“The Power of Influence”

1 Samuel 25

Pastor Keith Boss 

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Whether we realize it or not, influence is powerful! We are people who are greatly influenced by circumstances and people and we ourselves are people who have the power to influence others. What kinds of circumstances influence us? What kind of people do we want to be influencing us? What kind of influencers do we want to be?

 

There are three powerful influences that are highlighted in this chapter. 

 

I. The Influence of Difficult Circumstances (23:1) 

 

What are the first three words of I Samuel 25?

 

AND SAMUEL DIED!!!

 

This is hugely important to see in order to grasp the rest of the story. 

 

DAVID LOST THIS GODLY INFLUENCE IN HIS LIFE . . . AND HE IS SUFFERING PERSONALLY BECAUSE OF IT . . . AND THE DECISIONS THAT HE IS ABOUT TO MAKE ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS TIME OF LOSS. 

 

David is grieving. David is fearful that he is no longer protected. David can no longer go to Samuel for counsel. 

 

And for a time, he moves in fear down to the wilderness of Paran down to the south of Israel to escape Saul. 

 

This leads to our second influence . . .

 

II. The Influence of Difficult People (23:2-13)

 

David and his band of 600 men provide protection for Nabal and his employees. It would have been reasonable for Nabal to make some provisions for David and his men to show his gratitude. But, Nabal is a foolish man who will not do what is reasonable. 

 

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

And loving favour rather than silver and gold.

 

However, Nabal has a virtuous wife named Abigail. She proves to us that you do not need to have a godly husband in order to be godly yourself. You can still have good character even in a bad environment. 

 

Character does not have to be formed by the people around us . . . character is something that is formed within us!

 

David is angry that Nabal will not provide for his men. In his anger, he is about to make an extremely foolish decision. 

 

Beware of anger!

 

James 1:20-21 . . . 

 

let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

 

By God’s grace . . . God brings ABIGAIL to stop David from doing something unrighteous!

 

This is the third influence in the story . . . 

 

III. The Influence of the Wise (23:14-44) 

 

Proverbs 13:20

 

He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

 

In verses 14-17, one of the hired hands reports to Abigail what her husband had done and what David was about to do! Abigail rushes to intercept David. Her speech is so beautiful and so full of wisdom!

 

Here is this blameless woman with a rotten husband; and while she acknowledges his faults, instead of railing on her husband, she actually takes his sin as her own and pleads with David for forgiveness upon her house!

 

Does Abigail remind you of someone? 

 

Abigail is innocent; and yet, she takes the blame of a sinful person!

 

Can you think of someone else who did this???

 

There’s a shadow of Christ here . . . as there is all throughout the Bible!

 

Jesus himself is wise and he offers himself as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of God against sinners like us who deserve God’s judgment!

 

WE ARE DELIVERED BY CHRIST’S INTERVENTION . . . 

 

If there’s no Abigail . . . Nabal is DEAD!

 

In the same way . . . if there’s no Jesus . . . we are eternally condemned!

 

I Corinthians 1:30

 

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

 

But do you hear what Abigail is doing in this speech? 

 

SHE IS SPEAKING SO TENDERLY, BUT SHE IS SUBTLY REBUKING DAVID AT THE SAME TIME!  

 

Verse 28  - she knows that God will give David a permanent house. 

 

Verse 29 - she knows that Saul is after him.

 

And yet, verse 30, she also knows that David will be the ruler of Israel!

 

SO . . . WHY KILL NABAL??? WHY STOOP TO HIS LEVEL??? Why not trust the Lord to avenge you?

 

Those are words of wisdom!!!!

 

TO DAVID’S CREDIT . . . HE LISTENS TO THOSE WORDS!

 

He humbles himself and listens to wisdom!!! And he is relieved that he did as God himself takes Nabal out ten days later. If God did this with Nabal, he would surely do it with Saul!  

 

Do you see the power of influence? 

 

Applications:

 

• Are you going through a time of grief or loss? BE CAREFUL! Watch out for temptations! 

• Do you have difficult people in your life? THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DEFINE YOU! 

• Do you have wise people in your life? Do you have people in your life who encourage you to trust God and do right? 

• And are you a wise influencer? Do you encourage others to trust God and do right? 

• Have you trusted in Jesus Christ to protect you from the wrath of God?