48 Virtuous Abigail – Part 2

1 Samuel 25 presents us with the ultimate in opposites attracting, as we see the divergent characters of Nabal and his wife Abigail.

Nabal had not only refused to give some of David’s men a few lambs for an upcoming sacrifice, he refused to do so even though those men had protected his herdsmen and flocks the entire time they had used the outskirts of the wilderness for grazing land. In addition, Nabal disparaged David and his father Jesse.

When David’s men advised him about Nabal’s reaction and words, David ordered the to gird themselves for battle, as it was his intent to attack and kill Nabal and all males living in his household.

Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants advised Abigail about the goings on, and after receiving the information, she enacted a plan, which she hoped would spare her husband’s life.

After preparing food and gathering sheep for David’s men to offer as sacrifices, Abigail and her servants started toward the wilderness area where David and his men were encamped.

At the same time, David and 400 of his men were headed toward Nabal’s home to fulfill David’s plan to kill him.

1 David’s Plan for Retribution

1 Samuel 25:21-22

David felt he had been disrespected by Nabal, which caused him to become incensed. Unfortunately, he felt justified in those feelings, because his men had protected Nabal’s herdsmen and flocks, without ever asking for anything in return. Now, all David was asking of the very wealthy Nabal, was just a few sheep for his men to offer as sacrifices at the upcoming fest in Carmel.

David believed that Nabal was repaying with “evil” for all the good his men had performed.

Yet, it must be noted, that while Nabal spoke dismissively regarding David, the man had not attempted any physical harm, nor had he ever threatened David.

Rather, David had overreacted, and was acting in the flesh. Yet in verse 22, David is seen as justifying his actions:

1 Samuel 25:22

David not only wanted to exact vengeance upon Nabal, but upon every male living within his household (which would have included possible family members and servants).

Therefore, David was acting out of the sinfulness of his heart. Years later, after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and even had her husband (one of his generals) killed, he wrote the following, after having repented:

Psalm 51:10

As we see from the next passages, David wasn’t alone in desiring to see a plan come to fruition:

2 Abigail’s Plan for Rescue

After having been advised of David’s plan to kill Nabal, Abigail developed and quickly implemented a plan of her own, to provide necessary food, and animals for David’s men to offer in sacrifice. This was all to prevent him from killing her husband and others in their home.

Once all the food had been prepared, she and her servants heading toward the wilderness area where David and his men were encamped:

1 Samuel 25:23-31

In this first interaction between Abigail and David, we see her acting completely opposite from the manner in which her husband had treated David’s men.

Whereas Nabal verbally disrespected David and his father Jesse, Abigail went out of her way to show him an abundance of respect. That itself would have been unusual, since David was no longer one of Saul’s trusted military leaders, and as seen from the comments Nabal had made, it was now common knowledge that David had been separated from the king.

This is yet another example of Abigail’s great wisdom. She knew how angry he’d become because of Nabal’s words; therefore, she sought a much different approach.

Rather than showing that she was a woman of privilege (which she was), Abigail prostrated herself before David, talking on the role of a maidservant rather than a mistress.

Nabal had looked upon David as a common shepherd who’d run away from his master (Saul), but Abigail viewed him as the man God had chosen to be the next king of Israel.

Thus, some commentators have suggested, that Abigail was the first Israelite to give David kingly honor, long-before he would become monarch.

After humbling herself before David, Abigail then stated that she should bear the responsibility for her husband’s actions.

She suggested that David not give any further consideration to Nabal’s words, since he was so aptly named, since Nabal means “scoundrel.”

However, she did allow that she had not been aware of the conversation between David’s men and her husband and inferred that she was also unaware of the protection arrangement which had taken place between them and Nabal’s herdsmen.

However, she proved her character, by the gifts she had brought once she was made aware of everything.

In verse 26, Abigail then showed great spiritual awareness, which obviously her husband lacked, by which even David wasn’t displaying at this time:

1 Samuel 25:26

From the earliest accounts of David in First Samuel, he was shown as someone who inquired of the Lord and didn’t act impulsively or in his own strength. Yet, that is exactly what he was about to do here. Abigail understood that the Lord was using her, and this incident to keep David from sinning terribly. To this point he had not shed innocent blood, and the Lord was using her to keep David from doing so.

This shows how the Lord make use others to keep His children from sin.

While this frequently comes about through intercessory prayer, it may happen through more direct manners as well.

Next, Abigail continued displaying Godly wisdom, as she spoke of how the efforts of David’s enemies would be met with futility, and those enemies would include her husband Nabal.

In verse 27, Abigail then mentioned the presents (the food items) she’d brought, and stated they were for David’s men. In this, Abigail was showing that she was complying with the request that was made to Nabal, thus eliminating any cause for David to exact retribution.

Abigail was therefore showing that she understood the spirit in which the request had been made, and that she willingly complied.

Then in verse 28, Abigail apologized on behalf of her husband. She looked upon her husband’s trespass as her own, even though she didn’t have any knowledge of what had transpired.

She also reminded David that God was using him to fight the Lord’s battles, and therefore he shouldn’t be involved in evil doings:

1 Samuel 28b-c

Abigail was therefore reminding David, that his life belonged to the Lord, and as His instrument, he was to be involved in the Lord’s battles.

The Lord would deal with David’s enemies in God’s time, and in His way.

In verse 29 she spoke of someone who was seeking his life, which would have been referring to Saul. But she included that his life would be safe, once again showing that God would protect David.

The same is true for all believers, as we are under the Lord’s protection, and shouldn’t be in fear of anything, or anyone:

Romans 8:31

At the end of verse 29, Abigail made an ironic statement, when she related his enemies as be flung from “the pocket of a sling”. The irony of course, was due to the fact, that she was speaking to David, who as a teenager had slew the Philistine giant Goliath with only his sling and one smooth stone.

In verses 30 and 31, Abigail showed that she was aware of God’s promise that David would become the next king.

Yet, the Lord desired for David to first be a faithful “civilian” servant, before he would then serve as Israel’s king.

This presents a wonderful example for us as well, since the Lord desires that we prove faithful in the smaller things before He gives us more to do.