Today I think is a
remarkable opportunity
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to look at some of
the types of Christs
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that you see in the Bible
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represented in the life of David
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and the messages
dealing with Nabal and Abigail.
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Nabal and Abigail.
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And there are
some wonderful things
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that we can learn
here about the Lord.
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So if you go with
me to 1 Samuel 25,
00:00:39.57\00:00:44.11
it says, "Samuel died,
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and the Israelites gathered
together and lamented him,
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and buried him in
his home at Ramah.
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And David arose,
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and went down to the
wilderness of Paran."
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Well, just in
case you're wondering
00:00:56.72\00:00:57.92
who wrote the
first Book of Samuel,
00:00:57.95\00:01:01.26
it probably wasn't Samuel
00:01:01.29\00:01:02.42
because it just
said Samuel died.
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Did you catch that?
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So he didn't write the first,
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he didn't necessarily write
the whole part of the book.
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It's believed that
at least the last half
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and 2 Samuel
were probably written
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by Nathan, the
Prophet, and we'll discover that
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as we get further
along in our study of David.
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But how long was
Samuel serving the Lord,
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you know, he may have
lived to 90 years of age,
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faithful, prophet, a
priest, the last of the judges.
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He is the one who transitioned
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from a people led by the judges,
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they rejected the Lord
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and said we want a
king like the other nations,
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and now the monarchies began
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and Samuel lived
through that whole transition.
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Samuel was the
one, everyone said
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they knew the Word
of God was in his mouth.
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He was the one that
was somewhat holding Saul
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in check
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and now with Samuel gone,
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David thought the
restraining influence
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of that great
prophet out of the way,
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Saul is not going to hold
back trying to hunt me down.
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And David has already
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had a couple of
opportunities to kill him,
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so he thought I
better get out of town,
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and so David goes a
little further south,
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and I think we got a map
that we'll put up on the screen.
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So if you go north, you can see,
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remember David was
in the Cave of Adullam,
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and now he is getting
further and further south.
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This is still in
the territory of Judea.
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The Philistines would
be now closer to the ocean
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from where they are.
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We are going down to
a region called Carmel
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and there's two
Carmels in the Bible,
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but if you go further south,
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you're getting into the
region of the Ishmaelites,
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better known today as the Arabs.
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And you'll remember
in the Book of Judges,
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that Gideon had
a lot of problems
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with the people of the east,
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and so I wanted you
to get a picture of that
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because they used
to raid this territory.
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David is there with his
men, he's got about 600 men now,
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and he is trying
to get further deep,
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as far as he could go
into the land of Judea,
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away from the area of
Benjamin where Saul was king.
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The land of Israel
back then was not like
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the land of Israel today.
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Today, you know,
it's largely a desert,
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it's a land of rocks but
back in the time of David,
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doesn't the Bible say,
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it was a land
flowing with milk and honey?
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It was a beautiful place.
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The climate has
actually changed.
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Keep in mind that if
you go to North Africa,
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you can find places
in the Sahara Desert
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where they've got rhino bones
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and giraffe
bones and petroglyphs
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that were drawn of the people
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that once lived
there of savannah
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and the lakes and
now it's just sand,
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so the climates in the last
few thousand years have changed,
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and it is actually true
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that when you cut down
the trees in great numbers,
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it doesn't draw
as much moisture in
00:04:02.67\00:04:05.37
off the ocean
00:04:05.41\00:04:07.11
and that can
actually change the climate,
00:04:07.14\00:04:08.51
and the storms,
and the rainfall.
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There was a king, he
was actually a sultan
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that had charged
over the land of Israel
00:04:16.42\00:04:19.19
and he taxed
the people in Israel
00:04:19.22\00:04:21.29
based on how many
trees they had on their land.
00:04:21.32\00:04:24.89
Now if you're going
to pay tax on your trees,
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what do you do to your
trees to lower your taxes?
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It was a really bad policy,
because for about 80 years
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everybody just
cut down their trees
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and it kind of
deforested the land of Israel.
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Now when the Romans
conquered the land of Israel
00:04:41.54\00:04:44.28
back in about 70 AD, you
know what the Roman pattern was?
00:04:44.31\00:04:47.78
They would
scatter salt on the land
00:04:47.82\00:04:50.92
to keep things from growing,
00:04:50.95\00:04:52.99
and so when the Jews rebelled,
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they brought
vast amounts of salt,
00:04:55.12\00:04:56.93
all the fertile fields,
00:04:56.96\00:04:58.83
they had sowed them with
salt and that was like a scorch
00:04:58.86\00:05:01.10
and burn policy to keep them
from taking care of themselves.
00:05:01.13\00:05:04.00
So the land today
is a little different
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than the land was
back in David's time.
00:05:06.67\00:05:08.84
This was a
beautiful pasture land.
00:05:08.87\00:05:11.27
The name Carmel means
fruitful place or park.
00:05:11.31\00:05:15.71
Now this is the different Carmel
00:05:15.74\00:05:18.15
when Elijah has a showdown
00:05:18.18\00:05:20.18
with the Prophets of
Baal on Mount Carmel,
00:05:20.22\00:05:23.22
that's way up north.
00:05:23.25\00:05:25.75
This is a Carmel that
is mentioned by Joshua
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in the land of the
territory of Judea.
00:05:28.36\00:05:30.89
You read in Joshua 15, I
think it's like verse 55,
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you'll see where
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he is itemizing the
different cities and towns
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that would belong
to the tribal Judea
00:05:37.47\00:05:40.00
in the south,
Carmel is mentioned.
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It's down in that region.
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I just didn't want you to
get it mixed up with north
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where Elijah was.
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And so he goes down there
and he is in that mountain,
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and they're trying to
just live off the land
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and the goodness of
others but it's really tough
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when you are responsible
to feed 600 men a day.
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That's a big job.
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And these are men that,
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you know, it says
they were in distress
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and they were in
debt, and they were unhappy
00:06:07.83\00:06:09.90
and they had run away
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and so it's an
interesting bunch.
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So David's got
that fulltime job.
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Now, so with that background,
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listen to what
happens here in the story.
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So David goes south to the land
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of the wilderness of Paran
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and there was a man in Maon
whose business was in Carmel.
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They're right beside each side.
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Carmel is more of the fields,
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Maon was like the town
and the man was very rich.
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He had 3,000 sheep
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and a 1,000 goats,
sounds like Abraham
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and he was shearing
his sheep in Carmel.
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That usually happened in
June, when it starts to dry out
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and the sheep are
getting hot from too much wool.
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Now, the Romans used to
pluck the wool from the sheep,
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but the Jews
would actually shear it
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and it was also a time
where they would slaughter
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and it was a feast
and there were sacrifices.
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And the man's name was Nabal
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and the name of
his wife was Abigail.
00:07:04.12\00:07:06.79
This is unusual because
they almost never mention
00:07:06.82\00:07:08.79
the name of the wife
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unless she factors
into the story somehow.
00:07:09.92\00:07:13.83
She was a woman
of good understanding
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and a beautiful appearance,
00:07:16.73\00:07:19.33
but the man was harsh
and evil in his doings.
00:07:19.37\00:07:23.51
Ever heard opposites attract?
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He was of the house of
Caleb, so he had a good lineage.
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Caleb was a great man.
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The word Caleb means bold,
but the word Nabal means fool.
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Abigail means
praise of the Father.
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You kind of knew
"Aba" means papa or father
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and "gail" means the praise
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or the exaltation of the Father,
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the rejoicing of the Father.
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So David heard
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that they were
doing the sheep shearing
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and this was a time of
generosity, of festivities.
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He is in the wilderness.
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That Nabal were
shearing his sheep.
00:08:01.01\00:08:02.91
David sent 10 young men
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and David said to the young men,
00:08:05.51\00:08:06.92
"Go up to Carmel, go to
Nabal and greet him in my name."
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And so he sends a
delegation in his name.
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Before we go any further,
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this is a unique
story that tells us
00:08:15.46\00:08:17.26
something about
the plan of salvation.
00:08:17.29\00:08:19.36
You know, there are some stories
00:08:19.39\00:08:21.03
that is really you see
the plan of salvation in here.
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But here you've got
David, who is a type of who?
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He is a type of
Christ in the Bible.
00:08:26.87\00:08:28.64
It's pretty clear about that.
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He sends a
delegation in his name.
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Right now there is an evil
king that is ruling the land,
00:08:34.81\00:08:37.08
but David has been the anointed,
00:08:37.11\00:08:38.85
Christ is the anointed, right?
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The land is
going to go to David,
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the world is
going to go to Christ.
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But in advance of his
being in control of the land,
00:08:45.49\00:08:49.96
he said I could use
an offering right now
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for my men.
00:08:53.29\00:08:55.23
So he sends 10 men
and he said, go to Carmel,
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go to Nabal and
greet him in my name
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and thus you shall say to him
00:09:01.04\00:09:02.30
who lives in
prosperity, peace be to you,
00:09:02.34\00:09:06.07
peace to your house,
peace to all that you have.
00:09:06.11\00:09:09.94
When you look that up it
says, shalom, shalom, shalom.
00:09:09.98\00:09:14.88
David sends a
message of peace, amen.
00:09:14.92\00:09:18.05
Jesus is our prince of peace.
00:09:18.09\00:09:20.96
And he says,
peace in all you have,
00:09:20.99\00:09:22.36
peace to your home.
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How many of you would like that
00:09:23.49\00:09:24.53
to come from our
King David, Jesus?
00:09:24.56\00:09:29.10
And he says, I've
heard that you have shears
00:09:29.13\00:09:32.17
and your shepherds were with
us and we did not hurt them.
00:09:32.20\00:09:35.37
Not only did we not molest them,
00:09:35.40\00:09:36.91
we protected them.
00:09:36.94\00:09:38.54
Nor was anything missing
from all that was with them
00:09:38.57\00:09:42.98
while they were
with us in Carmel.
00:09:43.01\00:09:45.15
Ask your young men
and they will tell you.
00:09:45.18\00:09:47.52
So one thing
David told his men is
00:09:47.55\00:09:49.32
"Do not harass
people, be honest.
00:09:49.35\00:09:51.79
Remember the
commandments of God."
00:09:51.82\00:09:54.79
Therefore, he said
00:09:54.82\00:09:56.36
you can check
with your shepherds.
00:09:56.39\00:09:59.39
Therefore let my young
men find favor in your eyes,
00:09:59.43\00:10:03.26
for we come on a feast day.
00:10:03.30\00:10:04.77
Please give what
comes to your hand.
00:10:04.80\00:10:06.63
I'm not asking for a percentage,
00:10:06.67\00:10:08.20
I'm asking for an
offering whatever is nearby.
00:10:08.24\00:10:11.81
Please give what
comes to your hand
00:10:11.84\00:10:13.44
to your servants
and to your son, David.
00:10:13.48\00:10:16.31
It's a very nice message.
00:10:16.34\00:10:17.95
So David's servants,
he sends 10 young men.
