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Fools and Wisdom: Who's Driving Your Life? | 1 Samuel 25:1-3

Vince Miller Podcast

Release Date: 10/27/2024

A Wake Up Call From Saul's Fall | 1 Samuel 28:20-25 show art A Wake Up Call From Saul's Fall | 1 Samuel 28:20-25

Vince Miller Podcast

Have you ever fallen flat on your face? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. In this chapter, King Saul is at rock bottom. He’s been abandoned by God, tormented by fear, and reduced to consulting a witch. His desperation is matched only by his hopelessness when Samuel’s spirit tells him the worst: there’s no escape. Tomorrow’s battle will end in his death. Here is how he responds to the news in : Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all...

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Four Questions When God Doesn’t Answer | 1 Samuel 28:8-9 show art Four Questions When God Doesn’t Answer | 1 Samuel 28:8-9

Vince Miller Podcast

Is God not answering? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. King Saul is freaked out right now. God is not answering, and this is what he decides to do. : So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” — ...

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Consulting the Wrong Medium | 1 Samuel 28:6-7 show art Consulting the Wrong Medium | 1 Samuel 28:6-7

Vince Miller Podcast

Are you talking with the wrong people? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. King Saul is freaked out right now. He glared down at an inevitable war with his two great enemies, Achish and David. And in his despair, he will do exactly what he shouldn't. Let's read verses 6-7: And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” — ...

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Grab Hold | 1 Samuel 28:3-5 show art Grab Hold | 1 Samuel 28:3-5

Vince Miller Podcast

Are you in a mess? Maybe it is time to reach out for help. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. At the beginning of Chapter 28, we got a snapshot of what was going on with Achish (the Philistine King) and David, who were planning to go to war with Israel. But for much of the rest of the chapter, we are going to jump to King Saul, and we are going to see a spiritual downward spiral that is demonic. This has been the trajectory of his life and legacy, so let's see what happens first in verses 3-5: Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own...

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Cornered by Deception | 1 Samuel 28:1-2 show art Cornered by Deception | 1 Samuel 28:1-2

Vince Miller Podcast

Are you cornered by a deception? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. Today, we begin . This chapter is interesting, to say the least. For the most part this paints a final picture of the downward progression of Saul. But before we get to that we see one more glimpse of David and Achish as they prepare to go to war with Israel together! Here are verses 1-2: In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” David said to Achish, “Very well, you...

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Perceptions and Deceptions | 1 Samuel 27:12 show art Perceptions and Deceptions | 1 Samuel 27:12

Vince Miller Podcast

Is another's misconception your deception? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. Here is the final verse in : And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” —  Achish was convinced that David had turned his back on Israel, pledging allegiance to him for life. But David hadn’t abandoned his people, faith, or God. But he was navigating a tight spot he got himself into. David’s “deepfake” was a carefully crafted illusion that walked a fine line given the expanse of...

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When Skill Becomes A Snare | 1 Samuel 27:10-11 show art When Skill Becomes A Snare | 1 Samuel 27:10-11

Vince Miller Podcast

What happens when skill becomes a snare? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. David is currently residing in Philistine territory under the shield of Achish, and he is battling enemies of Israel that Saul has left unaddressed. But listen to this interaction with David and Achish in : When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they...

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Never Idle In The Land Between | 1 Samuel 27:8-9 show art Never Idle In The Land Between | 1 Samuel 27:8-9

Vince Miller Podcast

Waiting doesn’t mean wasting time. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. David is currently residing in Philistine territory and the enemy king Achish gave him and his army a city called Ziklag where they resided which was right on the border of Philistine and Israelite territory, and here is what happened in the 16 months they resided here: But for today, let's dive into : Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. And David...

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Life in the Land Between | 1 Samuel 27:5-7 show art Life in the Land Between | 1 Samuel 27:5-7

Vince Miller Podcast

Are you in the "land between"? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We want you to live all in and know, grow, and go with Jesus every day. Check out the show that dropped yesterday on . This might be a helpful video if you have been trying to figure out how to do this. Also, we are just a few chapters away from finishing 1 Samuel. So, I want to prepare you for our next book. We are moving to the New Testament and will start the new year with the ! So go to our website and get the  for this book. There is a  below the video or in the show notes. But for...

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The New Ideological Battle | 1 Samuel 27:3-4 show art The New Ideological Battle | 1 Samuel 27:3-4

Vince Miller Podcast

Don't let secular ideologies erode your faith. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We want you to live all in and know, grow, and go with Jesus every day. Check out the show that dropped yesterday on . This might be a helpful video if you have been trying to figure out how to do this. Also, we are just a few chapters away from finishing 1 Samuel. So, I want to prepare you for our next book. We are moving to the New Testament and will start the new year with the ! So go to our website and get the  for this book. There is a  below the video or in the show...

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Is your life dominated by fools or driven by wisdom?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

Today, we begin a new chapter—1 Samuel 25. This one involves three characters: David, Nabal, and his wife, Abigail. You will see a warrior's anger, a fool's reckless pride, and a woman's humble wisdom. It will be easy to discern who is who in the story. Let’s read verses 1-3:

Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. — 1 Samuel 25:1-3

Samuel’s death marks the end of an era, signaling a shift in Israel’s leadership. This transition invites us to focus more tightly on David's leadership, which is still shaped by a lot of conflict on his way to becoming king. And in this chapter, we will see how David has to navigate a fool on his way to greater wisdom.

As we dive deeper into this chapter, we will see a sharp contrast between Nabal and Abigail. Nabal, a wealthy man, embodies foolishness—his very name means "Fool." In stark contrast, Abigail, his wife is a woman of wisdom and discernment. This story of David's encounter of this couple reveals profound truths about the nature of our human relationships.

So let me ask: Who are the Nabals and Abigails in your life?

Think about your own experiences. Who embodies the "Nabal" in your life? Perhaps it's a colleague whose arrogance frustrates you, a family member whose pride blinds them, or even a friend who dismisses your input. This week, consider how you typically react to these individuals. Are you quick to anger, or can you step back and respond differently?

Now, recall the "Abigail" in your life. Their discernment is rooted in humility and grace. Is there someone who approaches conflict with wisdom, patience, and understanding? This week, consider their wisdom and aim to embody their approach in your interactions.

Here's your three-part challenge today:

  1. Identify: Take a moment to identify the names of the "Nabals" and "Abigails" in your life. Acknowledgment who they are.
  2. Reflect: For each "Nabal," ask yourself two questions: What drives their behavior? How can I respond differently?
  3. Act: This week, practice Abigail's humility and wisdom. When faced with a foolish act or a difficult conversation, pause, pray for wisdom, and respond with grace. You might be surprised by how your approach changes the dynamics of the relationships in your life.

Remember, you can choose wisdom over folly. Make it a week where you don’t just avoid fools and acting like a fool but actively fool the world with wisdom instead!

#WisdomOverFolly, #AbigailAndNabal, #DailyDevo

Ask This:

  1. How can I respond with wisdom when confronted by a “Nabal” in my life?
  2. What qualities of “Abigail” can I embody in my daily interactions?

Do This:

Act with wisdom not as a fool.

Pray This:

Lord, help me recognize my life's "Nabals" and "Abigails" and guide my responses with wisdom and grace. May I embody the humility of Abigail and reflect Your love in all my interactions. Amen.

Play This:

Christ Our Wisdom.