Women of the Bible: Lessons from Abigail
This weekend I got to thinking that I want to get into more Bible studies. Not just Bible reading, but some serious sit-down-and-dig-into-scripture studies. I'm always refreshed when I'm learning, and I especially love the fact that I can share some of the things that I'm gleaning with you.
And so I've decided to not only draw from the studies I've done in the past, but to also dig deep into scripture to see what we can learn from these women of the Bible.
This week I'm going to share a few of them with you, starting today with the story of David and Abigail. What can we learn from her? How can we apply it to our marriage? What is God asking of me?
What I see when I look at this women is a girl who was lead by wisdom and strength.
Did you know that "wisdom" is mentioned about 45 times (depending on the version) in the book of Proverbs alone.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.When God sends a message that clearly, I sit up and take note. “What now, Lord?” I ponder. “How can I apply wisdom to my marriage?”
~ Proverbs 4:5-7, NIV
Looking to the Greek translation for clarification on wisdom, we find “sophia,” which is why we see words like philosophy, a combination of “philo” (brotherly love) and “sofia.” It's more than knowledge--it's the ability to use that knowledge with good judgement.
“What are you telling me, Lord?”
In silent reverence I wait until I feel His guidance lead through a whisper, “Seek me until My truth is living, moving, and breathing in your home; until the righteousness of my Word is coupled with each step you take; and until My wisdom exceeds your desire. That’s what you’re called to do.”
Looking to His word for example I find Abigail in 1 Samuel chapter 25. Abigail was the wife of Nabal, and while she was a woman of good understanding and beauty, the Bible describes him as churlish. In other words, he was rude, impolite, hot-headed and lacked the wisdom his wife had.
In verses 7 and 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 wouldn’t have been any trouble for him to comply, but instead of being wise and generous, he chose to be rude, which only provoked David to fight.
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.
Recognizing that David was a servant of the Lord, Abigail sent a generous gift to David, and with that gift she humbled herself at his feet pleading for the life of her husband. She didn’t deny that Nabal was ill-mannered or rude, but she sought grace on his behalf.
In this beautiful love story, we see that David granted her that grace, and within ten days God took the life of Nabal, and rewarded Abigail with her freedom.
Where did that freedom lead her? Into the arms of David, a valiant soldier and soon-to-be king.
Through Abigail’s example, we see the cycle of wisdom in action:
- She realized that David was a holy man and what his God was capable of.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) - She avoided conflict.
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (Proverbs 14:16) - She worked quietly to resolve the problem.
“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” (Proverbs 29:11) - She put her understanding into action and offered a gift to David.
“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” (Proverbs 10:5) - She reaped the rewards that come to those who are wise, when she became David’s wife.
“The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Proverbs 3:35)
Abigail is my favorite woman in all the Bible. For all the reasons you pointed out, but especially two more from 1Samuel 25 vv.23-24, 41:
23. When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground.
24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me (l)alone, my lord, be the blame.
41. She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
Notice Scriptures mention what she did FOUR times, and the humility to wash the feet, not of David, but of David's servants This probably won't sit very well with ladies who are have fallen prey to the "Princess Syndrome"- they will never understand, and never comprehend how appealing this is to a guy. These are not the attitudes fit for a servant, but a Queen!
Someone once said women sometimes have to swallow their pride. The Biblical standard for the guy is MUCH higher-Jesus Christ Himself- to love his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for it (His sacrifice was not figurative, and neither will be a husband's.) Who wouldn't WILLINGLY sacrifice himself for an Abigail?
Come back tomorrow to see what insight we can glean from the story of Esther!
You are loved by an almighty God,
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