Not-So-Quiet-Time: 1 Samuel 24-25

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 9/6

Day 1: 1 Samuel 24:1-7
David’s conscience had been taught to know what is right. So when his men encouraged him to do evil, and even told him that it was good, David knew better. We read the David’s “heart struck him,” (5) and that he “persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul” (7). Has your conscience been taught so well by the Word that you, like David, can stand for what is right in situations like this? Life can be messy and confusing to us. But God is all-wise. Ask Him today to give you the wisdom your conscience needs.

Day 2: 1 Samuel 24:8-22
Great freedom comes from living rightly. David could confidently call out to Saul, “May the Lord judge between me and you” (12). David had lived rightly and was free to call on God to judge rightly. Saul, who had lived an evil and self-centered life, knew that he couldn’t stand up to the Lord’s judgment, saying to David, “You are more righteous than I” (17). And Saul wept. The powerful pursuer—Saul—was crying while the man who was hiding in caves was able to stand. Ask God to help you to live for Him and enjoy the free, righteous life. 

Day 3: 1 Samuel 25:1-13
Nabal was “harsh and badly behaved” (3). That is how he was known. His actions and words backed up this description as he repaid David’s kindness with a harsh rejection (10-11). Nabal may have thought that he was being wise and thrifty in withholding help from David’s men, but, in reality, he was being a fool. He was wise and right only in his own eyes. Ask God to show you ways in which you might be “badly behaved.” And ask Him to work to change you.

Day 4: 1 Samuel 25:14-35
One of Nabal’s workers described him as “such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him” (17). It must have been hard to work and live in that environment. But when an emergency arose, the worker was able to turn to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who was “discerning and beautiful” (3). She came to David with gifts and asked “Please forgive the trespass of your servant” (28). She interceded on behalf of her husband and people. She stood between them and death, and her request, her prayer, saved them. Who can you intercede for today in prayer? Who can you lift up before the Lord? He hears. And He saves.

Day 5: 1 Samuel 25:36-44
Abigail continued to show her wisdom in knowing the right time and the right way to ask. She waited for the right time to talk to Nabal. And when David called her, she “hurried and rose and mounted a donkey” (42). Part of living wisely is not just knowing what to do, but knowing how and when to do it. Pray that God would equip you and your family with wisdom for living well. 

Catechism Connection: 98-99
“The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer” (WSC 99), and we can learn much from Abigail asking David for mercy. In fact, a key part of prayer is “offering up our desires to God… with thankful acknowledgment of his mercies” (WSC 98). Let God’s mercy drive us to prayer. 

Monthly Memory: Hebrews 11:1, 6
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.