But Nabal asked them, "Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. Sermons
1 Samuel 25:10. (CARMEL.) There are many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master. What Nabal said was probably the fact. Many servants did in that unsettled time break away from their masters, preferring independence with its risk and privation to servitude with its protection and provision. But the imputation which he intended to cast upon them was either wholly unjust, as in the case of David, or partially so, as in the case of many others. He omitted to state that their conduct toward their masters was due to the conduct of their masters toward them. People are never so ready to see and condemn the faults of the class to which they belong as those of the opposite class. Concerning masters and servants, consider - I. THE NATURE OF THE RELATION. It has been aptly illustrated in the following language: - "A party of friends, setting out together upon a journey, soon find it to be the best for all sides that while they are upon the road one of the company should wait upon the rest, another ride forward to seek out lodging and entertainment, a third to carry the portmanteau, a fourth take charge of the horses, a fifth bear the purse, conduct, and direct the route; not forgetting, however, that as they were equal and independent when they set out, so they are all to return to a level again at the journey's end" (Paley, 'Mor. Philippians,' book 3.). The relation is confined to life's journey alone. 1. It is, in some form or other, necessary and mutually beneficial. The benefit received is really greater on the part of masters than servants. 2. It must of necessity vary with the circumstances of those among whom it exists. Hence the Mosaic law tolerated and regulated a species of slavery (though no Hebrew could become other than a "hired servant" for a specified lime); but "no other ancient religion was ever so emphatically opposed to it, or at least to all inhumanity connected with it, or made such sure preparations for its abolition" (Ewald, 'Antiquities'). 3. It always involves mutual obligations. These "nowadays" are often neglected. The tie between master and servant (mistress and maid, employer and employed) is not what it once was. There is less dependence on the one hand, and less authority on the other. Each complains of the other: "servants are careless and too independent;" "masters are too exacting and selfish." And the relation can only be what it ought to be by their common submission to "the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). II. THE DUTY OF SERVANTS (Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1, 2 Titus 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:18). 1. Obedience - lowly, respectful, cheerful; always in subordination to the supreme will of God. This is the first duty of a servant. 2. Diligence in performing the work given them to do, with attention and earnestness, and in the best possible manner, "And be content with your wages" (Luke 3:14). 3. Faithfulness to the trust committed to them, seeking their masters' interests as their own; honesty, thorough sincerity, "as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." III. THE DUTY OF MASTERS (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1). 1. Equity; giving to them "that which is just and equal," and imposing upon them no unnecessary burdens (Malachi 3:5; James 5:4). 2. Consideration, respect, courtesy, kindness, seeking their physical, moral, and. spiritual welfare. "Thou shalt not rule over thy servant with rigour" (Leviticus 25:43). And a mere money payment is not all that a fellow creature is entitled to expect, or an adequate compensation for his services. 3. Consistency; acting in accordance with their position, reproving wrong doing, setting a good example, exercising their authority and influence as a trust committed to them by God and in obedience to his will. Those who expect to receive honour must seek to make themselves worthy of it. Let both learn - 1. To be less observant of the faults of others than of their own. 2. To be more concerned about fulfilling their duties than insisting on their rights. 3. To look for their chief reward in the approbation of God. - D.
And Samuel died, and all the Israelites were gathered together and lamented him. "And Samuel died; and all Israel lamented him." What an epitaph! What a character to have deserved such an epitaph! The humblest mortal can so live as to leave a gap when he goes — a fact we realise with difficulty, for we say, "Oh! the great ones are missed, but I am poor and humble; my attainments are so insignificant." No life need be insignificant. "And Samuel died; and all Israel lamented for him." Some poor housewife in far Beersheba, who had never been five miles from home, when the word comes that Samuel is dead, she goes to the corner, lifts her apron to her eyes and weeps. Such is the result of a good life. We do not know how far its influence may travel. Are we not all of us largely influenced by men and women whose faces we have never seen, whose voices we have never heard? Do they not lead us, cheer us, inspire us on our way?1. The self-forgetting life. We want to learn to do good quietly, unostentatiously. 2. Joy in daily tasks. 3. Disinterested virtue. To live a good life in order to be missed, and nothing more, is one thing. But to live it without any such intention is another. Our virtue must be disinterested. 4. The life of service. So we speak of the useful life as the true one. The ideal life is that of consecrated service. Is there anyone living in loneliness who will say: "When I had not a friend in the world, when I came up from come country place and went into a certain church, that man befriended me?" 5. Active religion. "And Samuel died, and all Israel wept for him." We, too, must die. Will men weep for us? Will the world be sorry or will he clap his hands? (Ebenezer Rees.) People Abigail, Ahinoam, Caleb, David, Israelites, Jesse, Jezreel, Laish, Maon, Michal, Nabal, Palti, Paltiel, Phalti, Samuel, SaulPlaces Carmel, Gallim, Hebron, Maon, Paran, RamahTopics Answereth, Break, Breaking, David, David's, Jesse, Master, Masters, Multiplied, Nabal, Nowadays, Now-a-days, Running, Servants, To-dayOutline 1. Samuel dies2. David in Paran sends to Nabal 10. Provoked by Nabal's rudeness, he minds to destroy him 14. Abigail understanding thereof 18. takes a present 23. and by her wisdom 32. pacifies David 36. Nabal hearing thereof, dies 39. David takes Abigail and Ahinoam to be his wives 44. Michal is given to Phalti Dictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 25:2-11 5818 contempt Library If Then to Sin, that Others May not Commit a Worse Sin...21. If then to sin, that others may not commit a worse sin, either against us or against any, without doubt we ought not; it is to be considered in that which Lot did, whether it be an example which we ought to imitate, or rather one which we ought to avoid. For it seems meet to be more looked into and noted, that, when so horrible an evil from the most flagitious impiety of the Sodomites was impending over his guests, which he wished to ward off and was not able, to such a degree may even that just … St. Augustine—Against Lying Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed. How the Meek and the Passionate are to be Admonished. Appendix xix. On Eternal Punishment, According to the Rabbis and the New Testament Letters of St. Bernard The Exile Continued. Barzillai The Section Chap. I. -iii. The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii. Samuel Links 1 Samuel 25:10 NIV1 Samuel 25:10 NLT 1 Samuel 25:10 ESV 1 Samuel 25:10 NASB 1 Samuel 25:10 KJV 1 Samuel 25:10 Bible Apps 1 Samuel 25:10 Parallel 1 Samuel 25:10 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 25:10 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 25:10 French Bible 1 Samuel 25:10 German Bible 1 Samuel 25:10 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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