Abigail (2)

Thursday September 16, 2021

Abigail (2)

When Abigail saw David... Now, my lord, as true as the Lord lives and your soul is alive, it is the Lord who has kept you from shedding blood and who has withheld your hand. May your enemies, and those who wish harm to my lord, be like Nabal ! 1 Samuel 25:23, 26

Nabal's refusal to show gratitude to David for his protection is Abigail's opportunity to exercise his common sense :

She acts with discernment and resolution. As soon as she learns of her husband's behavior, she sees the possible consequences and does not hesitate to intervene. She draws on the preparations for the feast prepared by Nabal for the end of the shearing of his sheep and goes herself to David.

She shows a great moral sense. She explains to David that he must not take justice into his own hands and shed blood for revenge. It is such a rare notion at the time that David seems to have ignored it, or at least forgotten it (v. 26).

She also has the knowledge of God’s plan for David and the faith that the Lord will fulfill what he has promised.

She is aware of her duties as a wife towards the head of the family : she gives him an account of her approach as soon as he is able to listen to her.

She finally shows great humility by saying she is ready to take a place of servant to David's servants.

Do these qualities characterize us, the redeemed of the Lord who have received a Spirit of sober common sense (2 Timothy 1:7) ?

- discernment of the service that God entrusts to us and great resolve to act without fear of the adversary.

- moral sense enlightened by the Word of God on what a child of God should or should not do to stay in harmony with the thoughts of God.

- knowledge of God's plan of grace and assurance that he will bring it to a successful end.

- practical justice : to assume each of our social relations as it is appropriate before God (Ephesians 5:22 to 6.9).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)