Variety: 1 Samuel 25v21–22

Now David had said, ‘Surely it was in vain that I protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, but he has returned me evil for good. God do so to David and more also if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.’   1 Samuel 25:21–22

Have you ever just lost it? Gone Vesuvian over some relatively small thing? The failure of a colleague to include an appendix in a document? Or falling over the trainers the 14-year-old has strategically strewn right by the front door – for the 873rd time? Later, once the lava has cooled, you wonder why you reacted so disproportionately to such a tiny issue.

Here, David has lost it. He’d sent 10 men to ask for some provisions from Nabal, a wealthy landowner, whose flocks he had protected. Nabal gives nothing and insults David: ‘Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters.’ (v10).

So David musters 400 men to massacre every male in Nabal’s household. Why such a disproportionate response? Particularly compared to his self-restraint in sparing Saul’s life in the previous chapter?

Partly perhaps it’s the cumulative strain of being on the run for so long. Sustained strain (illness in the family, financial pressure, bereavement) coupled with some apparently small event (the laptop crashing, a parking ticket, losing a treasured memento) can ignite all manner of uncharacteristic responses in ourselves and others. Indeed, in David’s case, Samuel’s death (v1) has left him without the one authoritative human witness to his anointing to the crown.

And, of course, Nabal’s words hit several nerves. He disrespects David’s family, ignores his extraordinary contribution to national security, and accuses him of self-aggrandisement and disloyalty to Saul. Few things are more hurtful than to have one’s integrity questioned, one’s loyalty cast as betrayal, and one’s real contributions written off.

Cue David on the brink of a civilian massacre. And no one in his team steps in to pull him back.

How vulnerable we all are if we don’t have anyone – family, friend or colleague – to bring God’s perspective. How vulnerable we all are if, like David, we lose sight of God’s word and God’s promises, and, for the contemporary disciple, Jesus’ example. Wasn’t his integrity questioned, his loyalty to his father dismissed as blasphemy, and his good works attributed to the devil? And did he not give his life in agony to demonstrate how loved and precious we are to him, though we were his enemies?

May his disproportionately generous love temper our response to insult or injury and strengthen us today, and in times of prolonged pressure and suffering.

Mark Greene