“David, there in the desert, heard that Naval was shearing his sheep. David sent off ten young men with these orders: ‘Go up to Naval in Karmel, and bring him greetings from me.'”-1 Samuel 25:4-5
So we’re told David caught wind of the news Naval was shearing his sheep.
This wouldn’t have been surprising by any means.
Sheep shearing was a regular occurrence throughout Canaan.
Seeing this as an opportunity to approach Naval, David gathered up 10 of his men and prepared to send them to Carmel.
Now take note of the number 10 here.
In Hebrew, the word is MINYAN.
We’ll talk about this more later but just be aware that Biblically speaking, this is the ideal minimum of men needed to form a group or congregation.
For example, when Abraham was negotiating the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Recall he began by asking God if He would spare the cities if fifty righteous people were found there.
God agreed.
Abraham continued to negotiate, progressively lowering the number, asking if the cities would be spared for forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten righteous people.
God finally agreed He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if ten righteous people were found there.
This underscored the divine significance of a MINYAN.
Onward.
So David sends a message to these men containing the usual flowery and superficial politeness characteristic of cultures in the East.
The men were told to wish peace or SHALOM to Naval and his family three times.
Now this sounds like a very friendly and warm greeting, doesn’t it?
No such thing.
Ever had an annoying boss at work who came over to your desk to request extra work?
He’s nicely asking you but it was understood this was a demand that couldn’t be refused.
That’s kind of what’s going on here.
Naval knew darn well he was being coerced and intimidated and he didn’t like it one bit.
Especially a powerful man of his stature.
He wasn’t used to being pressured like this.
Let’s take a look at verse 8.
“Ask your own men; they’ll tell you. Therefore, receive my men favorably, since we have come on a festive day. Please give what you can to your servants and to your son David.”
In Hebrew, the term for “festive day” is YOM TOV (a good day).
Now when you combine that with the term for “sheep shearing” which is GOZEZIM…
We see this was a special day taking place during the harvest and threshing season.
It wasn’t one of the seven God-ordained Biblical festivals.
But it was a festive day with lots of fun, feasting, and drinking to celebrate the wool being “harvested.”
Anyway, the bottom line was that David and his men were crashing a party they weren’t invited to.
And Naval was none too happy about it.
So what’s the takeaway?
I talked about how David strong-armed Naval into getting him to provide resources for his men.
However, that is NOT how God, our Father in Heaven operates.
I think a lot of people who have rejected or are turned off by God hold this image that He is a big bully who coerces and pressures us to obey His commands…
And if we don’t obey, we’ll be sent to hell.
I don’t blame them for being turned off by God if that’s their perception of Him.
But the truth is our Father in Heaven is not like that at all.
He is not like the mobster who walks into a shop all cordial and friendly and asks the business owner to hand over a cash payment in return for “protection services” that were never requested in the first place.
Here’s the correct model or metaphor through which to view our current predicament and our relationship or lack thereof with the Lord.
The reality is we (the entire human race) are dying of a deadly cancer called sin.
And God has the medicine to CURE this sickness we have.
He is not forcing us to take the medicine.
He is gently inviting us to drink it so that we may be cured and be free to live all of our Godly potential in Him and with Him.
If we refuse to take the medicine and die of our cancer, whose fault is it?
The answer is pretty clear, isn’t it?
I leave you with this quote from C.S. Lewis:
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice, there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.”-C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door,
I will come in and dine with him,
and he with Me.”
-Revelation 3:20
I am not sure that I agree David strong-armed Naval, but I wouldn’t disagree that David was taking advantage of a custom of sharing during a happy celebration.
The eastern mindset and culture was always to treat visitors well, such as sharing their home with strangers needing a place to sleep while traveling, feeding anyone wandering by their camp, etc.
During sheep shearing, to give gifts was not uncommon, and I agree that David knew this and thought it would be a good time to ask for some provisions.
Naval was just a jerk, and I don’t think he would have given anything to anyone, at any time.
Let’s not forget that David’s men protected Navals’ men and property at no cost, and didn’t take anything from him, which they easily could have done, and which would not have been unusual at that time.
So, yes- David was taking advantage of the event to get some (I might say) deserved pay-back for having protected Naval’s property and men, but I don’t think it is the same as a protection racket.
good comments. I wouldn’t disagree with you