Lessons From Abigail: "A Woman of Good Understanding.."

(I posted this on facebook in October)

I Sam 25, II Sam 2:2; 3:3 and I Chron 3:1

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice….”(I Sam 25:32-33- David’s reaction to Abigail).

Abigail was one of the eight wives of David. But of all of the wives, Abigail was the one that had the greatest influence for good and helped David to remember that he was the anointed one chosen by God in the keeping of the kingdom of Israel.

Abigail first made an impression on David when she was married to a cruel, drunkard of a man named Nabal. David had done much to help Nabal and his men, but when David asked for help in return, Nabal mocked him and refused. Abigail, hearing what has happened is wise enough to know how furious David will be and the horrible consequences that Nabal’s actions will bring to their household. (I Samuel 25:21-22 tells what David had said was going to happen to Nabal and all of his possessions).

With this understanding and with swift thinking Abigail goes to work making huge amounts of food (I Samuel 25:18) for all of David’s men. She sends her servants and she herself gets on a donkey and goes to deliver this food to David. She approaches David and humbly apologizes to him for her husband’s actions, giving God glory in her statement and praising David, that he is the chosen one to lead God’s people. Abigail’s supplication to David can be found in I Samuel 25:24-31.

David was obviously impressed with Abigail; she made a huge impression on him with her words and her actions. He thanks God for sending her and thanks her for advice. Because of Abigail all of her household was spared.

Shortly after Abigail tells Nabal of the foolish thing he did while drunk, Nabal dies. When David hears of Nabal’s death he asks Abigail to be his wife, which she humbly accepts.

Lessons from Abigail (hard to narrow it down, there are so many!).
1.We should not be influenced by the evil around us. Abigail was married to a horrible man (she calls him “foolish and worthless” in her speech to David). Our spouse has more influence on us then anyone in most occasions. But in Abigail’s situation she did not let Nabal’s foolishness influence her to act the same way. Because she was of sober mind she saved their entire household.

We should not let those around us, whether it is friends, family member, or coworkers that act in foolish and ungodly ways influence us to do the same.

2.We should be willing to work hard and do what is necessary. Abigail didn’t think twice about it when she learned what had happened. She went straight to work with her servants, making HUGE amounts of food. She did not complain, she did what needed to be done.

We live in a time where laziness runs ramped! It’s easier to take the easy way out in any given situation then it is to do the work necessary. We should learn from Abigail’s example of hard work and willingness to do what was necessary to make things right between her husband and David.

3.When we have the attitude that we should, when we work hard, and when we give God the glory that he SO deserves, we will be rewarded. Abigail’s hard work and humble attitude paid off in the end. David was so impressed with her. I can almost picture him watching her as she rides off into the distance after delivering all of that food and that impressive speech. And he did not forget her. She no longer had to be married to a horrible man like Nabal, but instead married and bore a son with the great King David.

If we work hard like Abigail and stay vigilant in our Christian walk, we will be rewarded. But most importantly, we have to remember to give God the glory in all that we do!

“I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.” (I Sam 25:28)