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Toxic Power: From Madoff to King David

Nothing enrages me more than the injustice of the abuse of power. Corrupt governments seizing farm lands to fill the pockets of the already-wealthy; a supervisor sexually harassing a direct report; or, lately, an unremorseful man who made millions – oh, wait, billions – in an elaborate ponzi scheme, whose choices are wreaking havoc on non-profits. Bernie Madoff has bankrupted so many, and he and his wife apparently sold their remorse in exchange for a double-portion of greed.


Nothing enrages me more than the injustice of the abuse of power. Corrupt governments seizing farm lands to fill the pockets of the already-wealthy; a supervisor sexually harassing a direct report; or, lately, an unremorseful man who made millions – oh, wait, billions – in an elaborate ponzi scheme, whose choices are wreaking havoc on non-profits. Bernie Madoff has bankrupted so many, and he and his wife apparently sold their remorse in exchange for a double-portion of greed.

Power can be a toxin. We become gatekeepers of our own wealth and power, and hold on with clenched fists. It can magnify those obsessions and faults that we already have. I’ve been meditating on an example of this found in the Bible.

I’m reading with a group of friends about the story of Abigail and Nabal; a segment of the David chronicles. You can find it in 1 Samuel 25. And I can’t help but compare this passage to 2 Samuel 11, to compare and contrast the cast of characters and the one constant protagonist, David.

In 1 Samuel, David’s been anointed king, but current king Saul can’t let go of the right to rule. David is fleeing and fighting for 10 years, and during one of the leaner times, he humbly asks for provisions for he and his men from the filthy-rich Nabal (who responds with a clenched fist in 1 Samuel 25:10-11). David seeks violent revenge immediately. Abigail, the heroine of this story, picks up her husband’s slack, provides sustenance for David and his men immediately, and speaks of the Lord’s favor on the soon-to-be king.

A lot of clenched fists here, right? Saul’s not giving up the kingdom. Nabal’s not giving up some lamb stew and a few raisin cakes. David’s not giving up his pride. But, David is in a place of want, not power. Abigail is in a place of power, but uses discernment and discretion to bring peace. Abigail keeps Nabal alive, and keeps David from bloodguilt (an amazing example of YHWH-inspired generosity and grace).

And she’s beautiful. So after the Lord punishes Nabal for not providing for David (for fun, look at the poetic justice of God in 1 Samuel 25:29 – enemies "slung away" like stones, and Nabal’s fate in 1 Samuel 25:37-38), David asks for Abigail’s hand and they are husband and wife…along with Ahinoam of Jezreel…and Saul’s daughter, Michal, whom David tried to pawn off on another dude.

David’s a trophy-wife collector.

Cut to 2 Samuel 11. Instead of warring for the kingdom of Israel, now King David is chillin’ at home, letting others do battle in his place (2 Samuel 11:1). Now that he has the right to rule (that he fought TEN years for!), he’s gotten lazy. He’s on the roof, surveying all he possesses, and sees one more thing he can possess: Bathsheba. Bathing. By the time we read 2 Samuel 11:4, he has inquired, sent messengers after, and "slept with" Bathsheba. (Some may say that Bathsheba was seducing king David, but there’s nothing in the text that supports it, and this view doesn’t really take the roles of men and women in the Ancient Near East into account. Women were totally vulnerable and dependant on their men. And Bathsheba’s was out to war in King David’s army.) David sees another man’s wife, and because he’s king, he exercises his right to possess her.

Stop.

So before he’s king, David is fighting for God’s kingdom, he’s prevented from bloodguiltiness by a wise woman, God removes the husband from the scene, and then they are married. After David is king, he is on the sidelines of war, he takes a righteous man’s wife out of greed and lust, he removes the husband from the scene, and then they are married (I wonder where Abigail is at this point in time?).

Unbelievable. What lessons have I drawn so far from this comparison of David before and after he is king?

  • Everyone, even God’s anointed, is vulnerable to the abuse of power. I’m not impervious to its vice-grip.
  • People in positions of power need confidantes who are not direct reports (i.e., Samuel, Abigail, Nathan)
  • You have the opportunity to be a woman of influence in your sphere. Ask God for the discernment and ingenuity to do the right thing in critical times (like Abigail).
  • Check your knuckles. If they’ve turned pale because you’re holding on to your position, your money, or your status like the jaws of life, you’re probably on your way to a God-sized crisis. Saul, Nabal, and David all learned hard lessons because they held on to power too tightly. Wield your power for God’s kingdom.

Sharifa Stevens is a Manhattan-born, Bronx-raised child of the King, born to Jamaican immigrants, and currently living in Dallas. Sharifa's been singing since she was born. Her passion is to serve God's kingdom by leading His people in worship through music, speaking and writing, and relationships with people. Her heart is also unity, inspired by John. Sharifa hates exercise but likes Chipotle, bagels with a schmeer and lox, salmon sushi, chicken tikka, curried goat (yeah, it's good) with rice and peas, and chocolate lava cakes. She's been happily married to Jonathan since 2006...and he buys her Chipotle.

One Comment

  • Mystic S

    RE: abuse of power
    Great reading of the text! Great comparison of Nabal and David and the abuse of power. Thanks for all the insights. I am preaching on 2 Sam 11-12 this Sunday and also believe it is about the abuse of power. And I agree–the text does not suggest that Bathsheba was in any way seducing David. In fact I wish the text even said he raped her which in my opinion is what he did.
    I also like the metaphor of the little lamb in Nathan’s story–a great parallel to the vulnerable role that Bathsheba played and the devotion between her and Uriah.

    I also wonder if this little lamb is possibly a foreshadowing of Jesus as the vulnerable Lamb of God who was taken and killed by those who could care less about Him or the relationship between Him and His Father? Maybe that is reading too much in the text.

    Anyway, thanks for your devotion. I will visit your site again. You do a fantastic job with God’s Word!