Nabal the Fool
A name, a warning, a lesson in folly.
“Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him!” - 1 Samuel 25:25 (NKJV)
Hi friends! Welcome to the second post in the series, ‘1 Samuel 25’. I pray that Jesus is refreshing your souls every day. Today, I am continuing the series with ‘Nabal the Fool’. No one likes to be called a fool. However, more often than not, we do foolish things, especially when we lose control of our emotions. Please read my last post if you haven’t already!
We live in a foolish world without good sense and judgment. In Nabal’s case, he was more of a knucklehead, meaning he was just stupid. Okay, enough with the insults.
When we read this chapter, we are introduced to three different viewpoints of dealing with a fool:
Nabal - What if you are that fool?
Abigail - What if your spouse or boss is a fool?
David - What do you do if a fool wrongs you?
We’ll look at the last two perspectives in separate posts, but for today, I wanted to focus on Nabal.
What if you are a fool?
How did you become a fool? Can you leave your foolishness behind?
The first step is recognising it. A fool who refuses to see their own folly will stay that way. But the one who acknowledges their foolishness is already on the path to wisdom.
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." — Proverbs 26:12
Nabal didn’t see it, but everyone around him did, including his wife, his servants, and even David. But he refused to listen, and it destroyed him.
So ask yourself:
Do others constantly warn me, but I ignore them?
Do I reject correction, defend myself, and shift blame?
Do I act recklessly, thinking there will be no consequences?
If the answer is yes, you might be walking the path of a fool. But here’s the good news:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10
Foolishness isn’t permanent. Repentance is the way out.
Where does foolishness come from?
Did Nabal’s parents name him that at birth? Unlikely.
נָבָל (Nabal) - Derived from the Hebrew root meaning “to be foolish” or “to fall away.”
I reckon he became Nabal, a fool, over time, through sin and pride.
No one is born a fool; we are born blank slates.
We become fools by rejecting wisdom and choosing selfishness.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and rejecting Him is rejecting wisdom itself.
We must imprint God’s Word into our hearts, meditate on the Word daily, and teach others so we don’t follow the fool’s path.
‘But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.’ — Numbers 14:24 (NKJV)
Nabal had a great heritage, from the lineage of Caleb, great wealth (1 Sam 25:2), and a great wife, Abigail, described as “a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance” (1 Sam 25:3). But just because you have everything going for you does not mean you are wise or righteous. As Jesus said:
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”— Mark 10:25
If only He were around to tell Nabal this. Sigh.
Even the people around Nabal saw him for who he was:
Abigail, his wife: “Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him!” (1 Sam 25:25)
David, the future king: “He has repaid me evil for good.” (1 Sam 25:21)
His servant: “For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.” (1 Sam 25:17)
Even God’s word states: He was ‘harsh and evil in his doings.’ (1 Sam 25:3)
Isn’t it a clear warning sign when everyone around you notices the same problem? It should prompt self-reflection and change, yet many harden their hearts further.
How to Stop Being a Fool
1️⃣ Humble Yourself
Pride and foolishness go hand in hand. Humility is the first step to wisdom.
“When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” — Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)
2️⃣ Listen to God’s Word
Let Scripture correct you. Let godly counsel guide you. Wisdom is a choice.
"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge." — Proverbs 22:17 (NKJV)
3️⃣ Act on What You Learn
It’s not enough to hear wisdom, you must live it.
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." — James 1:22
The Dangers of Being a Fool
1. Opportunity Turned into Disaster
Nabal had a chance to find favour with David, God’s anointed king. He could have restored his name and honoured his ancestor Caleb’s legacy. Maybe this was a divine opportunity for redemption, but he threw it away out of selfishness and pride.
God always gives us chances to turn to Him, but we must take them.
Foolishness turns blessings into burdens and opportunities into disasters.
Reflecting on this makes me keenly aware of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I never want to miss an opportunity God gives me because of foolishness.
2. A Danger to Others
Being a fool doesn’t just affect you; it endangers those around you.
David, in his anger, swore he would kill every male in Nabal’s household:
“Surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” (1 Sam 25:34)
Had Abigail not intervened, David would have sinned greatly. Foolishness has a ripple effect, hurting families, friends, and even innocent bystanders. Would I want my foolishness to harm others? No.
Foolishness isn’t just personal; it’s communal.
We must be careful not to let our pride bring destruction to those around us.
3. A Danger to Themselves
The ultimate danger of foolishness is self-destruction.
‘He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.’ - Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV)
Nabal’s end was swift and without warning:
‘Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.’ (1 Sam 25:38)
Foolishness leads to destruction, both physically and spiritually.
Rejecting God’s wisdom invites His judgment.
God is loving, forgiving, and kind, but also just. The foolish who harden their hearts will face sudden ruin, without remedy.
The Difference Between a Fool and the Wise
The fool rejects correction.
The wise embrace it.
The fool thinks they know everything.
The wise seek understanding.
The fool hardens their heart.
The wise repent and grow.
So, if you’ve been a fool, don’t stay one. Seek wisdom. Walk the path of the righteous.
Because, unlike Nabal, you still have time.
How Does This Apply to Us Today?
The good news is that you don’t have to stay that way if you have been a fool.
Before Christ, we were all fools, living for ourselves and ignoring God’s wisdom.
But through Jesus, we are redeemed, cleansed, and made new.
While we may still make foolish mistakes, we are no longer defined as fools.
Jesus does not hold our past foolishness against us. Instead, He invites us to walk in His wisdom.
What do we do?
Acknowledge the dangers of foolishness.
Seek God’s wisdom through His Word.
Follow Christ’s example in decision-making.
It takes time, practice, patience, and much love, but Jesus will see us through.
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the Bible's rich stories and lessons. It is amazing to have such an extensive guide for how to live our lives. Thank you for Nabal's valuable message and for showing us how foolish behaviour will just drive us away from you. Lord, we pray that we will have the power to overcome temptation and foolish choices. Dress us in the armour of God, head to toe, and may we bring forth your light and goodness into this foolish world. We love you.
Amen 🙏🏼
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I love how you broke this down.... great post!