1st Samuel 25:9 And when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. 10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
Latent tendencies David probably was not aware of and, and dormant characteristics would bubble up to the surface from time to time, which revealed his need of conversion, but between all these contrary exhibitions, David was generally known to behave himself well.
The word “Latent” refers to something that is real and present, yet not generally visible for any person to see and this should concern us, for like David, we too may be inadvertently harboring latent tendency that we may not be aware of, until it bubbles up to the surface and shocks the daylights out of the one in question, as well as onlookers.
For instance, when Nabal refused to help out David with the food which he had requested, a switch that had lain dormant was flipped on internally, and the anger of such a well-behaved person, was reversed in an instant. It is usually the case that we may only realize we have dormant evil tendencies, when one treads on our proverbial toes.
1st Samuel 25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. 21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!