“Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live” (1 Samuel 25:28).

David was about to avenge himself by killing Nabal and all his household. Nabal had refused to provision David and his men, even though they had been generous and kind; offering protection to Nabal’s men and livestock. The above words were spoken to David by Abigail, Nabal’s wife. She was pleading for the lives of all of Nabal’s servants, but she saw beyond that to the potential tragedy of Israel’s future king, soiling himself by a sheer act of revenge. Well might any person consider the catastrophic self damage and life-long consequences of yielding to pitiless settling of scores.