00:10:17.98\00:10:20.12
They've got
their donkeys probably
00:10:20.15\00:10:21.42
and, you know, if somebody
says could I have a donation,
00:10:21.45\00:10:24.15
you bring 10 donkeys,
00:10:24.19\00:10:25.19
you're not expecting a
little donation, you know,
00:10:25.22\00:10:28.86
because you got 600 soldiers
00:10:28.89\00:10:31.23
and he was hoping
could you help us out,
00:10:31.26\00:10:32.93
it's a feast day,
you've been generous,
00:10:32.96\00:10:35.90
we've protected everything
you have from the Ishmaelites
00:10:35.93\00:10:39.33
that were raiding the
country and from the Philistines
00:10:39.37\00:10:42.17
and you
wouldn't be doing so well
00:10:42.20\00:10:43.97
now if it wasn't for
the work we did for you.
00:10:44.01\00:10:47.54
I know, when I
traveled in foreign countries,
00:10:47.58\00:10:49.94
it's not uncommon
in the Philippines,
00:10:49.98\00:10:52.61
in Indonesia,
and different places
00:10:52.65\00:10:54.22
if you're looking
for parking place,
00:10:54.25\00:10:55.55
there will be these people
00:10:55.58\00:10:56.58
that kind of are
shepherds of the parking places
00:10:56.62\00:11:01.22
and they'll see that
00:11:01.26\00:11:02.29
you're looking
for parking place,
00:11:02.32\00:11:03.36
they will go over here,
and then they'll wade you,
00:11:03.39\00:11:05.93
and they'll back you
and they'll guide you
00:11:05.96\00:11:07.00
and they'll tap you and
kind of see, you're okay.
00:11:07.03\00:11:08.83
Now when you
come to get your car,
00:11:08.86\00:11:09.86
you give them a tip
because they watch your car
00:11:09.90\00:11:13.30
and they take
care of it for you.
00:11:13.34\00:11:15.00
Now, you don't
have to give him a tip,
00:11:15.04\00:11:17.84
but it's a good idea if
you want your car protected
00:11:17.87\00:11:20.98
because they'll
make a note of your car
00:11:21.01\00:11:23.14
if you ever come back.
00:11:23.18\00:11:24.48
And so it's just customary.
00:11:24.51\00:11:25.58
How many of you
have you seen this?
00:11:25.61\00:11:26.58
You go to and you just
say thank you very much
00:11:26.61\00:11:28.95
for keeping an eye on
things, they appreciate it,
00:11:28.98\00:11:30.55
and it's an opportunity for you
00:11:30.59\00:11:31.79
as a Christian to
do good to somebody.
00:11:31.82\00:11:34.89
And so he said, look,
we've taken care of your stuff.
00:11:34.92\00:11:38.13
And so Nabal
listens and he is scowling.
00:11:38.16\00:11:42.13
He is a covetous man
and they spoke to him,
00:11:42.16\00:11:47.60
just what David
gives them a message,
00:11:47.64\00:11:49.40
they are herald
messengers for David.
00:11:49.44\00:11:51.94
Nabal answered David's servants
00:11:51.97\00:11:54.18
and he says, listen
to this harsh answer.
00:11:54.21\00:11:57.75
"Who is David? And
who is the son of Jesse?"
00:11:57.78\00:12:02.35
Now, did he know who David was?
00:12:02.38\00:12:06.02
The very fact that he
says who is the son of Jesse.
00:12:06.05\00:12:08.56
The messengers
didn't mention Jesse.
00:12:08.59\00:12:11.39
He knew David
was the son of Jesse.
00:12:11.43\00:12:14.20
Anyone as wealthy
and connected as Nabal,
00:12:14.23\00:12:18.03
they all knew what was
going on with Saul and David,
00:12:18.07\00:12:21.64
and that there is
this contest about
00:12:21.67\00:12:23.67
who was going to
be the next king.
00:12:23.71\00:12:26.04
But his answer is
like the answer of Pharaoh.
00:12:26.07\00:12:29.68
When Moses said,
"Let my people go."
00:12:29.71\00:12:31.48
Pharaoh says, "Who is the Lord?"
00:12:31.51\00:12:33.35
You know what that means?
I don't believe in the Lord.
00:12:33.38\00:12:36.89
He says, "I don't
believe, I don't recognize you,"
00:12:36.92\00:12:38.99
and then he goes further.
00:12:39.02\00:12:41.72
I mean, he could have
said, you know, I'm just,
00:12:41.76\00:12:43.39
it's little
tight, don't have enough
00:12:43.43\00:12:44.69
for just my servants,
00:12:44.73\00:12:45.76
if he had said that
it would have been okay.
00:12:45.79\00:12:47.60
But he reviles, he rebukes
and then he goes on and says,
00:12:47.66\00:12:51.60
there are many servants nowadays
00:12:51.63\00:12:53.67
who break away each
one from his master.
00:12:53.70\00:12:56.97
There are lot of
runaway slaves these days.
00:12:57.01\00:12:59.27
David used to be Saul's servant.
00:12:59.31\00:13:00.81
What happened? You're a runaway.
00:13:00.84\00:13:02.91
And all those guys
who were following you,
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.35
they were in debt,
couldn't pay their servants,
00:13:04.38\00:13:06.31
ran away, runaway slaves,
00:13:06.35\00:13:07.68
you want me to
feed the runaway slaves?
00:13:07.72\00:13:09.68
I've got to feed my
slaves that stay with me.
00:13:09.72\00:13:12.82
I mean, it's really insulting,
00:13:12.85\00:13:14.92
it's degrading
what he is saying.
00:13:14.96\00:13:16.89
I just want you to understand
that in the terms of the day,
00:13:16.93\00:13:21.63
it was pretty low and he
says, shall I take, notice,
00:13:21.66\00:13:24.63
shall I take, he says,
"I", shall "I" take "my" bread,
00:13:24.67\00:13:28.80
"my" water, then "my" meat.
00:13:28.84\00:13:31.31
You see they
also have sacrifices
00:13:31.34\00:13:34.31
that "I" have
killed for "my" shearers,
00:13:34.34\00:13:36.18
and give it to men
00:13:36.21\00:13:37.25
that I don't know
where they've come from.
00:13:37.28\00:13:39.61
He says "I" three
times and "my" four times.
00:13:39.65\00:13:42.45
This is a selfish dude.
00:13:42.48\00:13:45.59
He makes me think
about that passage
00:13:45.62\00:13:47.79
where the devil says, "I
will exalt my throne above.
00:13:47.82\00:13:50.63
I will be king. I will
be like the Most High."
00:13:50.66\00:13:53.60
I, I, I, I, so
Nabal is my, my, my, my.
00:13:53.63\00:13:59.17
Very selfish.
00:13:59.20\00:14:01.10
So David's young men,
00:14:01.14\00:14:03.10
when they heard that
they turned on their heels.
00:14:03.14\00:14:06.17
You ever heard
that expression before?
00:14:06.21\00:14:07.78
This is where it comes from.
00:14:07.81\00:14:09.11
Any of you were
ever in the military?
00:14:09.14\00:14:11.28
And military is very efficient,
00:14:11.31\00:14:13.42
and so if you're
going to change directions
00:14:13.45\00:14:14.68
in the military,
00:14:14.72\00:14:15.75
you do about face
and you just, you see,
00:14:15.78\00:14:18.42
you put your toe down
there, you go like that,
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.12
I sort of remember,
00:14:20.16\00:14:21.19
it's not near as
good as it used to be,
00:14:21.22\00:14:23.06
but five years old I
was in military school.
00:14:23.09\00:14:27.03
Turning on your heels.
00:14:27.10\00:14:29.16
It doesn't mean, you go,
00:14:29.20\00:14:30.27
"Well, well, I
will see you later."
00:14:30.30\00:14:32.47
It means you go,
"I'm out of here,"
00:14:32.50\00:14:34.27
you leave right away.
00:14:34.30\00:14:36.07
They were insulted.
00:14:36.10\00:14:38.31
They snapped
around and they said whoa,
00:14:38.34\00:14:41.81
they didn't even
try to reason with him.
00:14:41.84\00:14:44.08
They could have said,
00:14:44.11\00:14:45.18
"Well, now can we
talk to you about that
00:14:45.21\00:14:46.98
and, you know,
check with your servants."
00:14:47.02\00:14:49.08
They said, wow, that
answer is so abrupt and so rude,
00:14:49.12\00:14:51.79
there is no
reasoning with this guy.
00:14:51.82\00:14:54.06
He has totally rejected
00:14:54.09\00:14:56.49
our kind request for a donation,
00:14:56.52\00:15:00.66
that's all they are asking for.
00:15:00.70\00:15:04.03
These young men
turned on their heels
00:15:04.07\00:15:05.87
and the other
servants are watching,
00:15:05.90\00:15:08.40
because when these
10 guys come marching
00:15:08.44\00:15:10.44
into a camp of a man
who's got 3,000 sheep,
00:15:10.47\00:15:13.81
1,000 goats, it's 4,000,
he's got a lot of shepherds,
00:15:13.84\00:15:17.08
a lot of
shearers, a lot of servants,
00:15:17.11\00:15:19.01
they see this delegation coming,
00:15:19.05\00:15:20.45
people were listening.
00:15:20.48\00:15:21.95
The steward was probably
standing there listening
00:15:21.98\00:15:25.02
which is a good thing.
00:15:25.05\00:15:26.52
They turned on their heels
00:15:26.55\00:15:27.62
and the
expression on their face was
00:15:27.66\00:15:28.96
one of indignation and outrage
00:15:28.99\00:15:32.46
and on the way back to
David, they were not happy.
00:15:32.49\00:15:35.90
They were hungry too.
00:15:35.93\00:15:39.43
Then they come back,
00:15:39.47\00:15:40.67
and David's men
turned on their heels,
00:15:40.70\00:15:42.24
they came and
told all these words
00:15:42.27\00:15:44.94
and David said to his men.
00:15:44.97\00:15:47.58
"Every man gird on his sword.
00:15:47.61\00:15:50.61
So every man
girded on his sword.
00:15:50.65\00:15:52.01
Now, wait a second,
this is not the same David.
00:15:52.05\00:15:55.15
You notice we gonna
read a lot about David,
00:15:55.18\00:15:56.75
David hasn't lost his temper.
00:15:56.79\00:15:59.29
The only time David got mad
was at Goliath up until now.
00:15:59.32\00:16:03.19
Isn't that right?
00:16:03.22\00:16:04.56
Now something
has come over David.
00:16:04.59\00:16:06.23
Last week we talked
about vengeance and mercy.
00:16:06.26\00:16:09.13
Saul was completely
obsessed with vengeance,
00:16:09.16\00:16:12.13
David with mercy,
but now David is saying,
00:16:12.17\00:16:15.97
"I'm going to avenge myself."
00:16:16.00\00:16:18.07
That's no way to talk to anybody
00:16:18.11\00:16:19.64
and he wasn't only
going to go after Nabal,
00:16:19.67\00:16:21.44
he was going to go
after everybody in his house.
00:16:21.48\00:16:24.68
And he says, gird on your sword.
00:16:24.71\00:16:26.72
Four hundred
men went with David,
00:16:26.75\00:16:29.05
two hundred
stayed with the supplies.
00:16:29.08\00:16:30.55
Four hundred was
probably more than
00:16:30.59\00:16:31.72
enough to
dispatch Nabal's household.
