Proverbs 13:16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.NLT
The meaning of the name Nabal is "fool". Nabal lived near the town of Maoen in the hill country of Judea and possessed thousands of sheep and goats that he pastured near Carmel. Nabal was extremely wealthy; however, his greatest asset was his beautiful and intelligent wife, Abigail. He was a foolish man with an intelligent wife. In the culture of that day, strong and valiant men provided security for cattles and properties of the wealthy and the wealthy man provided sustenance in return. David and his men provided security for Nabal's cattles and properties but he refused to reciprocate their kind gestures. In fact, he responded to David's request with arrogance and disdain (1Sam25:4-11). In response to Nabal’s folly and arrogance, David prepared his men for battle against Nabal’s household (1 Samuel 25:12–13). When Nabal’s wife heard of the pending doom, she intervened on her husband’s behalf. She sent a bounty of supplies to David’s camp without Nabal’s knowledge (verses 18–19). Then she went to David personally, humbling herself and pleading for mercy.
The bible made it clear that God struck Nabal to death(vs 38). Nabal is a good example of a bad and insensitive husband and leader in the home. If he was sensitive, he should have known that he was dealing with the future king of Israel. If he was a good leader, his action wouldn't have stirred anger in the heart of David. He wasn't considerate. What if David had killed his wife and children? At the end, Abigail suffered early widowhood because of the folly of Nabal. We often warn brothers not to marry Jezebels but we also need to warn sisters not to marry Nabals. Do not be a wise woman in the house of a fool. By design, God made the man to be the leader in the home. If a man cannot provide leadership, he is not fit for marriage. If he is insensitive, he'll be a horse-band not a husband. The word husband comes from the old Norse "hūsbōndi". It means a house dweller whose duty is to conserve resources and use them frugally. It takes a leader to do that.
In the family setting, the man should provide leadership for the wife and children. His duty is to bring out the best in his wife and not to compete. The moment a man starts competing and limiting his wife's potential, he becomes a horse-band. Sometimes, people ask, "what do women want"? The summary of all women want is leadership not money. After all, there are wealthy women who can pay bills yet something within them craves for a man. The vacuum in their relational life is demanding for a male figure that can offer sound leadership. If he cannot bring out the best in you and groom you for destiny, if his ideology about your worth is limited to the other room and kitchen, he is a Nabal, please run. Don't base your marital decision solely on his ability to provide without considering other things. There are wives of wealthy men living in regret. Nabal was wealthy and I believe he provided for Abigail but his folly ruined his life.
Father, I refuse to surrender my marital life to Nabal in the name of Jesus Christ.