ABIGAIL


A. "THERE WAS A MAN IN NAON, WHOSE POSSESSIONS WERE IN CARMEL; AND THE MAN WAS VERY GREAT. . .NOW THE NAME OF THE MAN WAS NABAL; AND THE NAME OF HIS WIFE ABIGAIL; AND SHE WAS A WOMAN OF GOOD UNDERSTANDING, AND OF A BEAUTIFUL COUNTENANCE; BUT THE MAN WAS CHURLISH AND EVIL IN HIS DOINGS; AND HE WAS OF THE HOUSE OF CALEB" - I SAM. 25:2-3
  1. The story of Abigail and her husband, Nabal, are of special interest in the study of David who was in flight before King Saul:
    1. David had about 600 refugees with him, who were dependent upon the provisions they could obtain from wealthy men like Nabal
    2. Nabal had a lot of sheep and goats in the area, and David and his men served as a shield to them against thieves who preyed upon the property of others
  2. David, knowing the situation sent ten young men to Nabal:
    1. To ask Nabal for some aid for David and his company
    2. But Nabal scoffed at the appeal; sent them away empty handed
    3. The news of this disappointment made David very angry and he vowed to take revenge on Nabal and all he had
B. IT IS AT THIS JUNCTURE WHERE THE HISTORY OF ABIGAIL BEGINS
  1. Background to the story of Abigail:
    1. Her name - the word Abigail means "Father of joy, or cause of joy"
    2. Family connections: the Bible does not give us any clue as to Abigail's family connections. Abigail's wise conduct seems to indicate that she comes from a family with high and noble principles
  2. The three conspicuous characters in the story of one of the loveliest females in the Bible are:
    1. Nabal - churlish and evil in his doings - I Sam. 25:3; he actually was a drunkard and an infidel; he was unmanageable and stubborn and ill-tempered but wealthy
    2. Abigail was beautiful and of good sound judgment. One wonders how Nabal ever got her to be his wife
    3. David, the son of Jesse, the man who fought the battles of the Lord; the anointed King of Israel as yet a refugee from the wrath of the insane King Saul
C. THE LESSON WE GATHER FROM THE STORY OF ABIGAIL
  1. Abigail was a woman of the hour:
    1. When Nabal's refusal to give aid to David and his men, enraged David, who vowed to destroy Nabal and all he had
    2. Abigail saved the day and with it the lives including her own, and Nabal's and his household
    3. She knew the folly of her husband and hastened to appease David - both with good words and provisions
  2. Events that followed Abigail's wise move:
    1. David was appeased and was glad for it lest he should have shed innocent blood - I Sam. 25:32-39
    2. This reminds us of the words of our Lord, "Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God" - Matt. 5:9
    3. The move of Abigail to make atonement for the rash treatment Nabal gave to David's request saved David from doing revenge when the Lord says, "vengeance is mine, I will repay" - Rom. 12:19
  3. In a certain sense, Abigail represented our blessed Lord in the role of mediator:
    1. We all were the children of wrath in the sight of God; but the Son of God stepped into the breach - as Moses did - Ps. 106:23; Is. 53:1-12; I John 2:1-3
    2. What the church and the world need in our day is more men and women that are wise enough to step into the breach made by sin
  4. The reward for Abigail's foresight and prudence:
    1. She saved the family
    2. She became the wife of King David
    3. And her memory will live forever in the minds of people that appreciate prudence and the ability to pacify in the hour of trouble
    4. For Abigail, I am confident, became one of King David's wise counselors from that time on
    5. But Nabal was taken care of by the Lord who will give unto every man as his deeds shall be - I Sam. 25:36-38


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