“Now therefore, know and consider what you should do, for evil is plotted against our master and against all his household; and he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.”
Authors note: Trust me when I say that I am not a man basher like so many in our culture these days. We need to lift up godly men and encourage our boys to seek God so that they also may grow into godly men. So please don’t read the words that follow through a “man basher” lens. I don’t see things that way. We need more godly guys and less worthless weasels. These thoughts simply hit me as I worked through this text today. Take truth and apply it and just chunk the rest.
It seems the world is overrun with worthless men these days. Men who listen to no one but themselves and seek only their own benefit. They are hard, selfish men who wreak havoc with their mouths and their actions wherever they go. They see others as simply a means to an end and will go to great lengths in order to abuse the weak for their own selfish, evil desire. One wonders why they even have ears since they rarely use them.
One finds them everywhere – in homes, industry, farming, politics, Hollywood, government and even in church leadership. It’s a shame, actually, to see such men ‘succeed’, if you want to call it that. It’s a shame to see our godless culture clamor after such individuals. It’s sickening to see them protected by other worthless men. Evil cronies stick together to some extent. Well, usually, until it is too costly for one selfish party or the other.
Worthless men such as this are a law unto themselves. You can’t control them with legislation. They’ll simply find ways around it. You can’t subdue them with guilt. Their consciences are seared over and dull. You can’t even persuade them with logical arguments. The only type of argument they know is one filled with personal attacks for the purpose of demeaning their opponent. They can turn any good friend into an enemy with a word.
And yet, in contrast, it is simply amazing what God can do with a godly, humble woman. By the strength of God within her, she has the power to end an evil man’s reign with her words. In this case, Abigail submits herself to David and pleads on behalf of this evil man’s men. She effectively saves them from the wrath of David and makes an indelible, godly impression upon him. David is stricken by the beauty of her humility and strength and Nabal is stricken by the power of God’s Word through her.
There is much power in the mouth of a woman who is led by God in humble submission. Never ever underestimate the power of God working through the words of a faithful, submissive woman.
The end of the worthless, evil man will most always be destruction, unless, by some miraculous chance, he is humbled by the words of a godly woman and submits himself to God. Nabal (Fool) missed the miracle since he listened to no one but himself. (Obviously, it does not have to be a woman who provides the words but, in this case, it was Abigail who brought God’s truth to both of the male lead characters.) Ignorant pride is the constant companion of such a man and it leads him ultimately to a deadly fall.
Humility is the friend of the godly woman and it always leads to an exalted life – here and ever after.
1 Samuel 25:29-33, “Someone is pursuing you and intends to take your life. My lord’s life is tucked safely in the place where the Lord your God protects the living, but he is flinging away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling. When the Lord does for my lord all the good he promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel, there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”
Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.
Even the “man after God’s own heart” has reason to listen to a godly woman. David was setting himself up for trouble by pridefully seeking revenge; yet, he stopped and listened to God through this humble woman and was saved and blessed. “He who has ears to hear…”
Father, give your men ears to hear the godly women in their lives – for the good of all.
Worthless Men – 1 Samuel 25:17
Ventanas 