The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 25:32-33,
"David said to Abigail, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.'"
David and his band had kept a wealthy man's servants and livestock safe in the area of Carmel when he had moved down to the Desert of Paran. (The man's name was Nabal, which means fool.) Later, David sent men when he heard Nabal was shearing his sheep, to ask for food for his men. We are told that Nabal was a surly man and was mean in his dealings with others, and when David's men approached him to ask for some sustenance, he responded badly. Upon hearing about it, David had his men saddle up to go kill all the men of Nabal's household.
Nabal's wife, Abigail, heard about it, and without informing Nabal, loaded up food on donkeys and raced out to meet David on his way coming to destroy Nabal. She apologized to him, recognizing her husband as a fool, and provided the food to David as a gift. David relented, Abigail returned home, eventually telling Nabal about it. Upon hearing of it, we are told Nabal's heart failed him and he died about ten days later. Afterward David sent for Abigail and made her his wife.
Over the years I have read various Bible study materials that reference Abigail.
In some materials she is envisioned as a bad wife who had betrayed her husband, resulting in herself becoming a widow. Further, she wound up becoming one of the many wives David had, which, from all accounts, being married to David was not necessarily a blessing, but quite the opposite. She was anything but what Peter observed of Abraham's wife, Sarah, "For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." 1 Peter 3:5-6.
In other Bible study materials, however, Abigail is seen as a wise woman, reminiscent of a "Proverbs 31 woman". Resourceful, protecting her family, and, in a fairy tale ending, becoming the king's wife and providing him sons. Additionally, her acts that led to Nabal's death delivered her from a surly and mean husband.
"David said to Abigail, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.'"
David and his band had kept a wealthy man's servants and livestock safe in the area of Carmel when he had moved down to the Desert of Paran. (The man's name was Nabal, which means fool.) Later, David sent men when he heard Nabal was shearing his sheep, to ask for food for his men. We are told that Nabal was a surly man and was mean in his dealings with others, and when David's men approached him to ask for some sustenance, he responded badly. Upon hearing about it, David had his men saddle up to go kill all the men of Nabal's household.
Nabal's wife, Abigail, heard about it, and without informing Nabal, loaded up food on donkeys and raced out to meet David on his way coming to destroy Nabal. She apologized to him, recognizing her husband as a fool, and provided the food to David as a gift. David relented, Abigail returned home, eventually telling Nabal about it. Upon hearing of it, we are told Nabal's heart failed him and he died about ten days later. Afterward David sent for Abigail and made her his wife.
Over the years I have read various Bible study materials that reference Abigail.
In some materials she is envisioned as a bad wife who had betrayed her husband, resulting in herself becoming a widow. Further, she wound up becoming one of the many wives David had, which, from all accounts, being married to David was not necessarily a blessing, but quite the opposite. She was anything but what Peter observed of Abraham's wife, Sarah, "For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." 1 Peter 3:5-6.
In other Bible study materials, however, Abigail is seen as a wise woman, reminiscent of a "Proverbs 31 woman". Resourceful, protecting her family, and, in a fairy tale ending, becoming the king's wife and providing him sons. Additionally, her acts that led to Nabal's death delivered her from a surly and mean husband.
Which is it? Is the account of Abigail one of a woman who did the godly thing, the right thing and thereby reaped God's reward? Or, is the account one of a flawed woman who brought death to her husband as she conspired behind his back?
I don't believe the account was provided us for the reasons of character study primarily. Certainly, it can be used to illustrate character traits within the choices women make... either way. But the story is the account of David and the circumstances of how he acquired one of his wives. It provides the detail and background of a bit of the genealogy surrounding the family of David. It also shows us how quick David was to shed blood, something that would keep him from building the temple for God in Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 28:3.
For me, in this narrative, of the three main characters, David, Nabal and Abigail, it is Abigail I find the most fascinating, the one with greatest character. I do have to note, though, that it is from the larger perspective of all of the Scriptures we find David to be a great man of faith, the one through whom the genealogy of Jesus Christ would pass through, a man after God's own heart. A flawed man to be sure, just as the rest of us, but a man who served God's purposes well.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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