13/08/2021 - THE LAST TRY

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Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David. 1 Samuel 25.8

David’s servants had to learn that a person who starts off by not listening to what he is told is not liking what he hears. So, to expect such a person to comply to someone’s plea is a complete mistake. Nabal’s lack of interest, during the speech of that group, showed that they would not receive any help. What happened there would prepare the future king of Israel to act with prudence.

Although facing Nabal’s coldness, the young men tried to show that they went there on a good day, but the farmer’s heart was shut to that business, so he wouldn’t even hear God’s voice – if He presented Himself to him personally. When an individual sells himself to greed or trusts in his material possessions, it matters little what anyone’s arguments are, because he has already shut himself off to anyone. It is difficult for those who trust in wealth to stop believing in themselves (1 Timothy 6.9,10,17-19).

They asked Nabal to speak to his shepherds and tell him about the help they had received, but the appeal did not move the man’s heart. In fact, when a person shuts himself off in this way, you can expect the worst from him, because he only tries to do evil: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6.45).

Those young men were clear when they told him that they had gone to him in peace, but if that man didn’t comply with the mission they went to fulfill, they would be in trouble. From the beginning, Nabal showed that his answer would be negative, probably with verbal assaults. The young men, used to winning terrible battles using weapons, could not make the powerful man from the city of Maon change his sad opinion. Thus, they would take nothing to David, their leader.

Their efforts didn’t move Nabal’s heart and in fact, it wouldn´t. The assistance provided to his shepherds didn’t move him. There was no way to sensitize him and that was felt by all – yet, they continued to the end. It doesn’t matter how the battle will end; fulfill the Omnipotent’s command. David was certainly doing this, and in the end, he would see complete victory, because he believed in the Lord (Romans 8.36,37).

It is difficult to convince someone who once belonged to the Body of Christ to change his mind and do something he had already decided not to do. Many harden their neck and never bend to reason, even though the requests to reflect and remember where they have fallen have multiplied. So, the Word tells us: He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29.1). This happened to Nabal days later!

Finally, because they were in crisis, David’s envoys asked for whatever provision was at hand, considering them to be his servants and David his son. The arguments may be true and sincere, but those who have determined to shut their hearts find it difficult to retreat. It was of no use for them to humble themselves, for Nabal was not benevolent!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares