Bloodshed and Vengeance
In a fit of rage, David took his men to kill all of the men who worked with Nabal, because Nabal insulted him by refusing to pay David's men for protecting his workers during their harvest. If Nabal's wife, Abigail, had not acted quickly to prepare a gift for David and apologize to him before he reached Nabal, David would have shed innocent blood and taken vengeance into his own hands. (I Samuel 25:32,33) David was so thankful for her actions, and he realized he would have done the completely wrong thing.
We should never retaliate against people in anger. (Proverbs 20:22) This type of rash behavior can lead to harming others or even to bloodshed. God allows us to protect ourselves from others, but he wants us to trust Him to take care of people who hurt us. He took care of Nabal, and He will execute justice on those who hurt us, too. It is up to us to trust the Lord, who always judges righteously, and He always carries out the right amount of punishment.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 26-28.
We should never retaliate against people in anger. (Proverbs 20:22) This type of rash behavior can lead to harming others or even to bloodshed. God allows us to protect ourselves from others, but he wants us to trust Him to take care of people who hurt us. He took care of Nabal, and He will execute justice on those who hurt us, too. It is up to us to trust the Lord, who always judges righteously, and He always carries out the right amount of punishment.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 26-28.