David's men had accompanied Nabal's shepherds for days, who were watching over his 3000 sheep. The shepherds confirmed the assistance provided by David's men: "The men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep" (1 Samuel 25:15-16).

When David later sent his men to Nabal so Nabal could offer them a gift for their help, the men were treated roughly and sent away.

David was very angry: "Every man gird on his sword. So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David" (verse 13).

The shepherds told Abigail, Nabal's wife, what had happened. She rushed to meet David and defuse the situation, taking the blame upon herself and offering an apology for what had happened (verses 24-28).

David recognized that God had used Abigail to calm his anger: "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand" (verses 32-33).

Some 50 years later David's son Solomon summarized Nabal's and Abigail's actions in a proverb: "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!