1 Samuel 25-27

Today's passage: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2025-27&version=NIV

Our God is so amazing in the way that he works behind the scenes of our lives. He puts people in our lives for a reason, and in our passage today, we see that David encounters Abigail for a reason.

David showed compassion, restraint and complete trust in the Lord when he did not take vengeance against Saul when he had the opportunity in the cave. But when Nabal refused to share provisions with David and his men, David reacted with anger, vengeance and hostility. He intended to get even, but Abigail’s intervention and words of wisdom reminded David that he did not need “on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself” (1 Samuel 25:31). She reminded him that vengeance was God’s and that God would deal with Nabal.

Abigail responded quickly with humility and discernment. Her response stopped David from committing the horrible crime of shedding innocent blood. In chapter 26, David would have another opportunity to take Saul’s life as he slept. Once again, David refused to lay his hand against Saul, who was anointed by God. It would have been easy for David to rationalize that God had delivered Saul into his hands a second time because he had failed to eliminate him the first time. The Lord had put Saul and his men in a deep sleep and David was able to sneak into the camp and get close enough to Saul to take his water and spear. David could have misunderstood this as a green light from God to take Saul out. Perhaps this is why God put Abigail and Nabal in David’s life – to remind him that vengeance belongs to God so that David would remember to consider Saul’s life precious as the anointed leader of Israel. Perhaps God used Abigail to prepare David’s heart for this second confrontation with Saul.

Abigail is a wonderful example to us as Christian women. She shows great wisdom and discernment in her decision to clean up her husband’s mess. Do you think Abigail failed in her role as a woman to be submissive to her husband? Had she not acted, David would have shed innocent blood and her entire household would have been wiped out, including her husband. These were dire circumstances, and I think it’s safe to say that Abigail honored her husband. She saved him and his entire estate from annihilation. In Proverbs 31, a wife of noble character is described as one who “speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:26-27). In complete humility, she offered to take the blame upon herself in place of her husband, looking out for his best interest and the best interest of her household.

As Christian women we are commanded to submit to our husbands, but we are never to sin in doing so and our actions should bring glory to God. For example, if a man insists that his wife not attend church, the wife would have to choose between obeying God and obeying her husband’s wishes. Submission to man should never override our submission to God’s commands. This applies not only to the husband/wife relationships, but any relationship where we are to submit to authority. This is not however, a free ticket to usurp authority. Our decisions should be prayerfully considered and our actions should be in response to direct leading from God. David refers to Abigail as being sent by the Lord and as having discernment (1 Samuel 25:22-23). Abigail was clearly led by the Lord and was blessed for her obedience.

Has God ever put an Abigail in your life? One who speaks truth and wisdom? One whose words, spoken in truth and love, have prevented you from making a huge mistake. One who prepared you for a situation that you would have handled poorly if not for the echoing of her words in your mind? Keep your eyes open for her (or him) and respond as David did - listen to her wise words and take them to heart!! Feel free to share your experiences on the blog.

Today’s post submitted by Kelly Coxe