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David had just said, \u201cIt\u2019s been useless\u2014all my watching over this fellow\u2019s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!\u201d When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: \u201cPardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name\u2014his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. \xa0And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. (1 Samuel 25:21-26)

In between yesterday\u2019s text and this one comes one of David\u2019s chances to kill Saul. \xa0God gives Saul into David\u2019s hands, but David chooses not to lift his hand against Saul, who was the Lord\u2019s anointed king. \xa0David shows a wise, mature restraint in that moment. \xa0He chooses to trust the God who has promised him the kingship to make good on his plans rather than David securing the throne for himself through murder. \xa0David will wait on the Lord as Jonathan helped him to do.

But now a new challenge arises in the desert. \xa0A new temptation. \xa0While hiding in the desert, David has voluntarily done good to this man named Nabal\u2014protecting his flocks and herdsman from raiders and wild animals. \xa0Having done so, David believes that this man now owes him something, even though the man never asked for David\u2019s help.

Nabal refuses to give David anything. \xa0David\u2019s response? \xa0He orders his men to strap on their swords. \xa0David will not resort to murder to get the kingship. \xa0But to salve his wounded pride and bring home some bacon for his men and their families? \xa0David will kill for that. \xa0

Nabal\u2019s name means fool\u2014a godless sort of fool who has no fear of the Lord. \xa0But one wonders if David isn\u2019t actually acting out as the foolish, godless one here. \xa0Indeed: God does not listen to, nor honour David\u2019s curse of \u201cmay God deal with me if I don\u2019t kill these people.\u201d \xa0Instead, God intervenes to bring life through Abigail, a woman who personifies wisdom, intelligence, beauty, and understanding.

David was halfway down the path of Saul\u2014the godless fool\u2014as he resorted to his own sword and skill at dealing death to get what he thought ought be coming to him. \xa0But God gives yet another gift. \xa0Last time it was Jonathan that kept David from fear. \xa0Now it is Abigail that keeps David from godless folly. \xa0Both times, David listens and is saved.

It is not for David to secure God\u2019s promises for himself, nor to secure his daily provision for himself, nor vengeance, nor whatever else he thinks he may be owed. \xa0Indeed, David is owed nothing for doing what is right. \xa0This is simply what is expected of the Lord\u2019s servant. \xa0

David must learn the wisdom of trust in the Lord, that all things needful will come as God\u2019s gift in God\u2019s time. \xa0David need only concern himself with continuing to do what is right and good.

We can act in similarly foolish, two-faced ways. \xa0We might act with the highest Christian ideals and principles when we are aware of God\u2019s presence\u2014as David acted with Saul\u2014but then turn around in our financial, work, or family dealings and be arrogant, greedy, and deceitful.

The invitation of lady wisdom is to trust in the Lord in all of our lives, not just in the \u201cimportant stuff\u201d when we think God might be watching. \xa0Let us not be fools therefore, but rather grow up to maturity as those who do what is good and right even to our own disadvantage\u2014as Jesus did\u2014trusting that God will provide what\u2019s needful.

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