Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:13-29, Psalm 54, 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
“May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!" (1 Samuel 25:22 NLT)
Have you ever been fed up, had all you could take, or seen red? A feeling of revenge races through your veins and you make a beeline toward the guilty party. In your head you compose a sassy text message or a scathing verbal assault. Just when you are ready to press send or let them have it, an "Abigail" crosses your path to slow you down and bring clarity to the situation. You heed her advice and retreat.
David had a string of misfortunes come his way. His living quarters consisted of caves and fields. He was constantly on the run for his life from the man who sat on David’s rightful throne. And his protection of Keliah went unnoticed and unappreciated.
Given all that had happened to David, you can almost understand and somewhat justify his anger against Nabal. Such trying circumstances as he’d endured would make anyone temperamental! And now to be treated with so much disrespect and contempt … David was fed up and plotted revenge against Nabal. Fortunately, David hit pause and permitted an intervention from Abigail, Nabal’s level-headed wife, to stop him from doing what he would later regret.
In our "I have had enough" moments, we need to press pause before we press send. It may not feel like it in the heat of the moment, but acting out in anger is something we will later regret. We may not have an Abigail come walking up to us with figs, bread, and water, but we do have the Holy Spirit guiding us every minute of every day. Our response to the still small voice will make the difference between regret and relief.
