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Nabal – Son of Belial

1 Samuel 25:2-9

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• Belial = a godless person; a lawless person

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• Nabal was a very rich man• His “greatness” was the kind that

only the worldly minded would admire• David had been a great help to

Nabal

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• Nabal refused to help David in a time of need and this moved David to almost make a terrible mistake – one involving personal vengeance

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Gal. 6:7-8

• Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

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I. Nabal’s Sowing

• 1. He was self sufficient – v. 11• 2. He was harsh and cruel – v. 3• 3. He resented those who tried to

give him advice v. 17• 4. He was unjust and stingy v. - 21

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• 5. He was degrading to others • Vs. 10-11• 6. His words were crude, cruel

and insulting – v. 14

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Proverbs 10:14

• Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

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Proverbs 18:6-7

• A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

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• 7. He was extremely insulting to David – v. 10 “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse?”• He spoke without thinking of the

consequences of his words

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• 8. He influenced others to do evil v. – 13, 22• He irritated David so much that

David lost his self-control – he later admitted his mistake• Vs. 32-33

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• 9. Nabal was ungrateful – vs. 16, 21• 10. Nabal was a drinker of alcohol

v. - 36

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Proverbs 20:1

• Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

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II. Nabal’s reaping

• His sowing evil produced a terrible harvest• 1. He was respected by no one –

vs. 17, 25

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Mt. 5:16

• Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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• 2. He has gone down in history as a “great fool”• He lived up to his name• V. 25 “Nabal is his name, and folly

is with him”

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• 3. His life ended in a bitter way• Vs. 37-39• “A death of no hope always

awaits the ‘son of Satan’”• This is a powerful motive to

follow and obey God’s will

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• “As he lived, so he died”

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III. Lessons for us

• 1. It is possible for one to remain married to a “Nabal” and remain faithful to God• 2. Revenge is never right

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Rom. 12:19

• Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

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• 3. The life we live today is making a permanent story for others to read tomorrow• 4. Never forget the sad

conclusions of a selfish life• It leads only to disaster

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Luke 12:20

• But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

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James 4:13-15

• Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?

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• It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

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Conclusion

• This is indeed a dark chapter to study• Nabal’s evil influence casts a

shadow over the whole story• Let us not follow the evils of

Nabal and live like fools!