Did You Know? - Pt. 6

And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.” (1 Samuel 25:32-35 ESV).

 

The story of Abigail is truly amazing. You can find the full context of the story in 1 Samuel 25, from which our reading today also comes. The Bible describes her as “an intelligent and beautiful woman” (v. 3). Unfortunately, she was married to a wicked, greedy man named Nabal, a homesteader who made his living raising sheep. The Bible describes him as “surly and mean in his dealings” (v. 3). When David was hiding from Saul, he and his men encountered Nabal’s flocks and shepherds. David and his men decided to help them by providing protection from wild animals and thieves (vv. 15-16). When shearing time came, David sent a message to Nabal, asking if he’d send over a few legs of lamb in gratitude for their protection. Nabal refused and drove David’s men away with threats and insults. sent David’s messengers packing, hurling insults at them. When they gave their report to David he was incensed and mustered his troops and prepared to destroy Nabal and his household (vv. 20-21).

 

And this is where we meet Abigail. Quick thinking and resourceful, she piled bread, meat, and raisin cakes onto donkeys and headed out to meet David. When she saw him, she dismounted and bowed her face to the ground. She affirmed David’s calling as future king, begged forgiveness for her husband’s folly, and pleaded with him to spare her people. David accepted her eloquent and humble plea and received the food she brought. Ten days later, God struck Nabal dead. When David heard of Nabal’s demise, he wasted no time and promptly asked Abigail to marry him. 

 

We can learn something incredible from this story: God will fight for us; we are never alone (vv. 32-33). God fought for Abigail, just as He so faithfully fights for us still today. He did not leave her on her own, but gave her great favor in the sight of David. God took care of Abigail and the story goes on to say that when David learned that Nabal had died he showed honor to her by taking care of her, and the Lord faithfully provided for her and all her household, because of the courage and wisdom she portrayed. She became one of only seven prophetesses in the Scripture.