Peter Barnes | 1 Samuel 25
SERMON NOTES
God curbs David’s sinfulness
1 Samuel 25
– the most dangerous time in the Christian life may come immediately after a victory e.g. Elijah in 1 Kings 18, then 19.
1. The selfish boorishness of Nabal.
– 25:2-3, 9-11, 17; ‘Nabal’ must be his nickname. To one minister in England, George Whitefield wrote: ‘When I am unwilling to be told my faults, dear Sir, correspond with me no more.’
– Nabal dies as he lived – a fool – 25:36-38.
2. The judicious intervention of Abigail.
– Abigail responds quickly – 25:18-20. This is a present to buy David’s good favour – 25:27-31.
– Abigail believed God that David would be king.
3. The imperfection sanctification of David.
(a) David begins with courtesy – 25:4-8.
(b) David loses his temper – 25:12-13, 21-22; Prov.16:32; James 1:19-20.
(c) David accepts correction – 25:33. David does seem to learn from this – 2 Sam.16:5-12.
(d) David makes for a dysfunctional family life – 25:39-44. P
Blaise Pascal called man ‘glory and refuse of the universe!’
4. The restraining grace of God.
– by Abigail – 25:33; and by God – 25:26, 34, 39. See Rom.12:19.