00:16:31.75\00:16:35.66
And one of the
young men told Abigail,
00:16:35.69\00:16:38.69
maybe one of the servants
or the stewards of Nabal
00:16:38.73\00:16:41.43
who had heard
this whole exchange
00:16:41.46\00:16:43.16
while his servants go back,
00:16:43.20\00:16:46.17
one of the servants
of Nabal goes to Abigail,
00:16:46.20\00:16:48.14
he says I can
reason with her saying,
00:16:48.17\00:16:51.31
"Look, David sent
messengers from the wilderness
00:16:51.34\00:16:54.08
to greet our master
and he reviled them,
00:16:54.11\00:16:57.35
but the men were
very good to us."
00:16:57.38\00:17:02.08
Now remember, who
does David represent?
00:17:02.12\00:17:05.45
Christ. And his men?
His servants, his angels.
00:17:05.49\00:17:09.26
"Very good to us,
nor did we miss anything
00:17:09.29\00:17:12.39
as long as we accompanied them,
00:17:12.43\00:17:14.66
when we were with
them in the fields."
00:17:14.73\00:17:16.13
Then notice this,
00:17:16.16\00:17:17.20
"They were a wall
to us by night and day,
00:17:17.23\00:17:21.20
all the time we were
with them keeping the sheep."
00:17:21.24\00:17:25.01
You remember when Jesus appears,
00:17:25.04\00:17:27.11
shepherds are
keeping their sheep
00:17:27.14\00:17:29.28
and it tells here that his men
00:17:29.31\00:17:33.25
it says like were a wall to him.
00:17:33.28\00:17:36.55
You can read in 1 Samuel 25:16.
00:17:36.58\00:17:40.09
It says, "They were a
wall to us by night and day."
00:17:40.12\00:17:43.96
Do you know if you
read in Psalms 34:7,
00:17:43.99\00:17:45.89
"The angel of the Lord
encamps all around those
00:17:45.93\00:17:49.36
who fear him and delivers him."
00:17:49.40\00:17:51.73
Does the Lord give us
walls to protect and bless?
00:17:51.77\00:17:55.64
What was the Satan's accusation
against God regarding Job?
00:17:55.67\00:18:00.38
You set a wall about him.
That's what the hedge means.
00:18:00.41\00:18:03.68
You protect him and you're
protecting all that he has.
00:18:03.71\00:18:06.58
David was a wall
around Nabal and Abigail
00:18:06.61\00:18:09.08
and their household
protecting everything.
00:18:09.12\00:18:11.12
But did they appreciate?
00:18:11.15\00:18:13.32
Well, did Nabal appreciate
the blessings of David?
00:18:13.36\00:18:18.63
And when the time came
to show that appreciation,
00:18:18.66\00:18:20.66
he sent them away empty.
00:18:20.70\00:18:22.63
We would never do that.
00:18:22.66\00:18:24.70
You see where
I'm going with this.
00:18:24.73\00:18:26.90
This is not a
story about just David
00:18:26.94\00:18:30.34
and Nabal and Abigail,
00:18:30.37\00:18:32.11
it's a story
about the gospel and us.
00:18:32.14\00:18:35.54
And he gives a harsh answer,
he says, "Who is the Lord?"
00:18:35.58\00:18:38.65
You know, it's
interesting, the Bible says,
00:18:38.68\00:18:40.02
the fool has said in his heart,
00:18:40.05\00:18:42.05
"There is no God."
00:18:42.08\00:18:44.49
And you know what
the word Nabal means?
00:18:44.52\00:18:46.45
I told you,
remember? Fool. Who is David?
00:18:46.49\00:18:51.49
It's like people
saying, "Who is Jesus?
00:18:51.53\00:18:52.63
I don't know
Jesus. Who is Jesus?
00:18:52.66\00:18:54.36
I don't know Jesus or anything."
00:18:54.40\00:18:57.90
And so now the servant
of Nabal is telling Abigail,
00:18:57.93\00:19:02.30
these men were very good to us.
00:19:02.34\00:19:05.14
They didn't harass us,
00:19:05.17\00:19:06.91
nothing was ever
missing from the tent,
00:19:06.94\00:19:08.84
we slept well at night.
00:19:08.88\00:19:10.41
They protected us
from the Amalekites,
00:19:10.45\00:19:12.41
and the
Ishmaelites, and the Philistines
00:19:12.45\00:19:14.55
and you wouldn't
have had all this blessing
00:19:14.58\00:19:17.29
if it wasn't for those men.
00:19:17.32\00:19:19.42
You remember what
happened with Keilah?
00:19:19.45\00:19:21.59
The Philistines
were raiding the people
00:19:21.62\00:19:23.02
and David came
and delivered them.
00:19:23.06\00:19:24.43
He said, he's delivered us.
00:19:24.46\00:19:26.80
And so there they
are giving this message.
00:19:26.83\00:19:29.66
Zachariah 2:5, "For I say,"
00:19:29.70\00:19:32.47
says the Lord, "I will
be a wall of fire around her
00:19:32.50\00:19:36.34
and I will be the
glory in her midst."
00:19:36.37\00:19:39.51
When the Philistines, I'm sorry,
00:19:39.54\00:19:40.74
when the Egyptians wanted to
destroy the children of Israel,
00:19:40.78\00:19:44.05
God brought the pillar of
fire as a wall to protect them.
00:19:44.08\00:19:48.82
So David was a wall.
00:19:48.85\00:19:51.32
And so now David is
upset and he gets upset.
00:19:51.35\00:19:56.02
He said, you
know, enough is enough.
00:19:56.06\00:19:58.06
I've been the
nice guy with Saul,
00:19:58.09\00:19:59.83
but this is too much.
00:19:59.86\00:20:02.16
And I guess he was
worried about his men.
00:20:02.20\00:20:04.43
They were hungry.
00:20:04.47\00:20:06.07
And they've done all this work
00:20:06.10\00:20:07.14
and they thought
they should be paid.
00:20:07.17\00:20:08.97
Now, James 1:9
says, "So then my beloved,
00:20:09.00\00:20:12.77
let every man be swift to hear,
00:20:12.81\00:20:15.44
slow to speak,
and slow to wrath."
00:20:15.48\00:20:20.02
This is one time when David,
00:20:20.05\00:20:21.52
it's not the
best portrait of David
00:20:21.55\00:20:23.79
when he is starting
out losing his temper.
00:20:23.82\00:20:28.16
And so, his men are
all armed for war now
00:20:28.19\00:20:33.80
and the servants of
Abigail were saying,
00:20:33.83\00:20:37.00
they were very good to us,
they were wall day and night
00:20:37.03\00:20:39.70
while we were with
them, keeping the sheep.
00:20:39.73\00:20:41.80
And the servant
goes on, I'm on verse 17,
00:20:41.84\00:20:43.91
I'm in 1 Samuel 25:17,
00:20:43.94\00:20:47.14
"Now, therefore know
and consider what you'll do.
00:20:47.18\00:20:50.25
You better do something.
00:20:50.28\00:20:52.35
For harm is
determined against our master."
00:20:52.38\00:20:55.15
He saw their
faces when they left.
00:20:55.18\00:20:57.35
He saw how they
turned on their heels.
00:20:57.39\00:20:59.35
"And against all
his household, for he...
00:20:59.39\00:21:02.52
"Now listen, this is
really unusual for the servant
00:21:02.56\00:21:04.46
to talk to Abigail, the
way he does about their master,
00:21:04.49\00:21:07.66
but I guess
Nabal was so notorious
00:21:07.73\00:21:09.90
that he could speak freely."
00:21:09.93\00:21:11.97
For he is such a scoundrel..."
00:21:12.00\00:21:14.67
Sometimes you've heard the word,
00:21:14.70\00:21:17.67
sons of Belial
or a worthless one.
00:21:17.71\00:21:21.88
He is such a scoundrel
that one cannot speak to him,
00:21:21.91\00:21:25.98
you cannot reason with him.
00:21:26.01\00:21:29.32
Then Abigail made
haste. She thought, "Oh, no.
00:21:29.35\00:21:32.69
I got to do
something." She made haste.
00:21:32.72\00:21:35.46
She realized not just her life
00:21:35.49\00:21:37.33
but the life of the
household was at risk,
00:21:37.36\00:21:41.16
and she took
200 loaves of bread,
00:21:41.20\00:21:44.63
two skins of wine,
five sheep already dressed,
00:21:44.67\00:21:49.00
five seahs of roasted grain,
00:21:49.04\00:21:51.31
these are sacks of
grain ready to eat,
00:21:51.34\00:21:54.18
100 clusters of
raisins, 200 cakes of figs,
00:21:54.21\00:21:58.25
they used to make these
delicious cakes of figs,
00:21:58.28\00:22:00.15
because they got so much
sugar that they stick together
00:22:00.18\00:22:02.85
and they put some flour
and then they last a long time,
00:22:02.88\00:22:05.89
and loaded them on donkeys,
00:22:05.92\00:22:07.76
probably 10 donkeys is
like they'd come down with.
00:22:07.79\00:22:12.39
But, you know,
you have to admire,
00:22:12.43\00:22:13.50
I really appreciate all
those that help in the kitchen
00:22:13.53\00:22:16.60
and the women have in particular
00:22:16.63\00:22:18.40
and some of the men
help a lot in the kitchen
00:22:18.43\00:22:19.90
but women have a special gift.
00:22:19.93\00:22:20.94
Have you ever noticed?
00:22:20.97\00:22:22.14
Unexpected company comes,
and they can rustle around,
00:22:22.17\00:22:26.34
they put water in the soup,
00:22:26.37\00:22:27.48
they do something
and all of a sudden
00:22:27.51\00:22:28.68
there's food
appears out of nowhere.
00:22:28.71\00:22:31.71
Abigail's got to
cater for an army, or die,
00:22:31.75\00:22:38.05
and she puts
together a feast quickly.
00:22:38.09\00:22:40.79
She gets all these things,
she starts ordering servants,
00:22:40.82\00:22:42.89
they're running, and
who knows what, Nabal,
00:22:42.92\00:22:45.39
he doesn't know what's going on.
00:22:45.43\00:22:48.26
And they make haste and
she says to her servants,
00:22:48.30\00:22:51.83
verse 19, "Go on before me.
00:22:51.87\00:22:54.64
See I'm coming after you.
00:22:54.67\00:22:55.90
She sends the gifts on before."
00:22:55.94\00:22:59.61
Now, you know,
that's not the first time
00:22:59.64\00:23:01.21
that's happened in the Bible.
00:23:01.24\00:23:02.81
When the queen of Sheba came,
you know, how she sent gifts,
00:23:02.84\00:23:08.82
because she was going
to have this audience.
00:23:08.85\00:23:10.85
How many of you remember
00:23:10.89\00:23:11.95
when Jacob was coming
back from living in Mesopotamia
00:23:11.99\00:23:15.46
that Esau got worried
00:23:15.49\00:23:16.69
and he was coming
with 400 soldiers,
00:23:16.73\00:23:20.90
and they were going
to annihilate his family
00:23:20.93\00:23:24.33
because Esau had probably
been fuming for 20 years now
00:23:24.37\00:23:28.97
about what Jacob had done
in stealing the birthright,
00:23:29.00\00:23:31.01
and he is
thinking you're coming back
00:23:31.04\00:23:32.11
to take the birthright,
00:23:32.14\00:23:33.21
you're coming back to
take those possessions
00:23:33.24\00:23:34.51
that are mine.
