The Power of Emotions
When anger rises, let God lead.
‘²¹ Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. ²²May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”’ - 1 Samuel 25:21-22 (NKJV)
Hi friends! Welcome to the first post in the series, ‘1 Samuel 25’. I hope Jesus guides you and fills your hearts with love every day. I am starting this series with the ‘Power of Emotions.’ It is a vital theme throughout, so I thought this would be an appropriate way to kick it off!
The book of 1 Samuel 25 teaches us some valuable lessons. It’s so easy to get swayed and carried by our emotions, especially when they are intense and overbearing. We feel compelled to act on what we feel and then try to justify it to ourselves. Sometimes, that influence is more than we would like to admit. We want to believe we are in control, that we can rationalise everything, yet Scripture reminds us:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
With this world’s never-ending pressures and expectations, we feel compelled to put on a front or make a point by giving the agitator what we think they deserve. We want to show them who the boss is and to stand our ground. Our fight-or-flight response kicks in, and we will do whatever it takes to protect our reputation.
Like Anger from the Disney film Inside Out, we can fall into a red-hot rage—blinding, deafening, and all-consuming. Unchecked, anger takes the throne of our hearts, leaving no room for reason or wisdom. It turns victims into offenders. Often, rage is dictated by more profound, unresolved emotions—perhaps stress, rejection, or years of hurt that have calcified into resentment.
Yet, amid it, we often fail to recognise that we are no longer in control; our emotions are. We deceive ourselves into thinking we act with reason when, in reality, we are simply acting on raw impulse.
The Moment Anger Started to Build
David, the man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14), experienced such a moment of unfiltered rage in 1 Samuel 25. His fury was directed at a wealthy Calebite man named Nabal in Carmel.
When it was sheep-shearing time, a season of feasting and hospitality, David sent Nabal a message of blessing and peace, reminding him that David’s men had treated Nabal’s shepherds with kindness.
“Therefore let my young men find favour in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.” (1 Samuel 25:8)
Yet Nabal, whose name means ‘fool' in Hebrew, responded with mockery and contempt:
“Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” (1 Samuel 25:10-11)
Nabal’s words drip with arrogance and selfishness. Instead of recognising that all he possessed was from the Lord, he claimed it as his own.
Riches are everyday blessings God often gives to Nabals, to whom He provides neither wisdom nor grace.
David’s Response—A Man Anointed, Yet Enraged
David, the anointed future king of Israel, let his anger take hold. His immediate reaction? “Strap on your swords!” He commanded 400 of his men to prepare to slaughter Nabal and his entire household.
Pause for a moment.
David, the same man who had just spared Saul’s life in 1 Samuel 24, refusing to harm “the Lord’s anointed,” was now prepared to commit mass murder because of an insult.
He was furious and resentful, ready to take his revenge.
The Hidden Danger of Ego and Pride
Why did David react this way?
I believe a significant factor was ego.
Ego is a dangerous offspring of pride, and pride is a beast waiting to consume us.
Of all sins, pride is the most destructive. It was pride that led to Lucifer’s downfall (Isaiah 14:12-15). It was pride that hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:13). It was pride that caused King Nebuchadnezzar to be humbled and driven to madness (Daniel 4:28-33).
And here, at this moment, pride was working in David’s heart.
Perhaps he thought:
“Does he know who I am? I am the Lord’s anointed!”
“No one speaks to me like that and gets away with it!”
David justified his anger, but in doing so, he was on the verge of violating God’s will.
What Changed David’s Course?
In His mercy, God intervened through Abigail.
Abigail, Nabal’s wise and discerning wife, humbly approached David and reminded him of God’s greater plan for his life. She urged him not to let anger stain his conscience with needless bloodshed.
And David listened.
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” (1 Samuel 25:32-33)
What an incredible moment of grace! David saw the wisdom in Abigail’s words and allowed himself to be corrected.
A wise person is not one who never stumbles but is humble enough to be corrected.
Righteous Anger vs. Worldly Anger
Some might wonder: But Jesus got angry, too!
Yes—Jesus did flip tables and drive out moneychangers from the temple (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; John 2:13-17). However, there is a key difference:
David’s anger was rooted in personal offence and pride.
Jesus’ anger was rooted in righteousness and zeal for His Father’s house.
The temple had been corrupted, preventing people, especially Gentiles, from worshipping God properly. This was not about personal insult but about God’s holiness.
“My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!” (Matthew 21:13)
This is a crucial distinction:
Anger over personal insult is dangerous, but anger over sin against God is righteous.
How Does This Apply to Us Today?
1. Beware of Pride.
The moment we start thinking, “How dare they treat me this way?” or “I deserve better!”—pride has taken hold.
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
2. Pause Before Acting on Emotion.
If David had immediately sought God instead of acting impulsively, he would have avoided nearly committing a grave sin.
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)
3. Accept Correction When God Sends It.
David had the wisdom to listen to Abigail. Do we humble ourselves and listen when God sends correction through His Word, a sermon, a friend, or even conviction in our spirit?
4. Know When Anger is Righteous.
We should never justify sinful anger by pointing to Jesus flipping tables. Instead, we must ask: Is my anger about God’s glory or my own pride?
Final Thought: Grace Covers Our Failures
David was not perfect, yet God still used him mightily. What distinguished David from others was his heart of repentance.
We will have moments when our emotions get the better of us, and we will fail. But through Christ, we have grace.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8)
If we fall, let us quickly repent and return to the One who restores us. Just as He did with David, He will do the same for us.
‘⁸Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. ⁹For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.’ - Psalms 37:8-9
‘The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.’ - Proverbs 15:18
‘¹⁹ So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.’ - James 1:19-20
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for your never-ending goodness and graciousness, especially when we sin and fall short of your word. Our emotions are God-given, but sometimes, we lose track of them in such a sick world. We falter, act in ways we know we shouldn’t, and face the guilt and consequences. Jesus, please calm our raging seas and our confused and troubled minds. May You shine brighter than any emotion we may feel and always guide us through grace. Please help us to discern what is justified in getting angry and what is not. Thank you, Lord Jesus. We love you.
Amen 🙏🏼
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