Women of the Bible Series: Abigail

Women of the Bible Series

Abigail (I Samuel 25:3)

I Samuel 25:3, “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.”

There are many people in the Bible that will win your heart through their godly characteristics. In I Samuel 25, we see the life of Abigail, a beautiful woman who displayed wisdom and humility. As you study her life experiences, try to find ways to relate her life lessons to your own situation today. Let’s face it, in life we will have to deal with difficult people. You are called to bear with difficult people who can sometimes create trying circumstances for you. Your walk with Christ can thrive despite the chaos around you.

Abigail was a wise woman of good understanding and who knew God, and therefore, knew how to live with an unpleasant and ill-natured man. Abigail was a wise woman not to try to forcibly mold her husband into a better man. Peter instructed, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear” (I Peter 3:1-2).

Trying to change other people, such as co-workers, friends, and family is no less uncertain. We can encourage, share Scripture, pray for, and be an example to others, but only God can transform their hearts. Abigail knew she couldn’t convince her husband to act honorably toward David, but she knew that she could choose to do what would mend the wound of David and honor the Lord. Life may have dealt you this kind of circumstance. I'm speaking of the kind of circumstance that you would have never chosen intentionally. So often we must deal with circumstances that come into our lives uninvited. Learn from Abigail that whatever is over your head—is under His feet.

In I Samuel 25:7, 16 we see that David had protected Nabal’s shepherds and was now asking for a reasonable favor in return: that Nabal would give them provisions when they arrived. Nabal was rich, and so it certainly would not have been any trouble for him to comply, but instead of being wise and generous, he chose to be stingy, which only provoked David to fight. When her husband refused to help David, Abigail intervened by taking the blame and supplying David’s need for food. Gathering an army of 400 men, David set out to destroy Nabal’s household, and had it not been for the wisdom of one woman, he would have. Abigail’s wisdom kept herself and many innocent people from being killed, because of her husband’s foolishness. Abigail demonstrated her good understanding though she remained faithful to Nabal till his death taking supplies to help God’s anointed and eventually marrying David.

God desires that we pursue close relationships with people who will encourage us on our journey for Christ, but some relationships are thrust upon us, and perhaps in Abigail’s case, a hot-headed, difficult, and stubborn husband. While we have the right to make our own choices, we will be held accountable for those decisions. We do not get to choose our consequences. Pride will escalate a conflict, but humility can bring healing to the rift in a relationship. Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Abigail’s wise summation and humble approach caused David to take pause and consider her counsel to avoid bloodshed. Proverbs 29:23, “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Though Abigail was the one caught between a rock and a hard place, we see her courage and compassion as she bowed herself to the ground before David, interceding for her husband. David thanked God for her, called her blessed, and gladly conceded her counsel had kept him from losing his head as he was about to take the head of Nabal. Godly wisdom displays itself through godly activity accredited to God’s work through us.

Through Abigail’s example, we see the cycle of wisdom in action:
1. She recognized that David was a godly man (I Samuel 25:18-20). Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

2. Abigail avoided conflict (I Samuel 25:18-20). Proverbs 14:16, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.”

3. Abigail acted wisely to resolve the problem (I Samuel 25:18-24).
Proverbs 29:11, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”
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Points to Ponder:

• God can remove the biggest obstacle in your life.
  • Godly people can inspire others to honor God and to follow Christ.

· Your walk with Christ can thrive despite the chaos around you.
· You are called to bear with difficult people who can sometimes create trying circumstances for you.

• Allow God to love everyone through you, especially difficult people.
• Spend time praying about how God can help you with humility and resist the temptation to create conflicts.
• It is considerably easier to deal with the difficult people in our life when we are in the right fellowship with the Lord.

Questions to Consider:

• Has there been a time when you said too much from venting your feelings?
• In what ways has the Lord helped you in holding your tongue from those who have wronged you?
• Has there been a time in which you were quick to judge someone before you had all the facts?
• In what settings do you find it the most difficult to be a godly influence.
• In what ways has the lessons from Abigail helped you handle conflicts with difficult people?
• What is God doing in your life to help you be more obedient to His Word or more trusting of His ways?
• How has this lesson helped you concerning taking matters into your own hands and not allowing God to do what only He can do?

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the "Abigails" who are sensitive enough to You that they can be used as Your vessel to speak to Your servants and for Your service. Thank You for the wisdom of the people found in Your Word that I can also be sensitive to Your leading in my life and be used in ways to promote your kingdom work. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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