My New Year's resolution in 2007 was to read through the Bible.
In the spring of that year, I was reading 1 Samuel 25 about David and his dealings with this, pardon my French, real jerk, Nabal. I was about 6 months pregnant.
His own servant described him as "such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him." (vs. 17)
By the way, his name means "fool." (vs 25)
As you read chapter 25 (that's my polite suggestion), the story is, Nabal was sheering his sheep in Carmel, as both his servants and David were shepherding flocks in the wilderness nearby. David had protected all of Nabal's people and possessions while they were in the wilderness together, and David sent messengers to him asking for him to provide for them as he came to visit.
Nabal refuses. David gets mad, and is ready to take 400 of his 600 men to attack him.
Abigail, Nabal's wife, "was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance." (vs. 3)
When she heard what her husband had done, without telling him, she "made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys." (vs. 18)
This is why my daughter is named Abigayle.
This woman took this enormous gift to David, and when she saw him, "fell at his feet and said: 'On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!'" (vs. 24)
Then in verse 28, still claiming the fault of her husband as her own, said, "Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant."
David actually thanks her for stopping him from committing bloodshed and avenging himself! He could have just started his vengeance with her!
The ending is the beauty of trusting God.
Ten days later, God struck Nabal and he died.
Abigail marries David.
Abigayle means "joy of the Father."
My prayer for her is that she bring her Heavenly Father great joy. And like Abigail, that she is a woman of noble character, humble and fearless of man.
Jewel means "a precious stone."
I pray she is "chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house... to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:4-5)
Enough said!
MEDITATE ON IT
How would your relationships be impacted by humility such as Abigail's?
What stops you from practicing such humility and character? What are you afraid of?
What would have to change in your relationship with God to be as noble as Abigail?
PRAY ABOUT IT
Father God, what a beautiful picture of inner beauty you give us with Abigail. Make us beautiful, Father. Grow in us a humble spirit, confident in You, not afraid of man, yet willing to bear the burdens of others in purity of heart. Teach us to trust in You to make all these things possible. Forgive us our selfishness, our pride, and our foolishness. Enable us to impact others for the better with such character as Abigail.
LIVE IN IT
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)
"The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way." (Psalm 25:9)
"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21)
