37 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. ~ 1 Samuel 25:37-38
David was in the land of Carmel. It was a feast day, so he reached out to a rich man in the land with whom he and his men had interactions with the rich man’s shepherds. So, David sent some of his men to ask Nabal for anything he could spare, but Nabal had no regard for the LORD’s anointed. In fact, he even disrespected the LORD’s anointed saying,
“Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. 11 Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”
1 Samuel 25:10-11
Nabal had no regard for the LORD’s anointed, so David was going to take his men to attack, but Nabal’s wife pleaded with David. So, David steadied his hand, but the LORD took aim Himself when Nabal had sobered up to fully grasp and understand what was happening. The LORD came to fight on His anointed’s behalf. Nabal’s response and mistreatment of David, the LORD’s anointed, caused His heart to die within him, and he became like a stone. The LORD didn’t kill him just yet, though, God gave him 10 days. He gave him a set amount of days to repent, or at the very least, have a repentive heart. But when he didn’t, the LORD struck him down.
Today, many of our attitudes and actions have caused our hearts to die within us so that we become like stone. We stop feeling things. Our hearts stop breaking for what breaks the heart of God. Our souls stop yearning for God and His righteousness. We become spiritually paralyzed, but the LORD gives us a period of time to cry out to Him. To repent. To let our hearts beat again before we spiritually die. This is His promise to us in Ezekiel.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Dear LORD, please forgive me of all of my sins. Forgive me of all of my trespasses against You. Help me to notice Your anointed and have regard for them. Help to not be like Nabal or Pharaoh. Help me to have regard for You, Your people, Your teaching, and Your ways. Help me to be hospitable and loving, filled with a Spirit of Discernment that I might not sin against You. Please replace my heart of stone with a heart of flesh that I might love You and follow You the way You deserve. Thank You for all that You’ve done for me, are doing for me, and will do for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.