David and Abigail

I'm reading through the Bible in a year for 2011.  I took a friend's suggestion to have the daily passage sent to my email through oneyearbibleonline.com.  I'm happy to report that I have not missed a day with this method!  That may just be a sad statement on how much time I spend on my computer, but at least I'm reading the Bible!

Today's passage included the story of David and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25.  I think this is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.  For those not familiar, here's a quick recap.

David and his army of outcasts from Israel are hiding from King Saul in the wilderness.  They're hungry and so they send a request to Nabal, a rich man shearing his sheep, to let them share in the time of feasting which accompanies the sheep-shearing. They consider this a return of a good deed, since they protected Nabal's shepherds and flocks from marauders while they were grazing near their hideout.

Nabal refuses, insulting David and his men in the process.  David becomes angry and sets out with 400 of his men to take revenge and wipe out Nabal and every male who works for him.

Meanwhile, Nabal's shepherds who overheard the exchange, tell Nabal's wife, Abigail, what happened and implore her to do something to avert disaster.  She wisely loads up donkeys with provisions and gifts and heads out herself to intercept David. When she encounters him on the way to their estate, she bows at his feet, saying:

“Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The LORD your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the LORD’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. When the LORD has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.” 

Abigail spoke with respect and with wisdom.  She knew David would regret this revengeful action if he carried it out.  She skillfully turned his attention back to the LORD and his purpose for David's life without causing offense. She also expressed faith in God's word that David would someday be king, even though the circumstances didn't look like it at the time.  She was God's instrument to turn David away from a wrongful action and David recognized it. 

I am impressed with her character, her faith in a difficult circumstance, and her skillful appeal to the future king.  Lord, grant me the grace to be like Abigail.