That's when we gather that Abigail is answering David by faith. Not faith in David, but faith in the God who covenanted with David. Isn't that fascinating? Abigail's response is a response of one who believes in what Yahweh has revealed, in what Yahweh has revealed to Samuel, in what Yahweh has revealed to Saul himself, And as she does so, look at the very end of verse 31. Remember your maidservant. When the Lord has established your kingdom, when you are indeed established as king, remember me, your humble servant. And you see Christians, in this way Abigail stands for us as this phenomenal picture. of what it is a true faithful member of the Kingdom of the Anointed of the Lord. What is it to profess faith in the Anointed One? To profess faith in the Anointed One, Christian, is to submit himself to the yoke of Christ, as we have read in the Belgium Confession, isn't it? is to submit to the yoke of the blessed anointed of the Lord, is to serve, to serve sacrificially, to serve generously for the edification of the brethren. It's also to submit to the doctrine and discipline of the king in his kingdom. We see all these marks in Abigail. Do you see these marks in you? You see that's what this text serves for us tonight, self-examination. As we consider this important subject of professing faith, let us examine our hearts and our lives in the church and in the world. Are we truly professing our faith in Christ with wisdom or are we living in folly? True, submissive, professional faith and wise professional faith in the Anointed of the Lord, in Jesus Christ, is marked by service, submission, and desire to be part of the Kingdom. Desire to be close to the Anointed. Desire to be remembered as He sits on the throne. Is this how you sit here tonight? Oh, I pray the Lord that this would be indeed the picture of each one of us. Why is it that Abigail can make such a profession? What is moving her? Is it self-preservation? Is it Abigail trying to avoid, as David climbs to the throne, to be executed as a traitor? Not at all. Please, again, turn your attention to this important portion in the text. Verse 28, "...for the Lord will certainly make my Lord an enduring house." Brothers and sisters, this is a statement of faith. And again, not faith in David, but faith in Yahweh. Yahweh will make your kingdom great. Why? Because He has said so. How is it that Abigail can come before the anointed of the Lord in service, in submission, and in reconciliation? It is by faith alone! Do you see that in the text? It is by faith alone. It's not because Abigail is wise in intellectual terms, but because her heart and soul has been subdued by the covenant Lord Himself. And the same is true of us. No one can say that Christ is King and that Christ is Lord, truly, but apart from faith. It all begins in eternal times, doesn't it? When the covenantal Lord makes a covenant with His Son to save His people. It continues throughout the Old Testament times through the patriarchs and prophets announcing the kingdom is coming. Even to figures like David telling us and proclaiming to us, even to us here in Holland, Michigan, and to all those who are from afar, to all those who belong to the elect of the Lord, the prophecy is proclaimed. The kingdom is coming. His kingdom is now. And as the Spirit moves us into true faith, then we confess with our mouth. He is the Anointed One. He is the King. That's how Abigail can profess faith in what's going to happen with David. That's how a new covenant believer can profess faith in Christ. Because through the power of the Spirit, his eyes have been opened and his mouth now can profess. He is the Promised One. Let us examine our hearts tonight. Are we fools or are we wise? The parable of Nabal and Abigail comes to our hearts tonight with the purpose of self-examination. Fools oppose the Lord's anointed in defiance with a self-centered life, caring for nothing about themselves. It's all about me and I, mine and I, materialistic and devoted and focused on the things of this world, never about the kingdom to come. But prudence, spiritual prudence, the fruit of true faith, submits to the Lord's anointed. Serve the Lord's anointed and delight in the reconciliation that the anointed himself gives to his people. May the Lord make us all wise in his eyes, through his Spirit. Let us pray. Great God in heaven, we thank you for this parable tonight and we pray help us to examine our hearts and lives, Lord. Lord, we pray that you would lead us unto the abandonment of all folly and foolishness, of all defiance, self-centeredness, and materialism. O Lord, if these marks are in any way, shape, or form present in our lives, we confess unto you and we pray, forgive us our sin. But lead us, O Lord, unto a true, faithful profession of faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the one who reigns supreme and who will come again to judge the living and the dead. Lord, we praise Your name for this profession out of true faith You have given us. Not the fruit of our human wisdom, not the fruit of us opening theological books or intellectually understanding the message, but the fruit of a heart who acknowledges its sin and comes to the anointed for the pardon and forgiveness that is found only in Him. Lord, help us to the light. and to live this prudent life, this wise life. For Your name's sake we pray. Amen.