1st Samuel 25:2-44 HOLD IT! HOLD IT! When events take place in our lives that affect us personally, it isn't uncommon for us to act in haste as a reaction to our first impression. Or in that situation we may say and do things we will regret later because we didn't get counsel from others. It is the nature of the world to demean and despise the prayers of intercession the Lord's people make when an assembly comes together to pray about events taking place in the world. One of our most important obligations is to "pray for kings and those in authority." The general opinion of the world is to get out and campaign for the person or issue of your choice. To those people your vote is what counts, not your prayers.
Let us remember the church of God has our responsibility to the One who sits on the throne already. He is the One who sets up or puts down those who lead the people and the nations. When God's people pray, we go to the Source of Power and accept the outcome as a divine prerogative. Abigail is a beautiful example of an intercessor who with wisdom and grace makes a difference in the outcome of a matter.
The world like her husband Nabal (fool), is self-centered, conceited, impressed with its own importance and success. Its style is to "work hard and play hard." The impression given by Nabal was that he did everything, he was in control of everything that went on in his domain, and all other people and things were under his authority. He was unreasonable with his servants. He took his fine wife for granted as an earthly potentate would a person of his harem, and he must have thought he deserved the protection David and his men had provided for him day and night. Most people never stop to consider the Source of all their blessings. "The earth is the Lords' and the fullness thereof." Every blade of grass a sheep would eat, the remarkable way every creature has been created by the Lord God, and even they ways our bodies function is a testimony to the fact that we owe "all we are, and have, and hope to be," to God.
Nabal and those like him, do not consider their puny limitations, not do they consider the limitless power and authority of God. Also, it is wise for us to not forget those who make life as we know it possible. Unseen people we will never meet make the social structure of our lives what it is. David and his men were not out in the open and obvious to Nabal and his servants, but their presence nearby was enough of an obstacle to any who would do harm, that his possessions were secure and safe. We should be generous in our support of those who protect us and make it possible for us to prosper and life in peace. The law may not demand us to show kindness to those who enable us to do what we do, and live in peace, and we may think our taxes are all we need to be concerned about. But there is an attitude of appreciation that should be shown toward those who make our lifestyle possible.
Nabal was seen as a "sheep-shearer," not a shepherd. Whenever we read about sheep shearing in the Bible, the scene is dark and evil abounds. The world feasts and "parties" at the "sheep shearing" time because they think they have been successful in themselves and "deserve some relaxation." It is often at the "house of feasting" that the excesses of the flesh take over and normal restrain, respect and dignity is lost under the influence of "wine and spirits." Sheep on the other hand, are seen in scripture as being led to "green pastures" by a caring shepherd. The Lord Jesus was in perfect fellowship with His Father during His life on earth. "I do always those things that please the Father." Also, they are seen as being patient when being sheared by the hands of the sheep-shearer. When He was taken and bound, He was "As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so opened He not His mouth." Sheep are also seen as a sacrifice on the altar. On the cross at Calvary, He was "the Lamb as it had been slain;" "The One sacrifice for sin..." Our Lord Jesus Christ was all of these as well as being the Good Shepherd, who lay down His life for the sheep.
When asked by David's ten men for a portion to meet their needs in payment for the protection they provided, they came in peace and respectfully made the request on behalf of David. Nabal refused to give anything to his protectors and went so far as to insult him and challenge his loyalty to Israel because Saul was hunting him to kill him. The flesh always takes sides with other flesh. The flesh and Spirit are at enmity with each other. There is no way to satisfy both at the same time. The world's way is to maintain the status quo and if any changes are made, they should be changes to please us and give us what we want, not to bring about that which righteous living demands.
The men sent by David came in peace with a reasonable request that was easy to fulfill. However, Nabal did not just refuse their request but "railed on them" and scorned the message of peace they brought. When one "sets his heart" on riches, they are led away to self-satisfaction, rejecting of the grace and goodness of God. When we have been insulted and our good is evil spoken of, or when the attitude of foolish people is such that it makes us out to be fools, we are in danger of acting in the flesh in taking vengeance and retribution. But vengeance is not our right. "Vengeance is Mine," saith the Lord. David's anger at the insults and unfairness of Nabal is understandable from the standpoint of our humanity. But when anger takes control there is serious danger at hand. "Be ye angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath," is a principle we must adhere to. That is a solemn reminder that anger and sin which go easily together, are nearby. To control anger when it arises is a fundamental response of a child of God whose lives in this evil society in which we are challenged to "stand up and fight for your rights." The sinning part was near when David took matters into his own hands, strapped on his sword and took 400 men with him determined to kill every male who belonged in Nabal's household. No wonder the frightened servants hurried to tell Abigail of the foolish words of her husband.
The work of the church is to act with grace and goodness as an intercessor when wrath seems to be righteously called for. Like Abigail, we know "Our Lord is now rejected, and by the world disowned." But now is not the time to insert our opinions and quick temper into the scene. "God is still on the throne," and He will deal with injustice, unfairness and evil in His own time. Abigail knew David was going to be the king. She knew him to be a man who though homeless, rejected and hated by Saul, was the man God was with and had anointed as the future king. He was "bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God." God had securely bound him to live and reign, and his enemies would die.
Abigail was a woman of grace whose name means "The delight of the Father." She is a good Old testament example of the New Testament church. She was a woman of common sense, good understanding and spiritual discernment. She knew God and knew God was with David. She was looking beyond the present events dealing with Nabal and Saul, and looked into the future. So she assumed responsibility of the "present distress" and took the necessary steps to allay the judgment that would fall on the males of her household, and the rash actions of David. When the danger Nabal and the men were in came to her attention, she did not linger but quickly acted to meet the immediate need with wisdom, courage and honesty. In faith she did what she could and then trusted God to cause David to do what was right when she warned him of the consequences of his hasty action.
The present she brought was of greater value and power in every way than the swords David and his 400 men had strapped on to themselves. There is very good typical teaching relating to the different offerings to God in the gifts she brought. In these offerings of grace, and in her humble attitude toward the righteous anger of the avenger, she turned what could have been a fleshly act of a moment into an opportunity for God to accomplish His purposes both in her and David. The grace demonstrated by Abigail triumphs over the darkness of that scene as wisdom, faith and understanding of God, sheds light on the real issues that were at stake.
The paralyzing stroke that stopped Nabal and made his as still as a stone for ten days until he died, reminds us that God holds the key in life and death matters. The grace of Abigail brought blessing to her and through her to David. When dealing with difficult issues, especially in a family, patiently wait until the time is right, ask God for wisdom and accept His guidance. Then when the time comes for confrontation regarding sensitive matters, we will have the mind of God.