NABALNABALThe Predatory WayThe Predatory Way

Isa 32, 1 Sam 25 (Nabal), 2 Sam 13 (Amnon)• “NABAL” comes from a word which means “to

wither” • Unbelievably corrupt, low, vile, deliberately

mean, unprincipled, and dishonest• “bottom-line” kind of person; treats others as

minimally as necessary• perverted and treacherous; will return evil for

good and harm those who help• sees possessions as rightfully is even if he owes

them to others

The NABAL: Profile

"Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men whose origin I do not know?"

1 Sam 25:11

Isa 32• “NABAL” comes from a word which means “to

wither” • Unbelievably corrupt, low, vile, deliberately mean,

unprincipled, and dishonest• “bottom-line” kind of person; treats others as

minimally as necessary• perverted and treacherous; will return evil for good

and harm those who help• sees possessions as rightfully is even if he owes them to

others 1 Sam 25:11• intensely self-absorbed; no concern for others • all walks of life: lowlife outcasts to socially prominent

The NABAL: Profile

How NABALsHow NABALsReact to GodReact to God

• a confirmed atheist:– logically and consistently– theoretically and practically– ethically

React to God

Psalm 53:1

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God," They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;

Ps 14:1The fool has said in his heart, "There is no

God." They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;

• a confirmed atheist:– logically and consistently

– theoretically and practically

– ethically

• the most dangerous of all the fools because he truly believes there is no God and so, no consequences; no one will hold him ultimately accountable

• If he is clever enough to avoid detection by man, he can do whatever he desires

• no moral boundaries

React to God

• hypocrisy is a NABAL trademark

• may appear as a “fervent” religious leader

• his service will include false doctrine

React to God

Isa. 32:6

For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness, To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.

'Thus says the Lord God, "Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing…

Eze 13:3

Remember this, O LORD, that the enemy has reviled; And a foolish people has spurned Thy name.

Ps 74:18

Do arise, O God, and plead Thine own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches Thee all day long.

Ps 74:22

• hypocrisy is a NABAL trademark

• may appear as a “fervent” religious leader

• his service will include false doctrine

• The logical end of atheistic thinking (add in an evolutionary worldview) is social and personal Darwinism: the strong survive; the weak are consumed by them and this is right

React to God

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves….

2 Peter 2:1-3

…Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

In their greed these teachers will exploit you* with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

* KJV “make merchandise of you”

2 Peter 2:1-3

How NABALsHow NABALsRespond to AdviceRespond to Advice

• a shrewd plotter, but blind to the disaster coming from God

Respond to advice

For they are a nation lacking in counsel, And there is no understanding in them.

Deut 32:28

• a shrewd plotter, but blind to the disaster coming from God

• misunderstands life such that he cannot give or accept good advice

Respond to advice

“Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.“

(Servants speaking to Abigail, wife of Nabal)

1 Sam 25:17

How NABALsHow NABALsLead & FollowLead & Follow

• do not aspire to top position; they desire to be free to prey on others at will

• false prophets of the OT & NT• he will refuse to listen to input from followers

(as Nabal in 1 Sam 25)• will gain leadership by undermining authority

rather than out-competing peers• will delight in preying n smaller companies and

have no compunction destroying them

As a leader

• follows only for his own practical reasons

• leaders never know when the compliant follower will suddenly erupt and destroy others or the system to get ahead personally

• “He seemed like such a quiet boy…”

As a follower

How NABALsHow NABALsHandle Handle

RelationshipsRelationships

• a vampiric approach to relationships

• do not simply use people; prefer to actively harm causing pain

• partner with other predators but only briefly for personal gain

Handle relationships

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man

2 Sam 13:3

How NABALsHow NABALsBehave at HomeBehave at Home

• abusive

• two-faced

• purposefully kills his compassion and sears his conscience

Behave at home

How NABALsHow NABALsMake DecisionsMake Decisions

• opportunistic (Achan or the rapists of Gibeah in Judg 19-20), but can spend a great deal of time and patience plotting (Amnon 2 Sam 13:6-11)

• limited vision, no discernment

• discounts God

• publicly kind, privately cruel

Make decisions

No longer will the fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.

For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness, To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty.

Isa 32:5-6

• opportunistic (Achan or the rapists of Gibeah in Judg 19-20), but can spend a great deal of time and patience plotting (Amnon 2 Sam 13:6-11)

• limited vision, no discernment• discounts God• publicly kind, privately cruel• given a choice between two paths he’ll

choose the one that harms others; deliberately mean

Make decisions

How NABALsHow NABALsMake Make

ConversationConversation

• harsh, severe

• reproach, heaping contempt and condemnation

• sacrilege

Make conversation

How NABALsHow NABALsHandle WorkHandle Work

• adequate planner, inadequate strategist• a crooked manager; will lie, cheat, prey on the

weak• will not pay his debts

2 Sam 25

• two-faced: polite to those he has to please (bosses, potential victims), harsh with those he does not

• victim find him suddenly vicious • squelch upward communication; people below

him know it is useless to talk to him

Handle work

How NABALsHow NABALsHandle MoneyHandle Money

• possible public honors

• financial predators: default on debts, prey on powerless

• he will accumulate wealth, but never enjoy it. In the end he will be unmasked

Handle money

"As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid, So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; In the midst of his days it will forsake him, And in the end he will be a fool."

Jer 17:11

How NABALsHow NABALsDeal with DisasterDeal with Disaster

• try to avoid the consequences of their villany thru hypocrisy

• end as a result of their criminality

Deal with disaster

And the king chanted a lament for Abner and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

"Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.

2 Sam 3:33-34

• try to avoid the consequences of their villany thru hypocrisy

• end as a result of their criminality

• either at the hands of the state (like Achan)

• avengers (like Amnon was killed by Absalom)

• or direct intervention of God

Deal with disaster

And about ten days later, it happened that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died

1 Sam 25:38

• try to avoid the consequences of their villany thru hypocrisy

• end as a result of their criminality• either at the hands of the state (like

Achan)• avengers (like Amnon was killed by

Absalom) • or direct intervention of God• when calamity does strike, the NABAL

does not recover

Deal with disaster