I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8. Can we see the big picture and not just our own narrow interests? As we learn to trust God for everything, our world expands because He is here with us daily. What a joy when we experience God working in our life! Each step of faith brings us closer to Him.

In 1 Samuel 25 we see the day to day events of David’s life and of those around him. 600 men follow David. They have been a wall of protection for shepherds working for a man named Nabal who is extremely wealthy. David sends some of his men to greet Nabal and ask for provisions for his men; a custom in that time to offer hospitality of food especially for those who have given safety. Nabal refuses. When David’s men return to their camp and inform David, David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” v. 13.

Nabal’s wife, Abigail, has been told what Nabal told David’s men and she works quickly to intervene. She ends up saving her husband and all of the men who live and work for her husband. She loads donkeys with abundant provisions and meets David and his 400 armed men and intervenes preventing David from vengeance. “When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.” v. 30-31.

David wanted to take vengeance for the insult Nabal inflicted upon him. Imagine that you have provided safety and protection and then denied food that is abundant and that is needed. What was Nabal doing during this time of his wife’s intervention for his life? When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. v. 36. The next day when he was sober, Abigail told him everything. His heart failed him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. v. 37-38. When David learned of Nabal’s death, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.” v. 39.

David marries Abigail. Abigail saw the big picture of what Nabal’s actions could produce for him and his people. She saw the big picture that vengeance did not belong to David but to God. God is able. Nabal was a man blessed with wealth who didn’t respect anyone. God helps us see the bigger picture of our lives and in that we see Him. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Can we see the whole picture? We were created by a mighty God who made everything we see including us. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Psalm 24:1-2. In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Psalm 25:1.

As I am learning to trust God for everything, I am appreciating His hand in my life and in this world that is too big for me to make sense of. It’s too big for me so I trust Him. He’s here and He is my help, my strength and my comfort. I pray you, too, see the big picture that God loves you and is there for you always. He’s not far away in the distant heavens…He is as close as your heart reaching for Him to welcome Him into your life where He already is.

In this Chapter we also learn of the death of Samuel. Samuel listened to God and had a close relationship with Him. He saw the whole picture and it was God with him.