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STEP IN

1 Samuel 25:14-17,23-28,32-35By John R Wible

November 10, 2013

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What’s the Point?

Sometime we are called to step in to keep a bad situation from getting worse.

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A Mission from God

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What Have We Learned?

Four Sessions of resolving conflict• Conflicts can arise because of different

priorities• It’s Not about ME!• Sometimes you need to stand down• Never compromise on a matter of Biblical right

and wrong

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Other People’s Business

• Sometimes people don’t apply Biblical principles to their lives (duh!)

• When do we step in and when is it really none of our business?

• What would Jesus do? Christ lovingly confronts and helps us, and as His followers, we are to follow His example and lovingly help others reconcile. Ephesians 4:15

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What’s The Passage

1 Samuel 25:14-17,23-28,32-35• While David was in the wilderness, he sought

support from Nabal, for whom David’s men had provided protection. When Nabal refused, David became angry and set out for revenge.

• Nabal’s wife, Abigail, intervened with both wisdom and diplomacy, keeping the conflict from becoming disastrous

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What is Peace?• In Matthew 5:9, from the Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

• Peace is absence of conflict• Hebrew Shalom (Peace) derives from

completeness• Peace also has an ethical quality• Thus, one who is a peacemaker is one who

brings shalom to the parties. • In today’s story, Abigail was a peacemaker.11/10/2013

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“It’s None of Your Business”

• Look at page 136 of the BOOK: “How do you respond when you hear, ‘It’s none of your business?’”

• It is painful when someone we care about is creating conflict. The easy path is to say, ‘It’s none of my business.’ But sometimes it truly is our business.”

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A Story

• Look at “The Bible Meets Life” section on page 137 of the BOOK. Find factors in the story that would help you decide what to do in this situation.

• Though we should not step into every conflict around us, today we will see that there are times that we could and should intervene to help others.

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A Real Nabal

• Read 1 Samuel 25:14-17• Who was Nabal and what does his name

mean?• Who was Abigail?• Who was David and how are they all together

in this story?• What led up a conflict? Look at the “1 Samuel

25:14-17” section on page 138 of the BOOK.

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Tattletale!

• What are the actions of the young man? • Does that make him a tattletale?• What is the difference between tattling and

giving someone information to keep a bad situation from becoming worse?

• In the next verses we will discover how Abigail stepped in.

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Abigail, The Fair, The Brave• Read 1 Samuel 25:23-28.• How did Abigail act compared with Nabal?• From “1 Samuel 25:23-28” on page 140, what

qualities of Abigail helped her intervene.• What prevents us from stopping a ‘train

wreck’ in someone’s life?• In the next verses we will discover David’s

responses to Abigail stepping in to the conflict.

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Blessed are the Peacemakers

• READ 1 Samuel 25:32-35• David’s anger was justified. Nabal

was a fool. However, shedding innocent blood was not the solution to this conflict.

• How did David responded to Abigail and why? Use the“1 Samuel 25:32-35” section on pages 142-144 of the Book to find out.

• What does Abigail’s story teach us about how to step in?

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Ticklish Situations to Discuss• A friend confides that he/she is abusing his/her

spouse or child. Are you in or out?• A co-worker is about to make a decision that will

hurt his chance for a promotion. In or out?• A neighbor is painting his house an ugly color and

the other neighbors hate it. In or out?• Two church members disagree over a church

budget issue. In or out?• I think my child or grandchild is about to make a

really bad mistake. In or out?• What does it take to step in and get involved?11/10/2013

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Deciding When to Step In

• Do you feel the call of God to step in? Is it really the call of God or the call of the “wild hare”?

• Is it a life or death situation?• Are there other alternatives?• Are you in a position to take the risk?• Do you have a clear legal, ethical or moral

obligation to intervene? Are you in a special relationship with one or both of the parties?

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If You Do Step In

• Seek advice. If you are not sure, ask the advice of someone you trust. Likewise, give someone permission to step in if you are about to make a bad decision.

• Intervene diplomatically, yet directly. Say what needs to be said with humility and respect.

• This is a big step, so do not do it half-heartedly.• Let God lead as you step in to keep a bad

situation from getting worse.

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Let’s Pray About it!

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