Pity The Fool, Nabal
Estimated Reading time: 5 minutes · Written by ado muronziThe passage we’re discussing today centres on one of Scripture’s most notorious “fools”, a man named Nabal. His story is found in 1 Samuel 25, and while it may seem like a simple tale at first glance, it’s rich with lessons about pride, anger, humility, wisdom, and the state of the human heart.
I’ve titled this reflection “How to Escape the Pit of the Fool”, because what ultimately defines Nabal is not just his foolish actions but the condition of his heart. And, as we’ll see, the same danger lurks within each of us.
The Setting: A time of transition
The story begins with a brief but important note: Samuel, Israel’s great prophet, had died. All of Israel gathered to mourn him. Samuel was a man who finished his life well—faithful to God, courageous in his leadership, and steadfast in truth. His life set a contrast to the tale that follows, because where Samuel displayed a faithful heart, Nabal embodied a foolish one.
David, meanwhile, was on the run from King Saul. He and his band of warriors had been moving from place to place, trying to stay alive. At this point, they were in the desert near where Nabal lived. David’s men had been protecting Nabal’s shepherds and flocks during the shearing season, a dangerous and busy time.
When the harvest was complete, David sent men to Nabal with a reasonable request: provisions in exchange for the protection they had given. It was also a festive season, a time of generosity. But Nabal’s response was anything but generous.
Nabal’s Folly
Nabal, described as very wealthy, was also surly and mean in his dealings. His name itself meant fool, and sadly, he lived up to it.
When David’s men asked for food, Nabal sneered:
“Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Why should I take my bread and water and meat, prepared for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
It’s worth pausing here. David was already famous in Israel—the young shepherd boy who had defeated Goliath, the warrior who had won countless victories. Nabal’s question wasn’t genuine ignorance; it was contempt. His words revealed arrogance, selfishness, and hostility.
I sometimes hear the phrase “ignorance is bliss”. But in truth, ignorance is the opposite of love. It says, I don’t care about you. I don’t want to know your story. I will stay in my comfort zone and look only to myself.
That was Nabal. He cared neither for David nor for the kindness that had already been shown to him. His foolishness stirred David’s anger and nearly led to bloodshed.
David’s Flaw and Abigail’s Wisdom
Enraged by Nabal’s insult, David prepared for vengeance. Here we see another lesson: even a man after God’s own heart can stumble into rash, foolish decisions. David was ready to slaughter Nabal and his household.
But into this volatile situation stepped Abigail, Nabal’s wife. She acted with urgency, wisdom, and humility. Gathering generous provisions, she rode out to meet David before disaster struck. Bowing low, she pleaded with him not to stain his record with needless bloodshed.
David recognised God’s hand in her words. He praised the Lord for sending Abigail and acknowledged that her discernment had saved him from sin. His heart was not perfect, but it was soft, quick to repent, quick to turn back to God.
Nabal, by contrast, never repented. Scripture tells us that when Abigail later told him what had happened, “his heart failed him and he became like a stone.” Ten days later, God struck him down.
Four hearts in the story
When I reflect on this chapter, I see it as a story of four hearts:
Samuel’s faithful heart: dedicated to God until the end.
David’s learning heart: flawed, but humble and repentant.
Nabal’s defiant heart: arrogant, selfish, and unrepentant.
Abigail’s discerning heart: wise, humble, generous, and God-fearing.
And the question I must ask myself is: Which of these hearts is reflected in me?
Names and their power
Nabal’s name meant fool. Tragically, he fulfilled it.
I’ve often thought about the power of names. Growing up in southern Africa, I came across some unusual ones—children named No More, One More, or even Full Stop. My own cousin is called Does Not Matter, though we mercifully shorten it to “Does.”
Names can carry weight. I still remember being told as a child, by people in the church, that my life would amount to nothing. That was the name spoken over me: worthless, hopeless. But God had a different name for me. He calls me chosen, beloved, redeemed.
The same is true for you. You do not have to live up to the negative labels the world has given you. God’s naming is final, not theirs.
The heart of the issue
When Nabal insulted David, his words were simply the overflow of his heart. Pride, greed, anger, arrogance, ignorance—these were not random lapses. They were the fruit of what was inside him.
The same is true for us. What spills out when I am tired, stressed, or provoked? That is the true state of my heart. And no amount of willpower or self-help can fix it.
David understood this when he later wrote Psalm 51 after his sins of adultery and murder. “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Change begins with repentance, not willpower. The fool refuses to repent. The wise admit their need and turn back to God.
Jesus: The true treasure
If I try to change my behaviour in my own strength, it will always fall short. But when I treasure Christ above all else, everything else begins to shift.
The late Tim Keller once said:
“Legalistic people—people who are not truly converted—see Christ as useful. Truly converted people see Christ as beautiful.”
When I treasure Jesus as beautiful, it transforms how I live: how I treat my neighbour, how I use my money, how I steward my body, how I respond in anger. The change is not surface-level but heart-deep.
God’s consistent character
Some people say, “The God of the Old Testament is harsh, but Jesus in the New Testament is loving.” I don’t believe that. God has never changed. In Exodus 34, He revealed His name to Moses:
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin…”
That same God is the one who sent Jesus. He has always been merciful. Always gracious. Always pursuing us with love. And He gives us a new name.
At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus makes a promise:
“To the one who overcomes, I will give a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
That is our hope. Whatever names we’ve been given—fool, worthless, arrogant, greedy—Christ offers us a new one. In Him, we are chosen, beloved, forgiven.
So how do we escape the pit of the fool? Not by trying harder, but by treasuring Christ. By letting Him transform our hearts. By receiving the new name He gives us.
The original teaching has been edited for clarity and brevity; This is not a transcript.