00:23:34.54\00:23:35.71
Jacob knew what his brother
was thinking, they were twins.
00:23:35.74\00:23:39.08
So he gets all of
these great gifts together
00:23:39.11\00:23:42.78
and he sends it
ahead of the family,
00:23:42.82\00:23:46.39
so they all bow down
00:23:46.42\00:23:48.36
and they say to Esau here
are these gifts, this is from,
00:23:48.39\00:23:50.79
and basically he
is saying to Esau,
00:23:50.83\00:23:53.13
"I don't want anything from you,
00:23:53.16\00:23:54.83
I want to give to
you. The Lord's blessed me.
00:23:54.83\00:23:56.97
I'm not here for
dad's inheritance.
00:23:57.00\00:23:59.80
I'm here because I
just wanted to be home."
00:23:59.83\00:24:02.90
And so by the
time Jacob gets there,
00:24:02.94\00:24:04.97
and he sees
Esau, Esau kisses him
00:24:05.01\00:24:07.31
where he had come
with armed men to kill.
00:24:07.34\00:24:10.58
The gifts that go out
before can save your life
00:24:10.61\00:24:16.18
and the Bible
kind of teaches it.
00:24:16.22\00:24:17.92
Psalms 50, you might
make a note of this one.
00:24:17.95\00:24:21.52
Psalms 50, "Our God
shall come and not keep silent.
00:24:21.56\00:24:25.79
A fire will devour before him,
00:24:25.83\00:24:28.20
it will be very
tempestuous all around him.
00:24:28.23\00:24:31.83
He will call to the heavens
from above and to the earth,
00:24:31.87\00:24:34.47
that he may judge his people.
00:24:34.50\00:24:36.50
Gather my saints together to me.
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.37
He is talking about
when we are caught up
00:24:38.41\00:24:39.44
to meet the Lord in the air,
00:24:39.47\00:24:40.98
those who have made a
covenant with me by sacrifice."
00:24:41.01\00:24:47.95
Now, are we saved by our gifts?
00:24:47.98\00:24:51.79
Or do our gifts show
we believe in the covenant
00:24:51.82\00:24:55.16
that we've made?
00:24:55.19\00:24:57.23
But people who say, Lord,
Lord and send Him away empty,
00:24:57.26\00:25:01.93
you wondered do
they really believe
00:25:01.96\00:25:04.37
that He is the Lord?
00:25:04.40\00:25:06.67
The giving of an individual is
a really interesting indicator
00:25:06.70\00:25:11.31
of where they are spiritually.
00:25:11.34\00:25:13.54
Didn't the Bible say,
"Wherever a man's heart is,
00:25:13.58\00:25:16.44
that's where his treasure is?"
00:25:16.48\00:25:20.45
Proverbs 18:16, "A man's
gift makes a room for him
00:25:20.48\00:25:25.09
and brings him
before great men."
00:25:25.12\00:25:28.52
The gift goes out to him,
so here Abigail is saying,
00:25:28.56\00:25:32.23
have all these gifts come out?
00:25:32.26\00:25:33.73
We are hoping we
can appease his wrath
00:25:33.76\00:25:35.93
before we ever get there.
00:25:35.96\00:25:37.27
You go before me with the gifts.
00:25:37.30\00:25:41.27
You remember reading
where it talks about those
00:25:41.30\00:25:42.94
who've died in the Lord,
their works do follow them?
00:25:42.97\00:25:46.14
Your works follow you
but your gifts go ahead.
00:25:46.17\00:25:50.68
And so, with all
this happening though,
00:25:50.71\00:25:55.78
she doesn't tell her husband.
00:25:55.82\00:25:59.12
Now, I believe
husbands and wives
00:25:59.15\00:26:01.82
should communicate on
big financial decisions.
00:26:01.86\00:26:06.23
Do we all agree?
00:26:06.26\00:26:07.83
If you're getting ready to
cater a big army like that,
00:26:07.86\00:26:11.27
you should
probably talk together.
00:26:11.30\00:26:14.07
But if you're married
to Nabal, you get a pass.
00:26:14.10\00:26:17.51
If it's a life
or death situation,
00:26:17.54\00:26:21.94
she couldn't reason with him.
00:26:21.98\00:26:23.58
I mean, doesn't that
what the servant just said?
00:26:23.61\00:26:24.91
There is no talking to him
00:26:24.95\00:26:26.82
and he had just insulted the one
00:26:26.85\00:26:29.18
who was to be king,
00:26:29.22\00:26:31.69
and that was a really bad move,
00:26:31.72\00:26:33.72
and so she needed to
take a preemptive action.
00:26:33.76\00:26:37.99
How many of you remember
the story that during...
00:26:38.03\00:26:40.20
It actually comes up
later in the episodes of David
00:26:40.23\00:26:42.50
that Joab, the general,
00:26:42.53\00:26:46.20
surrounds the
city because a rebel,
00:26:46.23\00:26:48.34
someone who is trying to start
a rebellion in Israel named...
00:26:48.37\00:26:52.94
Was it Sheba?
00:26:52.97\00:26:54.11
Sheba, he was
hiding out in the city
00:26:54.14\00:26:57.25
and Joab and the
soldiers of Israel
00:26:57.28\00:26:59.05
they all surrounded the city
00:26:59.08\00:27:00.58
and they were going to
kill everybody in the city
00:27:00.62\00:27:02.45
and a woman goes up
on the wall of the city
00:27:02.48\00:27:04.65
and says, "Where is Joab?"
00:27:04.69\00:27:05.85
And Joab says, "Here I am."
00:27:05.89\00:27:07.26
She said, "I want to
talk to you. Come here."
00:27:07.29\00:27:08.46
She was having this
conversation from the wall
00:27:08.49\00:27:11.89
and she said, "I'm
a mother in Israel,
00:27:11.93\00:27:15.06
you're getting ready to
kill us all for this one rebel?"
00:27:15.10\00:27:18.77
And they talked together
00:27:18.80\00:27:20.17
and they finally
come to an agreement.
00:27:20.20\00:27:21.60
He says, "Look, we
don't want to do that.
00:27:21.64\00:27:23.00
We don't want to
hurt anybody in the city
00:27:23.04\00:27:24.27
but there is someone who
has rose up against David
00:27:24.31\00:27:26.17
that you're
protecting in the city?"
00:27:26.21\00:27:27.98
She said, "Let me
go talk to the people.
00:27:28.01\00:27:29.64
I'll be back."
00:27:29.68\00:27:30.68
She talks to
them, she comes back,
00:27:30.71\00:27:31.85
she said, "We are going to
toss his head over the wall."
00:27:31.88\00:27:36.35
Now, I'm not recommending that
we solve our problems that way,
00:27:36.38\00:27:38.55
but I'm just telling
you that it was a woman
00:27:38.59\00:27:43.06
that came out and
interceded that brought peace.
00:27:43.09\00:27:47.36
Now what does a woman represent
in Bible analogies often?
00:27:47.40\00:27:51.97
So who is it that brings peace?
00:27:52.00\00:27:55.10
The house of Nabal is
doomed. Judgment is coming.
00:27:55.14\00:28:00.28
Abigail goes forward
00:28:00.31\00:28:02.18
and she begins to become
the agent of peace in this.
00:28:02.21\00:28:09.08
So it was, said,
"She rode on a donkey,
00:28:09.12\00:28:12.45
she went down
under cover of a hill..."
00:28:12.49\00:28:14.42
They may have been tracking
00:28:14.46\00:28:15.92
where David's servants had gone,
00:28:15.96\00:28:17.46
and they're going
down through the hill
00:28:17.49\00:28:18.96
because he was living
off in the wilderness,
00:28:18.99\00:28:21.23
and wouldn't you know,
00:28:21.26\00:28:24.33
"There were David and his
men coming down towards her."
00:28:24.37\00:28:27.40
I mean it's clearing
in, and all of a sudden
00:28:27.44\00:28:29.64
these two come
together and he is not sure
00:28:29.67\00:28:31.34
who this is yet
and she dismounts.
00:28:31.37\00:28:37.21
David is thinking to
himself when he meets Abigail,
00:28:37.25\00:28:39.88
the thoughts that are
going through his head,
00:28:39.91\00:28:41.58
you'll find in verse 21.
00:28:41.62\00:28:42.95
"He said surely in
vain I protected all
00:28:42.98\00:28:45.39
that this fellow
has in the wilderness
00:28:45.42\00:28:47.66
so that nothing was
missed of all the belongings..."
00:28:47.69\00:28:50.23
He is reciting over and
over in his mind the right
00:28:50.26\00:28:52.46
that he has got
to kill this man.
00:28:52.49\00:28:54.93
"And he has
repaid me evil for good.
00:28:54.93\00:28:56.56
May God do so
to me and more also
00:28:56.60\00:28:59.13
to the enemies of
David if I leave one male
00:28:59.17\00:29:01.94
of all who belong to
him living by light."
00:29:01.97\00:29:05.47
He's just made a vow,
00:29:05.51\00:29:06.51
he is going to kill
all in the household.
00:29:06.54\00:29:08.51
They're under judgment.
00:29:08.54\00:29:11.75
Now Abigail sees David,
00:29:11.78\00:29:14.42
so he tells what was
going through his head,
00:29:14.45\00:29:16.05
as he's on his
way with 400 soldiers,
00:29:16.08\00:29:18.25
David is probably leading.
00:29:18.29\00:29:19.39
Abigail sees David,
00:29:19.42\00:29:21.16
she dismounts
quickly from the donkey.
00:29:21.19\00:29:23.96
She falls in her
face before David,
00:29:23.99\00:29:26.59
she bows down to the
ground as though he is a king.
00:29:26.63\00:29:29.03
Now look at the difference.
Nabal says, who is David?
00:29:29.06\00:29:31.63
Who is this son of Jesse?
00:29:31.67\00:29:33.37
She is treating
him very differently.
00:29:33.40\00:29:36.47
So she fell at his feet,
and she says, "On me, my lord,
00:29:36.50\00:29:40.71
on me let this iniquity be!
00:29:40.74\00:29:44.18
And please let your
maidservant speak in your ears,
00:29:44.21\00:29:47.68
and hear the words
of your maidservant."
00:29:47.72\00:29:50.22
Well, should she
suffer for Nabal?
00:29:50.25\00:29:54.22
She didn't do it, Nabal did it.
00:29:54.26\00:29:56.56
But here she is saying,
00:29:56.59\00:29:58.69
I want to be the
substitute, you blame me.
00:29:58.73\00:30:01.70
Now isn't that kind of
what Jesus does for us?
00:30:01.73\00:30:04.27
He says, I'll take
it. Was she guilty?
00:30:04.30\00:30:06.53
No, but she is willing to
take the guilt of her husband.
00:30:06.57\00:30:10.41
Speak in the ears,
00:30:10.44\00:30:11.57
and let me here say a few words.
00:30:11.61\00:30:14.14
Please, she didn't
wait for permission,
00:30:14.18\00:30:15.68
she keeps going, verse 25.
00:30:15.71\00:30:18.58
"Please, let not my lord
regard this scoundrel Nabal,"
00:30:18.61\00:30:23.65
that's your husband.
