“Otherwise, as surely as the LORD God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any man or boy left by morning light.” vs34
We must come quickly to meet Jesus Christ. When wrath has gone out against us, and we’ve acted foolishly, then come quickly, lest we are destroyed. Come quickly to the throne of grace and use it! David was going to kill every male in Nabal’s house, but Abigail spared them by entreating mercy (1 Sam 25:28). Let this be you and me. Let us avoid wrath from the King.
1 Come quickly with words of mercy! She didn’t plead Nabal’s innocence, but his guilt and shame. She said, “My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name is Nabal, and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom he sent (vs25).” Go and do likewise! Do not approach God as if you deserve something, but plead the mercies of the covenant. Plead how stupid you are and unworthy. Plead how merciful He is, and plead the blood of Christ, for He’s made atonement. Plead the glory God will get to His own name by sparing you. Plead that no sinner will be cast out, and BEG GOD to do for you what nobody else can.
We’re in His hands, and unless He shows us mercy, we perish forever (Rom 9:16).
2 Plead for others! Moses did. He intervened for Israel and stopped the wrath. He said, “Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth?’ Turn from your great anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for Your people (Ex 32:12).”
Who can tell if we’ve been given to this people for this reason? Who can tell if this situation happened for our intercession? Who can tell if God will hear us, but as we plead desperately, then we intervene. As we beg God with desperation for the ungodly around us, hurrying urgently to the throne of grace, He’s shown us that He delights to hear. Spurgeon said, “It is strange that spiritual blessings are our only possessions that we do not employ. We get a great spiritual blessing, and we let the rust get on it for many a day.”
He will use prayer to save sinners.
3 Plead for your sins to be subdued and plead for lessened consequences. Don’t just think, “What shall be, shall be.” Don’t take a fatalistic approach, as if your prayers mean nothing, and God is stone! He says, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it (Ps 81:10).” He has decreed that prayer would obtain mercy and hold back His hand. Prayer would bring down blessing, and we’d get things we DO NOT deserve… Things we couldn’t have any other way. Plead with God in prayer, instead of lusting! Plead instead of being discontent, and plead because prayer is useful.
Spurgeon continued, “There is the mercy seat, for instance. Ah, my friends, if you had the cash box as full of riches as that mercy seat is, you would go often to it; as often as your necessities require.”
→ Abigail stopped David. Will you stop God? He yields Himself through prayer.
MY DAILY GOSPEL 