Abigail
Open Your Bible
1 Samuel 25:1-44, Proverbs 15:1-4
BY Kaitie Stoddard
Scrolling through social media, you’re likely to see posts with comment threads a mile long. If you dare to unfold those threads, they’re often divisive and negative. The distance created by an online world makes it easier for tempers to flare and harsh words to be thrown like daggers. I find myself wanting to retreat from social media for this very reason. When we sense danger, many of us have a tendency either to jump into the fight or to take flight. But the story of Abigail offers us a third and better way to respond.
It couldn’t have been easy for the “intelligent and beautiful” Abigail to be married to Nabal (1 Samuel 25:3). He was a foolish and harsh man, and when David sent his young men to him for provisions, Nabal almost incited a war. Nabal’s lack of generosity sparked David’s temper, and David began planning his retaliation.
Once Abigail heard what was going on, she took action—but not to join in the fight or to run for cover. While her husband had been unnecessarily loud and offensive and David was quick to seek revenge, Abigail was a swift peacemaker. With David organizing his army and calling for blood, others may have assumed a battle was inevitable. But Abigail still had hope that things could be resolved peacefully. With wisdom, she discerned how to repair an extremely heated situation. Abigail approached David with humility and generosity, and was able to bring healing to a gaping wound caused by her husband’s foolishness.
Abigail helped bring peace to two men, thus saving many lives from death and destruction. Jesus praised peacemaking saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9, NIV). Not only did Jesus value the virtue of peacemaking, but He embodied it. He chose to lay down His life in order to offer true and everlasting peace to all people through His death and resurrection.
The way Abigail responded is beautiful because it mirrors the heart of God. Scripture tells us that the new heavens and new earth will be a place with no need for weapons or war (Isaiah 2:4). In a divided and conflicted world, we are called to be agents of peace. Just as Abigail could have easily given up hope, it can be tempting for us to think the problems in our society are unsolvable. But Christ has can bring peace to the darkest situations. Our God can breathe life into the driest of bones. Instead of fighting or retreating, let’s respond to conflict around us with discernment and generosity in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then our actions of peace will be a witness to the heart of our loving Creator.
26 thoughts on "Abigail"
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Lovely words Ladies. Love Abigail’s wisdom and honor. The Holy Spirit gives us insight like this and guides us to act toward the Lord’s will and way. I join your prayer Angie, may I be like Abigail. Joy to your day ladies. Our God is faithful and loves you beyond measure.
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Loved this devotion! Such a beautiful reminder that our actions are not dependent on others’ actions–not even our husbands’. We are called to have hearts that follow and immitate Jesus even if we are the only Christ followers on our family. It’s hard not to let the heart conditions of those closest to us shape our own, for better or worse! Great example of faithfulness even when circumstances are not what we would choose.
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May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed ladies.
Loved this reading.
Loved the thoughts shared by each of you.Lord, help me to be an Abigail.
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I am struck by how very aware Abigail was about not only her husband whose selfish and harsh demeanor she knew well, but she also knew David. She brings up “slingshots and stones” and she knew he was being pursued by someone who wanted to kill him. That is in such sharp contrast to Nabal’s response of “who is Jesse’s son?” Even though we belong to another world and another King, God gives us eyes to see the people in his world and to know them and their hearts. Abigail was aware of the world she was living in and the circumstances around her, and she allowed the attributes of God—not man— goodness, kindness, gentleness, wisdom, generosity to guide her response to the situation. I sense God reminding me that He does not want me sticking my head in the sand and just trusting Him for His inevitable promises but to be aware of the circumstances of those around me and trust His Holy Spirit to lead me by faith in the same kindness, gentleness, goodness, generosity and to react in His perfect wisdom to share His peace, hope, truth and love with others. May I be strengthened by Abigail’s example and reminded of God’s hand in her life.
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Such a great word Shawn – thanks for sharing. May the Holy Spirit give us the wisdom and discernment to truly see what is going on around us and to respond accordingly.
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Amen!
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Tricia Cavanaugh, my thoughts exactly!! Thank you for sharing!!! To God be all the Glory!!!
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A request for hospitality descended into a perfect storm of conflict. Nabal was self-centered (“my bread, my water, my meat, my shearers”). David was reactionary (“All of you, put on your swords!). Abigail desired the greater good. She kept a cool head before two hot-headed men. She cautions David against needless bloodshed in the name of revenge. She reminds David that he has a higher calling to consider. Her willingness to humble herself and yet speak boldly results in a peaceful resolution.
Oh, that I would restrain my own emotions in my times of conflict. Oh, that I would humble myself and seek how the Lord would best have me respond. In all situations, might the greater good be the greater goal.
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Good morning! I enjoyed this reading of Abigail. Even though her husband was mean she still did the right thing in Gods eyes, not only that she showed faithfulness to her husband. I feel we all need to be a Abigale and not give up because something is hard pray about it and still do good things despite our circumstances.
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Good morning all! I had another take on this today. When I read how David opted not to kill Nabal after speaking with Abigail, and listening to her, but then Nabal died anyways, it reminded me that if we let God be in control and make the decisions, He will in His time, take care of the situation.
I am so grateful that I can give my issues to the Lord and know that He will handle the situation it give me the appropriate direction. That’s better than me trying to figure it out myself and doing something rash.
Blessed Wednesday Sisters!-
That’s such a great takeaway from this reading. Thank you for sharing.
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The revenge is the Lord’s! David let God deal with Nabal!
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Yes!!! Great take Tricia! Thanks for sharing
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I so much agree with this myself. I’ve been in situations where I’ve had to step back, let go, and let God take care of it. I have often told myself God can take better care of it than I can.
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Amen!
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Let go and let God!
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Abigail was a peacemaker and she wasn’t passive. She followed the Lord and didn’t let herself get washed away with her husbands sinfulness. Truly encouraging biblical femininity at its finest. I struggle with discerning between peacemaking actions and being passive. What are the actions of a strong, wise, peacemaker in today’s world? Being a woman in medicine and wife to a lukewarm Christian, I’m faced with a lot of wrong doing. I’m always in need of role models that show me biblical strength.
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