Summary: One great enemy of the godly man and the godly woman is anger. It is not evil to be angry. It is evil to allow your anger to control your motivations, decisions, and actions. Paul declared to the Ephesian Christians, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:25,27).<br> We can be angry and not sin. However, human anger presents Satan an enormous opportunity. Remember the enormous opportunity that Cain’s anger provided evil (Genesis 4).<br> It takes a heart truly dedicated to God’s heart to prevent great anger from providing Satan great opportunity.<br> <br> * I want to focus you on one of David’s heart qualities that made his heart special to God. Consider 1 Samuel 25.<br> <br> * May I begin with a simple observation: violence hardens the hearts and minds of people.<br> <br> * In war people cope with so much dying by “getting used to death.”<br> * In continual work with tragedies, people cope by “getting use to suffering.”<br> * People who live or work around lots of blood “get used” to seeing blood.<br> * People who work around a lot of pain get accustomed to seeing others in pain.<br> * The process is called desensitizing.<br> * Violence desensitizes people to death, suffering, blood, and pain.<br> * From the death of Goliath, David was around and involved in a lot of violence.<br> * As violence desensitizes a person, violence becomes the acceptable way to solve problems.<br> * Anger tempts that person to be violent.<br> <br> <br> * David and his troops were hiding from the forces of King Saul in the wilderness area south of the city of Hebron.<br> <br> * Evidently, they had a “safe” base camp in that area that they used frequently (the area is about seven miles south-southwest of Hebron).<br> * As David and his men traveled to and from their camp in this wilderness area, they never posed a threat to Nabal’s shepherds or flocks.<br> <br> * That was unusual: it was common for bands of thieves and marauders to find security in wilderness areas.<br> * These bands were threats to shepherds and flocks (who were considered “fair game” of opportunity to violent bands).<br> <br> <br> * David and his men treated Nabal’s shepherds with respect, never took anything from their flocks, and protected Nabal’s shepherds and flocks from dangerous people–quite a contrast to what was commonly the situation.<br> <br> <br> * The time of year came for sheep shearing.<br> <br> * This was a time of celebration and feasting.<br> <br> * Special workers were brought to the flocks to shear them.<br> * There was a lot of food, drink, and feasting because people celebrated their new prosperity.<br> * It was common to thank God for the gift of prosperity.<br> * It was common to give gifts to the less fortunate as an expression of your joy and your gratitude to God.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> * David sent ten young men to bring a statement of blessing to Nabal and to ask for a gift.<br> <br> * Because of the time of year that we now celebrate, we should relate well to David’s expectations.<br> <br> * The greeting was something like wishing Nabal a long life and best wishes for the coming year; may it be a good one.<br> * Nabal was a wealthy man.<br> <br> * He likely had experience with dealing with bands of thieves and marauders who threatened or attacked his shepherds and flocks.<br> * Maybe he knew what the forces of Saul did to the priests at Nob when they were massacred and did not want to get in the middle of that feud.<br> <br> <br> * Whatever he knew, whatever his motives, he was a greedy, evil man who had no respect or appreciation for anyone but himself.<br> <br> * Stupidly, foolishly,
