I Samuel 25:1-42

"Death of an Idiot"

Dealing with Hurt Feelings

Have you ever had your feelings hurt?  I mean really hurt?  

My Sunday School class has been looking at the topic of hurt feelings for the past few weeks and we have come up with some interesting ideas about the topic.  

What are some examples of hurt feelings in the Bible?  Who's feelings were hurt and why? What was the response to the offender? 

Then, who gets their feeling hurt today and why? What is the natural response to the offender? What should be the Biblical response?

I've entitled this blog, "Death of an Idiot," based on I Samuel 25:1-42. 

David sent messengers to Nabel (which means fool) requesting supplies. Nabel insulted David and refused to help him. David gathered his men to go kill Nabel (and everybody else) but was stopped by Nabel’s wife, Abigail. She had learned of her husband’s foolish response and had gone out to meet the soon-to-be-king with ample provisions for him and his men. Through her wise words, David realized the error of his knee-jerk reaction and turned back. About 10 days later, the Lord took Nabel’s life –David didn’t have to. 

Back in the day, when the king and his men were in your land, it was your duty to help supply for their needs.  David had protected Nabel's shepherds and had treated them honorably for quite some time before he requested supplies from him.  Based on the traditions of the day, Nabel was really asking for it by refusing to oblige the king.  But he really didn't care.  He held a big party and got big-time drunk.  He was oblivious that his life, the lives of his family and servants, and perhaps even the lives of the nearby city were all hanging in the balance because of his foolishness.  

If you look back at I Samuel 22:6-23, you'll see another king who was insulted -- or at least that is what he thought.  Saul perceived that the priests of Nob had insulted and betrayed him. Although he didn’t actually do it himself, he ordered Doeg to kill all the priests, their families, and all the men, women, children, cattle, donkeys, and sheep of Nob. So maybe that's where David got the idea to go wipe out Nabel and his people.  Seems like overkill to me.

But what's the difference between David's response to Nabel and Saul's response to the priests? Initially there is no difference.  Both men responded with retaliation. When Saul was challenged about killing everybody, he didn't listen to sound advice and murdered them all anyway.  But when David heard what Abigail had to say, he actually listened. And he realized that murder was not the answer. He wasn't sure how God would take care of Nabel, but he knew that He would.  And He did.

So who are the idiots? Nabel, for one, lived up to his name. And he died as a result.

Saul didn't listen to his advisers which sounds pretty foolish to me. Did he die? Yep. Killed himself.

What about us? Are we idiots? 

Well, if I throw insults and intentionally hurt people, then, yes, I am an idiot and deserve the judgement that the Lord will hand me.

And when I am insulted if I yield to the knee-jerk inclination built into my fiber, then that's pretty foolish. So I must die to myself and yield to Christ in me. 

Death of an Idiot.

That's me.

Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Teach me your ways. Help me to yield to your Spirit and to listen to your wisdom.