00:30:23.69\00:30:26.05
"For as his name is, so
he is, Nabal is his name,
00:30:26.09\00:30:31.06
and folly is with him!"
00:30:31.09\00:30:32.73
Now the way that comes of
00:30:32.76\00:30:33.90
in the Hebrew is
fool is his name,
00:30:33.93\00:30:37.10
and folly is with him.
00:30:37.13\00:30:39.30
He is doing just
as his name indicates.
00:30:39.33\00:30:42.50
"But I, your maidservant,
did not see the young men..."
00:30:42.54\00:30:45.21
Be patient, we
didn't know that you came,
00:30:45.24\00:30:47.11
he is, don't take it
out in the whole household,
00:30:47.14\00:30:50.85
he is a honorary
person and more reasonable,
00:30:50.88\00:30:55.58
we didn't know you would come.
00:30:55.62\00:30:58.22
We didn't know.
00:30:58.25\00:31:00.09
"Now therefore, my
lord, as the Lord lives
00:31:00.12\00:31:02.46
and as your soul lives,
00:31:02.49\00:31:04.09
since the Lord has held you back
00:31:04.13\00:31:05.73
from coming to bloodshed."
00:31:05.76\00:31:07.23
I found you before
you've gone to bloodshed,
00:31:07.23\00:31:08.80
she knew what was going on.
00:31:08.83\00:31:10.90
"And from avenging
yourself with your own hand,"
00:31:10.93\00:31:15.50
just, you know, we
read, we studied last week
00:31:15.54\00:31:18.97
how wonderful it was
00:31:19.01\00:31:20.08
that David had
read the words of Moses.
00:31:20.11\00:31:22.54
It said, vengeance is
the Lord's, I will repay.
00:31:22.58\00:31:25.01
And David could have
said when messengers came back
00:31:25.05\00:31:28.08
from Nabal being insulted.
00:31:28.12\00:31:30.39
Well, God will put
this in your hands,
00:31:30.42\00:31:31.95
you will take care of it,
00:31:31.99\00:31:33.05
that would have
been the right response.
00:31:33.09\00:31:35.19
But I think the Lord allowed
00:31:35.22\00:31:36.29
all this to
happen the way it did
00:31:36.32\00:31:38.19
not only to teach David a lesson
00:31:38.23\00:31:39.59
but to teach you
and I a gospel story
00:31:39.63\00:31:43.06
'cause Jesus is
coming with judgment
00:31:43.10\00:31:46.90
and intersession is needed.
00:31:46.94\00:31:51.01
And so here, she's
very intelligent woman,
00:31:51.04\00:31:53.41
and matter of fact I'll
put to you that I think,
00:31:53.44\00:31:55.51
I think she fills a
role of a prophet here,
00:31:55.54\00:31:57.48
you see what you think.
00:31:57.51\00:31:58.91
I think Abigail was not
only beautiful and bright,
00:31:58.95\00:32:01.82
I think the word she speaks
here are certainly prophetic.
00:32:01.85\00:32:06.86
"And now this present
00:32:06.89\00:32:08.86
which your maidservant
has brought to my Lord..."
00:32:08.89\00:32:11.13
I'm in verse 27, "Let it
be given to the young men
00:32:11.16\00:32:13.96
who follow my lord."
00:32:14.00\00:32:15.00
She doesn't say given to
you because it's no present,
00:32:15.03\00:32:17.50
you're king, it's
not even worthy of you
00:32:17.53\00:32:18.97
but the men are hungry.
00:32:19.00\00:32:20.10
Let me give it to them.
00:32:20.14\00:32:21.67
"Please forgive," she
comes asking for forgiveness
00:32:21.70\00:32:25.87
and saying, let
they fall beyond me.
00:32:25.91\00:32:29.08
"Please forgive the trespass,"
00:32:29.11\00:32:30.45
you know, what's happening here?
00:32:30.48\00:32:31.55
This is Abigail interceding.
00:32:31.58\00:32:35.08
What is part of
the work of the church?
00:32:35.12\00:32:38.72
The work of Jesus is
to be an intercessor.
00:32:38.75\00:32:42.56
Are we a nation of kings
and priests in the church?
00:32:42.59\00:32:46.13
And didn't Jesus
say, as a Father sent me
00:32:46.16\00:32:48.20
so send I you.
00:32:48.23\00:32:50.17
Is the Christian life
00:32:50.20\00:32:51.40
one where you're
just praying for yourself
00:32:51.43\00:32:53.97
or are you interceding
in behalf of others too?
00:32:54.00\00:32:58.04
Jesus ever lives to
make intercession for us,
00:32:58.07\00:33:00.08
here she is interceding.
00:33:00.11\00:33:01.84
She is what you
call here a mediator.
00:33:01.88\00:33:05.85
Nabal was wrong, he was vile,
he was wicked, he was mean,
00:33:05.88\00:33:11.22
David is now
coming with judgment,
00:33:11.25\00:33:12.72
there is this conflict
00:33:12.75\00:33:15.49
and she puts herself
between these two men
00:33:15.52\00:33:18.76
where this is
gonna be a bloodbath.
00:33:18.79\00:33:20.86
And she stops it from happening
kind of like Pocahontas
00:33:20.90\00:33:24.23
who saved John Smith,
00:33:24.27\00:33:25.60
any of you know
your American history,
00:33:25.63\00:33:26.90
you know, what
I'm talking about.
00:33:26.94\00:33:28.70
And she puts herself
between this conflict.
00:33:28.74\00:33:32.04
But isn't that what the
church is supposed to do?
00:33:32.07\00:33:34.51
Isn't the world lost under sin?
00:33:34.54\00:33:36.91
Isn't Jesus the
son of David coming?
00:33:36.95\00:33:39.71
Doesn't the Revelation talk
about the wrath of the lamb?
00:33:39.75\00:33:43.08
Here you see
picture, one of the few times
00:33:43.12\00:33:44.82
you see the wrath of David.
00:33:44.85\00:33:46.86
And he's coming
with his sword girded,
00:33:46.89\00:33:49.16
and there is gonna be blood.
00:33:49.19\00:33:50.66
And all of a sudden she stops,
00:33:50.69\00:33:52.79
she comes between in the middle,
00:33:52.83\00:33:55.23
between where David
dwells and where Nabal dwells,
00:33:55.26\00:33:57.93
there she is
pleading and she said,
00:33:57.97\00:34:03.34
forgive the
trespass of your maidservant,
00:34:03.37\00:34:06.74
wasn't her fault, but
she is taking the place.
00:34:06.78\00:34:09.48
"For the Lord will
certainly make for my lord
00:34:09.51\00:34:12.38
an enduring house."
00:34:12.41\00:34:14.62
You want the
house of Jesus endure.
00:34:14.65\00:34:16.99
"Because my lord fights
the battles of the Lord,
00:34:17.02\00:34:19.49
and evil is not found in
you throughout your days."
00:34:19.52\00:34:23.26
Now did you see that's
not just talking about David.
00:34:23.29\00:34:26.09
Who is it that was
sinless, no evil found in him?
00:34:26.13\00:34:28.30
Jesus. It's Jesus.
00:34:28.33\00:34:30.57
"Yet a man has
risen to pursue you
00:34:30.60\00:34:32.33
and to seek your life.
00:34:32.37\00:34:34.34
Saul was like filling
the role of the devil.
00:34:34.37\00:34:36.57
David was not
recognized as king.
00:34:36.60\00:34:40.18
But then this is
the beautiful statement.
00:34:40.21\00:34:41.98
"But the life of
my lord will be bound
00:34:42.01\00:34:44.55
in the bundle of the
living with the Lord your God.
00:34:44.58\00:34:48.45
And the lives of your
enemies He will sling out,
00:34:48.48\00:34:52.09
as from the pocket of a sling."
00:34:52.12\00:34:54.59
Now she is
picking the right metaphor
00:34:54.62\00:34:56.22
for David, isn't she?
00:34:56.26\00:34:59.73
Shepherd understood
the stone gets hurled away,
00:34:59.76\00:35:02.73
you'll never find it again.
00:35:02.76\00:35:03.97
It's gone.
00:35:04.00\00:35:05.63
But a shepherd used to
keep his valuables wrapped up,
00:35:05.67\00:35:08.47
tied against his
body near the bosom.
00:35:08.50\00:35:11.27
And she is saying,
you will be wrapped up
00:35:11.31\00:35:13.44
by the bosom or
the heart of the Lord.
00:35:13.48\00:35:16.41
Your enemy Saul,
he's gonna get slung out.
00:35:16.44\00:35:19.81
Now what she's saying is,
00:35:19.85\00:35:21.32
you know, it's pretty
bold because Saul was king.
00:35:21.35\00:35:26.49
David was not king.
00:35:26.52\00:35:28.22
She is saying my
loyalty is to you.
00:35:28.26\00:35:30.46
I'm also believing that Abigail
was from the tribe of Judah,
00:35:30.49\00:35:33.76
maybe even the
distant relative of David.
00:35:33.80\00:35:37.63
A man has risen to pursue you
00:35:37.67\00:35:41.04
but he will be slung out
as from the pocket of a sling.
00:35:41.07\00:35:45.11
David's going,
I understand that,
00:35:45.14\00:35:46.51
I understand slings.
00:35:46.54\00:35:48.44
"And it will come to pass,
00:35:48.48\00:35:50.48
that when the Lord
has done for my lord
00:35:50.51\00:35:52.71
according to all the good that
He has spoken concerning you,
00:35:52.75\00:35:56.32
and has appointed
you ruler over Israel."
00:35:56.35\00:35:58.85
Now notice her faith,
00:35:58.89\00:36:00.46
did she have any doubt
that David's gonna be the king?
00:36:00.49\00:36:03.86
No, she's got
complete confidence.
00:36:03.89\00:36:06.46
"That this will not grieve you
00:36:06.49\00:36:08.26
or be an offense
of heart to my lord,
00:36:08.30\00:36:11.17
that you have shed
blood without cause,
00:36:11.20\00:36:14.04
that my lord
has avenged himself.
00:36:14.07\00:36:16.17
But when the Lord has
dealt well with my lord,
00:36:16.20\00:36:18.94
then remember your maidservant."
00:36:18.97\00:36:21.71
She is basically saying,
I've come today to intercede,
00:36:21.74\00:36:25.78
you don't wanna do this
thing and avenge yourself
00:36:25.81\00:36:28.65
and shed blood
because I mean, you know,
00:36:28.68\00:36:30.22
he's not only gonna kill Nabal,
00:36:30.25\00:36:31.32
he says I'm gonna
kill every servant,
00:36:31.35\00:36:32.45
every male servant in his house.
00:36:32.49\00:36:35.86
And she said, you're
gonna have regrets about that
00:36:35.89\00:36:38.53
when you become king.
00:36:38.56\00:36:40.06
God sent me to spare you
having the guilty conscience
00:36:40.10\00:36:43.00
over these things
00:36:43.03\00:36:44.43
and to bring reconciliation
to reason with you
00:36:44.47\00:36:47.50
and we're gonna,
you send men for gifts,
00:36:47.54\00:36:49.74
here are the gifts.
00:36:49.77\00:36:50.81
If this is not
enough, there will be more.
