Keeping From Evil

“And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.” (1Sa 25:39 AV)

Nabal was a very wealthy rancher who was shearing his sheep in the fields.  The custom was to visit the flocks and shear them while they pastured.  This left the flock and the workers vulnerable to predators, both wild and tame.  Thieves could take advantage and attack.  They could kill all the laborers and steal the flock.  Or, wild animals could take advantage of the helpless nature of a recently sheared sheep and enjoy a meal of lamb chops.  Nabal would be a responsible businessman if he set sentries to guard the laborers and the flocks.  But he did not.  David noticed that, and without requiring any up-front reimbursement, set his 600 men around the shearing floor and protected Nabal, his servants, and their flocks.  Nabal never asked them to leave because he had no intention of reimbursement.  He enjoyed the benefits of having David and his men provide security, yet refused to cover their costs in doing so.  This would amount to theft.  This explains David’s desire to attack Nabal.  Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was told of the situation and intervened.  She prepared food and supplies for David and his men.  This act of integrity kept David’s hand of rash justice at bay.  In other words, what would have turned out badly, God intervened and saved David from an extreme choice. 

I don’t think the evil David speaks of is necessarily sinful.  But the principle can certainly be applied that way.  The examples are too numerous to recall.  A story is told of a young man who was planning a weekend getaway with his girlfriend.  The problem was he didn’t keep it to himself.  He involved his younger sister and best friend.  The younger sister, having a conscious, told her father of her brother’s plans.  So, Dad got to work.  He set in motion one small roadblock after another.  Dad, who owned his own business and hired his son, stated that inventory had to be done before they went home Friday evening.  It shouldn’t take too long.  He and his son stayed until almost eleven that night.  It was too late for his son to start his weekend with his girlfriend, so they decided to go the next morning.  When this young man went to his car, he found he has two flat tires.  One on the front and another on the back.  Both mom and dad were gone with their cars, so he had to wait for them to return.  Having fixed his car, it was not early afternoon.  At least they could spend one evening in immorality.  One was better than none.  On the way to pick his girlfriend up, he had a phone call.  It was her.  She was at the hospital with her mother.  Her mother fell and needed some X-rays.  As emergency rooms go, it took hours.  First her leg.  Then her head.  It wasn’t until very late that evening that she was discharged.  The romantic getaway never happened.  Seeing as how his plans were ruined, he got up and went to church.  That morning, the Preacher happened to preach on moral purity.  Talk about keeping someone from evil!

We all have a trail of bad and sinful decisions we have left behind.  We have wreaked havoc on a life that should have been holy and separated.  As horrible as that trail is, imagine what it might look like if God had not interrupted our plans for even more evil! There are times when we are well aware that the LORD has kept us back from sin.  A needy child requires our attention.  The dog needs to go out.  An unexpected bill pops up.  A road is closed.  These interruptions are ways in which God can and does often frustrate our wicked intentions.  But then there are the Abigails.  There are those saints that seem to know how to intervene when we need it the most.  There is no judging.  There is no condemnation.  They simply know when to show up and pray or encourage.  They are a reminder that the battle for righteousness can be waged and won.  They call, text, or show right at the time we need them to the most.  Perhaps if we were more involved in the lives of others, we can be that person.  There are times when we need someone like that, but there are also times when we need to be that person.  Praise the LORD for keeping us from doing more harm to our own lives!