Don't Be A Son of Belial

# 346 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 25:14-17, “Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. 15 "But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. 16 "They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 "Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him." (1Sa 25:14-17) There is no arguing with Nabal, so the shepherds come to his wife Abigail hoping that she will be able to do something lest David retaliates. Take note of the phrase, “he is such a scoundrel that no one can speak to him,” I believe that is putting it a little bit too mildly. The King James here, calls Nabal the son of Belial! Who is Belial? Belial is a word that the Scriptures use for the personification of the devil. And what kind of persona has Nabal taken on? We can get a hint by looking elsewhere in Scripture where Belial is mentioned. In De 15:9, we read, "Beware lest there be a wicked (a Belial) thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing,” And in 1Sa 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. And in, 1Sa 30:22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered,” What was the common attribute here? Stinginess. Think about that. T o be tight-fisted is the mark of the son of Belial. Wouldn't it be better to be generous? Pr 22:9 says, “He who has a generous eye will be blessed,” Blessed, or son of Belial, what would you rather be? Father, help us to be generous.”