00:36:50.84\00:36:53.27
But it's
interesting that she would say,
00:36:53.31\00:36:55.28
did you catch it?
00:36:55.31\00:36:57.21
Remember me,
when you become king,
00:36:57.25\00:37:02.65
she didn't say
if you become king,
00:37:02.68\00:37:05.12
show mercy on me.
00:37:05.15\00:37:07.79
And she said, you
know, I know you're gonna
00:37:07.82\00:37:10.06
be the king of
the country sometime.
00:37:10.09\00:37:12.39
Verse 32.
00:37:12.43\00:37:13.66
"Remember your maidservant..."
It says at the end of verse 31.
00:37:13.70\00:37:16.50
"Then David said to Abigail..."
00:37:16.53\00:37:17.83
Finally David speaks,
everything else is Abigail,
00:37:17.87\00:37:19.97
wonderful
section she speaks there.
00:37:20.00\00:37:23.97
"And then David said to Abigail,
00:37:24.01\00:37:25.27
'Blessed is the
Lord God of Israel,
00:37:25.31\00:37:27.58
who sent you
this day to meet me!
00:37:27.61\00:37:30.11
And blessed is your
advice and blessed are you,
00:37:30.15\00:37:33.75
because you
have kept me this day
00:37:33.78\00:37:35.25
from coming to bloodshed.'"
00:37:35.28\00:37:36.92
You notice the first
thing that David sends,
00:37:36.95\00:37:39.35
he sends through messengers,
shalom, shalom, shalom.
00:37:39.39\00:37:45.09
Now David says to Abigail
00:37:45.13\00:37:46.73
in person
blessed, blessed, blessed.
00:37:46.76\00:37:50.30
What are the first
teachings that Jesus gives?
00:37:50.33\00:37:53.34
They are called the beatitudes,
00:37:53.37\00:37:56.37
which means
have a good attitude.
00:37:56.40\00:37:58.21
The beatitudes, the
word "beatitude" means
00:37:58.24\00:38:00.68
the blessings, and
Jesus says blessed,
00:38:00.71\00:38:03.18
blessed, blessed.
00:38:03.21\00:38:05.18
Here David, the son of
Jesus answers rather is going,
00:38:05.21\00:38:09.18
blessed, blessed, blessed.
00:38:09.22\00:38:11.59
"Because you
have kept me this day
00:38:11.62\00:38:12.95
from coming to bloodshed
00:38:12.99\00:38:14.02
and avenging
myself with my own hand."
00:38:14.06\00:38:15.89
David, you
could reason with him.
00:38:15.92\00:38:17.19
He's a man
after God's own heart,
00:38:17.23\00:38:18.59
the Holy Spirit told
him, this is not God's plan.
00:38:18.63\00:38:21.10
"For indeed," he lets her know
when she is probably shuttering
00:38:21.13\00:38:24.27
along with the servants
that are minding all the goods.
00:38:24.30\00:38:27.14
"For indeed as the
Lord God of Israel lives,
00:38:27.17\00:38:28.94
who had kept me
back from hurting you,
00:38:28.97\00:38:30.64
unless you had
hurried and come to me..."
00:38:30.67\00:38:33.34
He had to hurry.
00:38:33.38\00:38:34.71
"And come to me to meet me,
00:38:34.74\00:38:36.28
surely by morning light no males
00:38:36.31\00:38:40.05
would have been left to Nabal!"
00:38:40.08\00:38:43.59
Now just in
case you're wondering
00:38:43.62\00:38:45.32
if David could do that,
00:38:45.35\00:38:46.39
you read and it
tells us that David,
00:38:46.42\00:38:48.32
when he was staying in Ziklag,
00:38:48.36\00:38:50.13
he would go raid
cities of Philistine,
00:38:50.16\00:38:52.39
he would execute everybody
so there were no witnesses.
00:38:52.43\00:38:56.03
He had the
capability of doing that,
00:38:56.06\00:38:59.17
said I was gonna do that to you.
00:38:59.20\00:39:03.30
"So David received from her hand
00:39:03.34\00:39:06.71
what she had brought
to him, and said to her,
00:39:06.74\00:39:09.54
'Go up in peace,
again shalom, to your house.
00:39:09.58\00:39:13.31
See, I have heeded your voice
and respected your person."
00:39:13.35\00:39:17.32
She says, okay,
you have succeeded
00:39:17.35\00:39:20.06
unless you had made haste,
they would have been doomed.
00:39:20.09\00:39:23.39
Now just want to pause
here and think about this,
00:39:23.43\00:39:25.29
how do we relate to this today?
00:39:25.33\00:39:27.50
What does this say to us?
00:39:27.56\00:39:29.33
I think that's very,
some very important lessons.
00:39:29.36\00:39:32.50
You notice that we started out
00:39:32.53\00:39:33.57
with the parable
about the rich fool,
00:39:33.60\00:39:37.57
and when God blessed
00:39:37.61\00:39:39.14
instead of
thinking God's blessed me
00:39:39.17\00:39:40.71
so that I can share.
00:39:40.74\00:39:42.71
He says, God
blessed me so I can hoard.
00:39:42.74\00:39:45.61
They got programs now
about hoarders, people that,
00:39:45.65\00:39:50.45
you know, to some of them
it's just a real sickness,
00:39:50.49\00:39:52.99
a lot of us have a
mild case of hoarding,
00:39:53.02\00:39:55.86
you just look in your
closet, in your garage.
00:39:55.89\00:39:58.46
Karen and I
thought we were doing okay
00:39:58.49\00:39:59.93
until we moved in.
00:39:59.96\00:40:01.86
Then I thought why I've
been keeping this for 20 years?
00:40:01.90\00:40:07.04
Never used it.
00:40:07.07\00:40:09.47
But God doesn't bless
us so that we can hoard,
00:40:09.50\00:40:12.31
God blesses us so that we
can be a blessing to others.
00:40:12.34\00:40:15.88
And He blessed this rich
man and instead of him thinking,
00:40:15.91\00:40:18.91
oh, I can give more, he
thinks I can hoard more.
00:40:18.95\00:40:22.45
He says, I'll build
bigger barns and I can...
00:40:22.48\00:40:24.69
don't have to
worry and I'll say,
00:40:24.72\00:40:25.89
you can retire early,
00:40:25.92\00:40:27.59
make my first million by
35, eat, drink and be merry.
00:40:27.62\00:40:30.99
And then God says, you fool,
00:40:31.03\00:40:33.26
this day is your
soul required of you
00:40:33.29\00:40:35.73
and then whose
will those things be
00:40:35.76\00:40:38.57
that you've laid up.
00:40:38.60\00:40:40.67
Now you haven't
found out about Nabal yet,
00:40:40.70\00:40:42.04
what's gonna happen
00:40:42.07\00:40:43.10
and I suspect you've
already read the story.
00:40:43.14\00:40:47.18
But here David sends messengers
00:40:47.21\00:40:51.01
and says, we are
fighting God's battles,
00:40:51.05\00:40:53.35
could you help
subsidize my army?
00:40:53.38\00:40:56.38
And Nabal sends
them away with an insult,
00:40:56.42\00:40:59.09
and he was of the
same tribe as David.
00:40:59.12\00:41:03.32
Does Jesus have people
out fighting His battles?
00:41:03.36\00:41:08.56
Are we supposed to help support
the messengers from David?
00:41:08.60\00:41:13.50
It's not appeal for pastors,
00:41:13.54\00:41:14.57
I'm talking
about the work of God.
00:41:14.60\00:41:15.97
Yes.
00:41:16.00\00:41:18.27
And David is gonna come some day
00:41:18.31\00:41:23.04
and there's gonna be judgment.
00:41:23.08\00:41:24.15
Now he's gonna
bring early judgment
00:41:24.18\00:41:28.18
on Nabal's household
except she comes to intercede.
00:41:28.22\00:41:31.42
So we know David
represents Christ.
00:41:31.45\00:41:34.52
Who does Abigail represent?
00:41:34.56\00:41:36.79
Beautiful woman, very wise,
she's a type of the church.
00:41:36.83\00:41:41.63
What are we supposed to do?
00:41:41.66\00:41:43.06
We're to be praying
to Christ for mercy,
00:41:43.10\00:41:46.63
for the lost that
don't know any better,
00:41:46.67\00:41:48.50
they act like
fools because the fool
00:41:48.54\00:41:51.04
does not know about God.
00:41:51.07\00:41:53.11
And we are to be
pleading for their salvation
00:41:53.14\00:41:56.68
and the gifts
00:41:56.71\00:41:58.05
that she brings to David
are saving Nabal's household.
00:41:58.08\00:42:03.42
When we give to
the work of Christ,
00:42:03.45\00:42:05.19
it's to save the lost, isn't it?
00:42:05.22\00:42:07.42
Not just to save ourselves.
00:42:07.46\00:42:09.39
And so this is all
the story of salvation
00:42:09.42\00:42:11.86
because here
inserted, it says, Samuel dies
00:42:11.89\00:42:14.83
and then David goes
back to his other exploits
00:42:14.86\00:42:16.67
but this interesting
story is dropped in here.
00:42:16.70\00:42:20.67
And so reading on, David
receive from her hand the gift
00:42:20.70\00:42:25.31
she had brought
said, go in peace.
00:42:25.34\00:42:27.98
"Now Abigail went to Nabal,"
00:42:28.01\00:42:30.85
verse 36, "and he was
holding a feast in his house,
00:42:30.88\00:42:34.38
like the feast of a king.
00:42:34.42\00:42:36.95
And Nabal's heart
was merry within him,
00:42:36.99\00:42:39.15
for he was very drunk."
00:42:39.19\00:42:41.39
The only time that
the wicked are happy is
00:42:41.42\00:42:43.99
when they're drunk.
00:42:44.03\00:42:47.30
They have nothing
else to be happy about.
00:42:47.36\00:42:49.40
He is participating in
what you call a fool's feast.
00:42:49.43\00:42:55.60
You can read in
Proverbs 31:6 it says,
00:42:55.64\00:42:59.74
give wine to him
that is ready to perish.
00:42:59.77\00:43:03.24
Nabal didn't know it
but he was ready to perish.
00:43:03.28\00:43:08.15
He's drinking himself
drunk, so in the morning
00:43:08.18\00:43:11.55
when the wine had gone
from he begins to sober up
00:43:11.59\00:43:14.79
after that
required eight hours go by
00:43:14.82\00:43:16.73
and his alcohol
blood level dropped.
00:43:16.76\00:43:20.23
His wife told him these things
that his heart died with him,
00:43:20.26\00:43:24.13
he was not only a
fool, he was a coward,
00:43:24.17\00:43:26.87
and he realized how close
he had come to death's door,
00:43:26.90\00:43:30.61
his heart died within him.
00:43:30.64\00:43:31.67
And he became like a stone
00:43:31.71\00:43:32.94
and I looked at
all the commentators,
00:43:32.97\00:43:34.81
it doesn't mean that
00:43:34.84\00:43:35.84
he became a stone
like in some fable.
00:43:35.88\00:43:39.18
It means that he
probably had a stroke from fear
00:43:39.21\00:43:42.78
and gluttony and drinking.
00:43:42.82\00:43:45.22
And it was
lingered for several days,
00:43:45.25\00:43:48.09
he became like a stone.
