1 Samuel 25:32 – 44 “Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”
Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”
When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So, she told him nothing until morning light.
In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.
On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.”
Then David sent word to Abigail, asking for her in marriage. When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”
She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
So, Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.
David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So, she and Abigail were both his wives. But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.”
Abigail has saved her household from destruction by her humility. David gladly receives Abigail’s presents and sends her home successful. Meanwhile, Nabal is holding a drunken orgy. The next morning, Abigail informs Nabal of David’s threat and how she has forestalled it. Nabal’s heart fails, and he “becomes like a stone,” perhaps suffering a stroke. Ten days later, Nabal dies.
When David learns that Nabal has died, he thanks the Lord that he has not taken revenge on Nabal. Now God has struck Nabal, and David’s hands are clean. David’s next act is to send for Abigail, proposing marriage. Why did Abigail marry Nabal in the first place? In an age when single women were at extreme risk for all kinds of attack, Abigail’s only option was to marry. It’s quite possible that Abigail’s parents arranged that marriage with Nabal, happy to marry off their daughter to a rich man and to collect a large dowry. Abigail probably had no say in the matter and could only hope that she would survive. From the respect the household gives Abigail, it is obvious that she is a woman of exceptional character. David recognizes this fact and proposes marriage, even though he already has one wife. Polygamy is relatively common, and David is no exception. (Is it possible that David was the son of a less – favorite wife? Was that the reason that Jesse sent David out to herd sheep?)
Abigail has already suffered as the wife of a rich and arrogant fool Now she has the chance to become a wife to the future king of Israel, a kind, brave, and honorable man. Little wonder that Abigail immediately tells David’s messengers that she agrees and mounts her donkey, accompanied by five of her maidens, leaving Nabal’s household behind. Even if Abigail winds up as a junior wife, her life with David will be far better than life with Nabal.
APPLICATION: Signs on many shops and tro-tros in Ghana read “God’s Time is the Best.” While this is a true statement, many of us get impatient and fed up with God. A sign I saw in someone’s office several years ago read, “Dear Lord, I want patience, AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!!!”
Many times, we feel that we must take matters into our own hands when someone wrongs us. We are sure that if we can just force a little, we can pay back those who have hurt us. But only God knows all the details. Only God knows the circumstances surrounding those who have offended us, and only God knows the human heart. David was deeply offended by Nabal and was fully prepared to wipe out every male in the household. Only Abigail’s timely intervention saved David from making a tragic mistake.
How many years did Abigail spend married to Nabal? If Nabal was that stingy with David, he likely was equally stingy with Abigail. Nabal was probably the kind of guy who doled out housekeeping money in the smallest coins available. While Nabal swaggered around the community, his domestic staff knew to stay out of his way as much as possible and appeal to Abigail for protection when necessary. If Abigail’s parents were alive, they had probably already spent the dowry money and were unwilling to intervene between Abigail and Nabal. All that Abigail could do was to suffer in silence and to try to be the best wife she could under the circumstances.
God used what could have been a tragedy to deliver David from the consequences of a hasty decision. But at the same time, God also delivered Abigail from a loveless and bleak existence as the wife of a short – tempered miser.
The lesson for us is this: Pray before you act. Step back and allow God to move. You won’t regret it.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You to sort out the people who offend us. Help us to pray before we act and then to pray again. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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