1Samuel 25:2-42, “Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself”
What do you do when someone else mistakes is destined to affect you? Should you sit and wait for it or do something when there is still an opportunity? I’ve learned as I hope you too have learned, It’s not over until it’s over. When Abigail heard from one of the servants of how Nabal her husband treated David and his men and perishing awaited them, she knew it’s was not over until it’s over. She made good food, sent it ahead of her while coming behind to plead her case (response and words) to David. She is teaching us something that no matter how tough situation are and no matter what judgment has been passed, before it becomes effective, there is still an opportunity to do something, intercede. If the door is still open, you have an opportunity to walk through it. Esther risked her life to go to the king though she understood that she could perish. For the sake of her people, she said I will go, if I perish, let me perish but at least I made a move. Abigail was not too quick to throw in the towel, what a quality.
vs. 23, “Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground”, I wonder how some women would have handled themselves, some would have started a quarrel, yelling abuses, screaming, call him names but we see humility in her part. vs. 24, “So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be…Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal“. She had a chance to smear her husband because of who he is. She had done nothing wrong yet willing to take the blame for the sake of her household. She had every stone in her hands to throw at her husband, she chose to throw none. She says, “It’s me who has sinned but don’t hold anything against him for that is his nature”. She is not seeking opportunities to leave him but seeking opportunities to protect him. She has a chance to do him evil, her character shines beyond that. Trials reveal your true character. How many would look for reasons to leave their spouses during trials? One Christian woman told me how she wished her husband would cheat on her so that she can have a reason to divorce him because they were in a trial.
This is what Paul says in 1Corinthians 7:13&14, “And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,” if you are already married to the unsaved, you never know your act of kindness could one day be a reason for him to be saved. To add to it, who knows if it were not for your presence in his life, his condition could be worse than the current. He has a covering because you are there. You may not see it but God does. Abigail was willing to sanctify for the sake of her household even if it meant not having her way but the Lord knew she was better than what she was dealing with at home with her husband.
Read Vs. 25-31 and see her reasoning and advise, vs. 29, “ Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling”. Her advice stopped David from doing harm not just to her family but also to himself. Saul was pursuing David to kill him, and while David had opportunities to kill Saul, he left him in the hands of God. He knew he was next king but the timing was in God’s hands and anything stupid he would have done would be outside God’s will would only jeopardize his destiny. So if the Lord was handling all his enemies, could he not trust the Lord enough with Nabal’s case? Instead of stepping in to get rid of Nabal, he lives him in the hands of God an advice Abigail gave him. She was also letting him know that his blessings were not coming through what he does with his hands but how obedient he is to God. David was being reminded that what the Lord has started, He will accomplish it without the enemy terminating it. I would say, behind every successful man, there is a virtuous woman encouraging him to do good, bringing out his strengths and qualities, and giving him godly advises because she desires for him to succeed. I found out that under pressure or anger, men are quick to retaliate, causing more harm or making a situation even worse. Thank God for our wives who calm us down. Through Abigail, God constrained David from killing Nabal because just like he had an opportunity to kill Saul, he respected his position instead. I think it’s good at times to be reminded of what you stand for when overwhelming situations want you to do things that are contrary to your life style (character).
Is Abigail blessed? I believe she is from reading her story. She may not know or feel blessed but she is. I can picture God rejoicing, (the meaning of her name) over her daughter standing strong in the midst of situations that have destroyed other women and using her to save lives. You may be dealing with tough situations like Abigail and feeling crushed under the weight situations, can you pause for a second and draw strength to recognize you are blessed in spite of? Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 