00:43:48.12\00:43:50.06
Didn't happen
after about 10 days,
00:43:50.09\00:43:52.76
the Lord struck
Nabal and he died.
00:43:52.79\00:43:54.56
It's interesting
David sends 10 donkeys,
00:43:54.56\00:43:57.20
Nabal dies after 10 days
00:43:57.23\00:43:59.57
and he had probably
broken all Ten Commandments
00:43:59.60\00:44:02.20
during his feast and so
there was that judgment.
00:44:02.24\00:44:07.94
So David heard, you
notice how the story begins,
00:44:07.98\00:44:11.11
David heard that
Nabal was sharing,
00:44:11.15\00:44:13.52
here it says David
heard that Nabal was dead.
00:44:13.55\00:44:15.92
Does David know
00:44:15.95\00:44:16.99
what's going on
in Nabal's family?
00:44:17.02\00:44:19.82
Does Jesus hear
what's happening down here?
00:44:19.85\00:44:23.93
Does He hear what's
happening down here?
00:44:23.96\00:44:26.09
You spell that
two different ways.
00:44:26.13\00:44:29.20
And so, and David
heard that Nabal was dead,
00:44:29.23\00:44:31.87
he said, "Blessed be the Lord,
00:44:31.90\00:44:35.50
who has pleaded the
cause of my reproach..."
00:44:35.54\00:44:38.11
Instead of all those
innocent people dying
00:44:38.14\00:44:40.71
because they were
part of his household,
00:44:40.74\00:44:42.71
God took care of Nabal.
00:44:42.74\00:44:45.05
Doesn't God say,
vengeance is mine.
00:44:45.08\00:44:47.28
Let me take care
of it in my time.
00:44:47.32\00:44:49.98
"Blessed be the Lord
00:44:50.02\00:44:51.35
who has pleaded the
cause for my reproach
00:44:51.39\00:44:53.32
from the hand of Nabal
00:44:53.36\00:44:55.16
and has kept his
servant from evil,
00:44:55.19\00:44:57.93
for the Lord has
returned the wickedness of Nabal
00:44:57.96\00:45:00.50
on his own head."
00:45:00.53\00:45:02.80
And I don't know
how much time went by,
00:45:02.83\00:45:05.13
there might have been,
00:45:05.17\00:45:06.27
you know, the
customary 30 days of mourning
00:45:06.30\00:45:09.37
but not long after this,
00:45:09.40\00:45:11.11
it says, "And David
sent and proposed to Abigail
00:45:11.14\00:45:16.81
to take her as his wife."
00:45:16.85\00:45:19.25
I think when
David heard Abigail,
00:45:19.28\00:45:21.18
now you've got to know
the background of this.
00:45:21.22\00:45:23.35
While David is living
out in the hills running
00:45:23.39\00:45:26.59
from King Saul,
00:45:26.62\00:45:28.19
remember Saul had given
his daughter Michal to David,
00:45:28.22\00:45:31.96
and Michal helped David escape.
00:45:31.99\00:45:34.36
But Saul is really worried
that David's gonna be king.
00:45:34.40\00:45:38.10
And if he's married
to the king's daughter
00:45:38.13\00:45:39.60
that gives him one
more right to the throne.
00:45:39.63\00:45:43.04
And so Saul did
something pretty despicable,
00:45:43.07\00:45:45.41
Saul told Michal, I am
divorcing you from David,
00:45:45.44\00:45:49.58
he's a fugitive
and he gave Michal
00:45:49.61\00:45:52.75
to someone else to marry,
00:45:52.78\00:45:56.32
because he didn't want David
00:45:56.35\00:45:58.12
to have any
connection to the throne.
00:45:58.15\00:46:00.46
So David at this
point is wifeless.
00:46:00.49\00:46:04.16
When he sees
Abigail, a beautiful woman,
00:46:04.19\00:46:08.23
bright woman,
spirit filled woman,
00:46:08.26\00:46:11.93
he was very struck.
00:46:11.97\00:46:13.64
And I'm not saying he was
coveting his neighbor's wife
00:46:13.67\00:46:15.60
but he made a mental note,
00:46:15.64\00:46:17.64
that is a very,
very good looking,
00:46:17.67\00:46:20.54
a very bright woman.
00:46:20.58\00:46:23.35
And now this is really important
00:46:23.38\00:46:25.21
that you think of his
00:46:25.25\00:46:26.31
because there's
another time in David's life,
00:46:26.35\00:46:28.05
he sees someone else's wife
00:46:28.08\00:46:30.15
and he doesn't
have so much restraint.
00:46:30.19\00:46:32.69
This time he restrains himself,
00:46:32.72\00:46:34.06
he could have
seen Abigail that day
00:46:34.09\00:46:36.06
when she brought
him gifts and said, wow,
00:46:36.09\00:46:38.46
I'm gonna go kill
Nabal and take you.
00:46:38.49\00:46:41.23
Now forget about the
gifts and the intercession
00:46:41.26\00:46:43.06
but David said, all
right, I'm gonna listen to you,
00:46:43.10\00:46:44.57
I'm gonna accept
the intercession,
00:46:44.60\00:46:45.63
I'm gonna let Nabal live,
he could have killed Nabal
00:46:45.67\00:46:47.90
and just taken his wife.
00:46:47.94\00:46:49.77
But David put it
all in God's hands
00:46:49.80\00:46:52.61
and he presents a proposal.
00:46:52.64\00:46:54.14
Now Abigail doesn't have
to say yes, he sends servants.
00:46:54.18\00:46:59.21
And David has sent us,
we've come in the name of David
00:46:59.25\00:47:04.02
to ask you to be his wife.
00:47:04.05\00:47:06.15
What's gonna
happen to the church?
00:47:06.19\00:47:07.22
Is there gonna be a wedding?
00:47:07.26\00:47:09.62
Is the bride of Christ
00:47:09.66\00:47:10.69
gonna live in the New Jerusalem?
00:47:10.73\00:47:12.89
That's why it's
called the bride of Christ.
00:47:12.93\00:47:15.63
"She arose and she
bowed her face to the earth,
00:47:15.66\00:47:18.53
and she said, 'Here
is your maidservant,
00:47:18.57\00:47:21.14
a servant to wash the feet
of the servants of my Lord.'"
00:47:21.17\00:47:26.37
You know, there's another reason
00:47:26.41\00:47:27.54
I think she's a
beautiful type of the church,
00:47:27.58\00:47:29.14
didn't Jesus say to the church,
00:47:29.18\00:47:31.35
I've come to you
as one that serves,
00:47:31.38\00:47:33.38
you need to serve each other.
00:47:33.42\00:47:35.25
She says, I have come,
I'm willing to wash it,
00:47:35.28\00:47:37.79
she is a very wealthy woman.
00:47:37.82\00:47:41.22
She's very humble woman
00:47:41.26\00:47:43.39
and the church is
very wealthy too, isn't it?
00:47:43.43\00:47:47.66
We inherit
everything from Christ.
00:47:47.66\00:47:50.60
It says, and David took her.
00:47:50.63\00:47:52.87
Now you know, she's wealthy
because it says in verse 42,
00:47:52.90\00:47:55.80
"So Abigail rose in haste..."
00:47:55.84\00:47:58.77
She's in haste again,
00:47:58.81\00:48:00.18
she hasted to
come to David earlier
00:48:00.21\00:48:02.01
to save the household.
00:48:02.04\00:48:03.01
Now David
proposes, she comes in haste.
00:48:03.04\00:48:06.51
"And she rose and
she has five maidens."
00:48:06.55\00:48:08.65
You realize when Jacob
marries Rachel and Leah,
00:48:08.68\00:48:12.05
they each have one
maiden, Bilhah and Zilpah.
00:48:12.09\00:48:15.42
She is so wealthy, she's
got five maidens to follow her.
00:48:15.46\00:48:18.79
But she says,
I'll wash the feet,
00:48:18.83\00:48:20.56
I am your servant.
00:48:20.60\00:48:22.43
What a humble attitude.
And she became David's wife.
00:48:22.46\00:48:27.77
It ends with a
beautiful story of a marriage.
00:48:27.80\00:48:31.71
And so, you know,
00:48:31.74\00:48:34.58
I just thought that
this is really telling us
00:48:34.61\00:48:36.38
about the plan of salvation.
00:48:36.41\00:48:38.78
Our David is coming, now
you know what this means,
00:48:38.81\00:48:44.02
evidently Abigail and
Nabal had no children,
00:48:44.05\00:48:47.79
David does have children
with Abigail by the way,
00:48:47.82\00:48:50.23
in case you're wondering
00:48:50.26\00:48:51.59
some of David's
kids ended up badly.
00:48:51.63\00:48:54.83
Abigail's kids
were not among them,
00:48:54.83\00:48:57.17
the offspring of Abigail,
00:48:57.20\00:48:59.13
she raised them
to serve the Lord,
00:48:59.17\00:49:01.14
they were godly, they
co-existed with Solomon,
00:49:01.17\00:49:03.71
and they did fine.
00:49:03.74\00:49:05.74
She was a good mother too,
00:49:05.77\00:49:07.48
she had no children with Nabal
00:49:07.51\00:49:08.98
which means not
only did David end up
00:49:09.01\00:49:12.15
getting Abigail,
00:49:12.18\00:49:13.62
he got everything
that belonged to Nabal.
00:49:13.65\00:49:17.09
And this was an
important story in the Bible
00:49:17.12\00:49:18.79
because David now goes
from through the inheritance
00:49:18.82\00:49:22.66
he gets through
marrying Abigail.
00:49:22.69\00:49:26.03
How wealthy was Nabal?
00:49:26.06\00:49:27.76
He's richest man in the country.
00:49:27.83\00:49:29.70
David now is moving
closer to being a king
00:49:29.73\00:49:32.97
because he's suddenly
for the first time in years
00:49:33.00\00:49:35.57
has substance at his disposal
00:49:35.60\00:49:38.44
through his marriage to Abigail.
00:49:38.47\00:49:40.71
David ends up owning
the land that Nabal had.
00:49:40.74\00:49:46.05
Now I hope you're still with me.
00:49:46.08\00:49:47.18
Amen.
00:49:47.22\00:49:50.09
Nabal was selfish with David.
00:49:50.12\00:49:53.05
He lost it all,
David got it all.
00:49:53.09\00:49:57.86
Isn't Jesus gonna
get this world soon?
00:49:57.89\00:49:59.56
Amen.
00:49:59.59\00:50:00.73
"The earth is the Lord's
and the fullness thereof."
00:50:00.76\00:50:04.07
So if David sends
messengers and says,
00:50:04.10\00:50:07.04
"Could you please do
something to support my army?"
00:50:07.07\00:50:11.21
Should we send them away empty?
00:50:11.24\00:50:14.11
How much of what we
have belongs to God?
00:50:14.14\00:50:17.25
All of it belongs to God.
00:50:17.28\00:50:19.15
Everything belongs
to the son of David,
00:50:19.18\00:50:21.25
he's gonna get the land
and he's gonna get his bride.
