Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song – Ps. 95:2

“About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died” (1 Sam. 25:38). Every time I read these words, I wonder why God killed Nabal. What was His offense? I believe it was ingratitude and a failure to recognize and plug into God’s kingdom agenda in David.

We are told that Nabal was a property owner and very wealthy (2). That was a blessing that required thanksgiving and praise, but he did not.

Once a person is set in life and doing well, a suitable life partner is the next priority. Adam’s story in the Garden of Eden after God surrounded him with every good thing illustrates this (Genesis 2:18, 23). That is why Solomon says that “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord” (Prov. 18:22). That was Nabal’s other blessing from God that deserved thankfulness to God.

God gave Nabal, “an intelligent and beautiful woman,” (1 Sam. 25:3). She was wise and discerning – a great combination of physical and inner beauty. With Abigail, Nabal’s home was highly decorated and managed. Again, we don’t hear about a thankful Nabal.

With great wealth and property, security becomes top priority. This too, God graciously provided for Nabal through David and his men. As Nabal’s men confessed, “the whole time we were out in the fields near them [David and his men] nothing was missing” (15-16).

In all these areas of Nabal’s life, he had cause to be thankful to God, but he failed to do so. He became boastful and offensive. Presented with a great opportunity to acknowledge God’s favor through David’s generosity and kindness, and be thankful, Nabal failed tragically. He dismissed Israel’s future king as a common criminal, and almost sacrificed his entire household for his pride (vv. 10-13). He missed God’s anointing upon David, and denied himself a great opportunity to be a part of what God was doing in David’s life. Is it surprising, then, that God removed Nabal and made way in David’s life for Abigail, his wife?

Pride is like cancer. It destroys the life of God in a person and enthrones him where God should be seated in his heart. There is no one to thank but himself, if God is no more his provider. Such is the attitude Solomon cautions in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

We at IBC, Dakar, will shout and thank the Lord today, for God has been good to us. We will not be like Nabal. We refuse to deny our King the honor He deserves as the source of all that we have, including our very lives. As the Psalmist says, “Let us come before [God] with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song” (Ps. 95:2).  That is exactly what we will do today.

So, express your gratitude with a hearty praise today and freely give of yourself and all that you have to God and shout, “Thank You, Jesus!”

Happy Thanksgiving Day!