Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:2-5
Have you ever read Abigail’s story? Her life is in God’s story as a picture of Christ’s propitiatory (substitutional) sacrifice for sinners. As Christ’s atonement was for our sin, so Abigail saved her people from David’s anger by pre-empting certain bloodshed.
Here is Abigail’s story. I hope you will read it.
Abigail was a wise, lovely, forward thinker. She wasn’t given to indecision and hesitation.
She had a heart for God. Abigail’s name in Hebrew means “Joy of my father.” You can see in her story what an apt description that name is.
It may seem that marrying Nabal was the biggest mistake of her life. However, hers was probably an arranged marriage, as were most Hebrew marriages at the time.
Most importantly, God knows how our stories will unfold. For believers, God has a lovely plan for our lives, even if they seem disastrous for a season.
Nabal’s name means fool. He certainly lived up to that name. He had a reputation for foolish and cruel behavior.
Nabal was wealthy. He owned a lot of land. While David was on the run from Saul, he and his mighty band of men served as an informal security force for the people.
One day, he sent word to Nabal ….
…David sent ten young men instructing them, “Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him in my name. Then say this: ‘Long life to you, and peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that is yours. I hear that you are shearing. When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
1 Samuel 25:4-8
Nabal refused and sent a message back to David…
David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf, and they waited. Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son?
1 Samuel 25:9
But Nabal knew who David was. All of Israel knew David. David was the boy-hero who killed Goliath, the giant of the Philistines.
Nabal’s rejection of David was, in fact, a rejection of God’s man. It was a rejection of God.
And Abigail saved the day…
“Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live—it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.“
1 Samuel 25:26
Not only did Abigail take a risk that she could assuage David’s anger, but she also prevented David from committing a sin against God.
Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed. Today, you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.
1 Samuel 25:32 &33
Many believers in this world pay a high price for serving God. They risk their lives, health, and even their emotional well-being just to honor God. They do that quietly and humbly, by praying for and dealing with difficult people in a godly way.
People who love God simply love to honor Him. They enjoy the peace that loving others with His love brings. The high cost is worth it to every son and daughter of God. His comfort and care are all they need.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Nabal’s End
In the morning, when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. His heart died, and he became a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.
1 Samuel 25:37-38
If you have a personal relationship with God, trust Him to heal your broken relationships and rely on Him to heal your grief with His constant love. And if those relationships can never be healed God is still faithful. He is all you need.
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