00:50:21.28\00:50:25.72
And so the whole gospel
story is wrapped up in here,
00:50:25.75\00:50:28.62
that's why I think
it's important for us
00:50:28.66\00:50:29.86
to remember that we're
doing the work of Abigail,
00:50:29.89\00:50:33.46
we are the church,
00:50:33.50\00:50:34.56
and we should be
willing to give up ourselves
00:50:34.56\00:50:36.63
as servants,
00:50:36.67\00:50:37.70
that's what she did
00:50:37.73\00:50:39.67
to be make a covenant with David
00:50:39.70\00:50:41.84
through marriage,
00:50:41.87\00:50:43.10
that's what
baptism is a type of.
00:50:43.14\00:50:45.61
And to basically
offer all that we are
00:50:45.64\00:50:50.28
and all that we have to Him
00:50:50.31\00:50:52.35
and it says,
she did it in haste.
00:50:52.38\00:50:54.92
Let's face it, it's not
always easy to understand
00:50:54.95\00:50:57.79
everything you
read in the Bible.
00:50:57.82\00:50:59.85
With over 700,000
words contained in 66 books,
00:50:59.89\00:51:03.56
the Bible can
generate a lot of questions.
00:51:03.59\00:51:06.16
To get biblical
straightforward answers,
00:51:06.19\00:51:08.40
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:51:08.43\00:51:10.40
a live nationwide
calling radio program,
00:51:10.43\00:51:12.90
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:51:12.93\00:51:15.37
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:51:15.40\00:51:17.94
For times and
stations in your area
00:51:17.97\00:51:20.14
or to listen to answers online,
00:51:20.18\00:51:21.98
visit bal.amazingfacts.org.
00:51:22.01\00:51:25.41
Among the people
living in the tropics,
00:51:38.46\00:51:40.30
for thousands of years
00:51:40.33\00:51:41.56
the coconut has been
a virtual tree of life.
00:51:41.60\00:51:44.87
The people use it for
food, for clothing, for water,
00:51:44.90\00:51:48.20
for tools, for soap, it
does just about everything.
00:51:48.24\00:51:52.84
The coconut has also
saved a lot of lives.
00:51:52.87\00:51:56.78
During World War II,
00:51:56.81\00:51:58.25
pilots that were shot down
00:51:58.28\00:51:59.55
or sailors that were
stranded on Pacific Islands,
00:51:59.58\00:52:02.08
they lived for many months
00:52:02.12\00:52:03.25
on nothing other
than the coconut trees
00:52:03.28\00:52:05.42
that were on their islands.
00:52:05.45\00:52:07.22
Yes, sir, the
coconut is a tree of life.
00:52:07.26\00:52:10.76
One of the amazing
things about coconut is
00:52:10.79\00:52:12.56
they're designed
00:52:12.59\00:52:13.60
so they're actually
able to float across oceans.
00:52:13.63\00:52:16.73
Coconuts can go
thousands of miles
00:52:16.77\00:52:18.53
after many months
00:52:18.57\00:52:19.77
be washed up on some
deserted sandy beach,
00:52:19.80\00:52:22.64
then they take
root, sprout, come to life
00:52:22.67\00:52:27.11
and they'll develop
a whole new ecosystem,
00:52:27.14\00:52:29.78
hold in islands and
place through a hurricane.
00:52:29.81\00:52:32.31
When the ancient Polynesian
travelers crossing oceans
00:52:32.35\00:52:35.62
saw an island
with coconut trees,
00:52:35.65\00:52:37.22
they knew there was hope.
00:52:37.25\00:52:39.12
It's amazing how in
virtually no time at all,
00:52:39.15\00:52:41.86
those living on Pacific
Islands know how to make baskets
00:52:41.89\00:52:44.89
and all kinds of tools
00:52:44.93\00:52:46.73
from the leaves
of the coconut tree.
00:52:46.76\00:52:51.33
The coconuts even
serve different purposes
00:52:51.37\00:52:53.44
at different times
in their development.
00:52:53.47\00:52:55.64
The younger green
coconut, they're full of water,
00:52:55.67\00:52:57.77
that'll keep you alive.
00:52:57.81\00:53:01.44
You can even make
utensils from the coconut.
00:53:01.48\00:53:04.11
My spoon is part
of the green shell
00:53:04.15\00:53:07.28
and here this
is a coconut jelly,
00:53:07.32\00:53:10.45
makes good for breakfast.
00:53:10.49\00:53:14.26
The more mature coconuts,
that's where you get the meat,
00:53:14.29\00:53:16.89
but you want to make
sure that they're not bad,
00:53:16.93\00:53:18.69
the way you test this is
you can hear the water inside.
00:53:18.73\00:53:21.40
You bring that mike over here.
00:53:21.43\00:53:24.07
Can you hear it?
That's a good one.
00:53:24.10\00:53:26.30
How about we take a bite?
00:53:26.33\00:53:28.20
Now that makes meal
that will really fill you up
00:53:28.24\00:53:30.17
and it cleanse your
teeth at the same time.
00:53:30.21\00:53:35.14
Throughout the Bible,
00:53:35.18\00:53:36.34
Jesus uses a number
of metaphors to remind us
00:53:36.38\00:53:38.78
that everything we need
to survive comes from Him.
00:53:38.81\00:53:41.88
He says that
He's the living water.
00:53:41.92\00:53:43.85
Jesus tells us He
is the bread of life.
00:53:43.89\00:53:46.42
His robe covers us
with righteousness.
00:53:46.45\00:53:49.29
He is our good
shepherd that protects us.
00:53:49.32\00:53:51.66
Jesus is the living vine
00:53:51.69\00:53:53.29
through which we get our
life and our nourishment.
00:53:53.33\00:53:56.03
You might say Jesus
is like the coconut tree,
00:53:56.06\00:53:58.93
a tree of life.
00:53:58.97\00:54:00.60
You know, the first few
verses in the Bible tell that
00:54:00.64\00:54:02.84
God provided a
tree of life for man
00:54:02.87\00:54:05.17
so he could live forever,
00:54:05.21\00:54:06.94
but because of sin man
was separated from that tree
00:54:06.98\00:54:09.44
and from the garden.
00:54:09.48\00:54:10.85
But through trusting in Jesus
00:54:10.88\00:54:12.41
and trusting in His
sacrifice on the cross,
00:54:12.45\00:54:14.92
we once again will have
access to the tree of life
00:54:14.95\00:54:17.59
and have eternal life
with Him in the kingdom.
00:54:17.62\00:54:20.09
But this is all made possible
because we trust in Jesus,
00:54:20.12\00:54:22.96
who is the real tree of life.
00:54:22.99\00:54:25.09
Jesus said,
"Unless you eat My flesh
00:54:25.13\00:54:26.93
and drink My blood,
you have no life in you."
00:54:26.96\00:54:29.26
But when we accept
Christ as our sacrifice
00:54:29.30\00:54:31.57
and we allow Him to cleanse
us and fill us with His spirit,
00:54:31.60\00:54:34.10
we become new creatures,
00:54:34.14\00:54:35.67
and we can be with Him
00:54:35.70\00:54:36.81
and sharing the gift of
everlasting life with others.
00:54:36.84\00:54:40.31
Matter of fact, we
could do that right now
00:54:40.34\00:54:41.98
by tossing a coconut out
00:54:42.01\00:54:43.51
and praying that it
lands on a deserted beach.
00:54:43.55\00:54:45.65
Can't get enough
Amazing Facts Bible study?
00:55:04.40\00:55:07.20
You don't have to wait
00:55:07.24\00:55:08.30
until next week to enjoy
more truth filled programming.
00:55:08.34\00:55:11.74
Visit the Amazing Facts
media library at aftv.org.
00:55:11.77\00:55:16.88
At aftv.org you can enjoy
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00:55:16.91\00:55:21.88
as well as printed
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00:55:21.92\00:55:25.22
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00:55:25.25\00:55:27.72
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00:55:27.76\00:55:30.16
Visit aftv.org.
00:55:30.19\00:55:32.63
Amazing Facts changed lives.
00:55:37.37\00:55:40.40
Nobody was there to defend me.
00:55:46.04\00:55:48.61
Nobody was there to protect me.
00:55:48.64\00:55:51.21
My question was, why
did that happen to me God?
00:55:51.25\00:55:54.55
Why didn't You intervene?
00:55:54.58\00:55:57.82
Once I hit my teenage years,
00:55:57.85\00:56:00.36
everything just
started coming up.
00:56:00.39\00:56:02.39
I felt embarrassed
of what had happened
00:56:02.42\00:56:05.83
because for so long
I felt it was my fault.
00:56:05.86\00:56:09.10
There were times that I prayed
00:56:09.13\00:56:11.00
but it was prayers of resentment
00:56:11.03\00:56:13.07
and anger and
just yelling at God,
00:56:13.10\00:56:16.97
I was so confused, so depressed
00:56:17.01\00:56:20.51
and I could not bear
any more of the pain,
00:56:20.54\00:56:23.55
you know, what's
the point of living,
00:56:23.58\00:56:25.18
it's might as well just die.
00:56:25.21\00:56:26.65
I started cutting my self
but I heard a small still voice
00:56:29.88\00:56:35.42
and it said stop.
00:56:35.46\00:56:38.83
Give me a second
chance, and right there
00:56:38.86\00:56:42.00
I just felt
something completely different,
00:56:42.03\00:56:46.30
I felt a presence there,
00:56:46.33\00:56:48.47
and I put everything
down and I went to my room,
00:56:48.50\00:56:51.64
I just started crying.
00:56:51.67\00:56:54.18
I realized that me
and God connected so well,
00:56:54.21\00:56:57.25
and I no longer
saw Him as just a God
00:56:57.28\00:56:59.95
that no longer cared,
00:57:00.05\00:57:01.78
but I actually
saw Him as a father
00:57:01.82\00:57:04.09
and I continued praying.
00:57:04.12\00:57:07.09
One day I was sleeping,
00:57:07.12\00:57:09.29
my mom came to
the bed and she said,
00:57:09.32\00:57:11.36
Connie, he's here, he's in town
00:57:11.39\00:57:14.50
and the Lord impressed me
00:57:14.56\00:57:16.97
that you need to
face this situation,
00:57:17.00\00:57:19.30
it's time for you to forgive.
00:57:19.33\00:57:21.87
When something so drastic
and so painful has happened,
00:57:21.90\00:57:27.98
forgiveness is very hard
because you're vulnerable,
00:57:28.01\00:57:33.11
you let go of that ego,
00:57:33.15\00:57:34.75
that pride that
has taken over you
00:57:34.78\00:57:37.12
for so many years.
00:57:37.15\00:57:39.72
I prayed
00:57:39.75\00:57:40.89
and when we
confronted the situation,
00:57:40.92\00:57:43.43
it was the most amazing moment
00:57:43.46\00:57:45.19
where we could
pray, we could cry,
00:57:45.23\00:57:47.93
and we could forgive,
00:57:47.96\00:57:49.56
and because of that
00:57:49.60\00:57:50.67
I'm able to help
others and tell others
00:57:50.70\00:57:53.27
that there is hope
00:57:53.30\00:57:54.97
and there is
someone that does care.
00:57:55.00\00:57:57.14
Together we have
spread the gospel
00:58:05.18\00:58:07.45
much farther than ever before.
00:58:07.48\00:58:10.39
Thank you for your support.
00:58:10.42\00:58:12.45