Tuesday
Read: 1 Samuel 25
SOAP: 1 Samuel 25:23–24
When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself facedown before David, and bowed to the ground. Falling at his feet, she said, “My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak to you! Please listen to the words of your servant!”
Devotion:
Abigail, whose name meant “wise,” was married to a man whose name meant “senseless.” Abigail, like most women at the time, did not have a choice in whom she married but would have been given by her father to Nabal in exchange for money or labor. If we were reading this passage in the original Hebrew, we would immediately see the dichotomy between Nabal (foolish) and his wife, Abigail (wise). Nabal was selfish, greedy, reactionary, and preferred worldly pleasures over honoring those in authority. He earned no respect from his servants and didn’t care that his actions put others at risk.
Abigail’s interaction with the servant showed that she was kind, trustworthy, thoughtful, and generous. She put her life on the line to protect those in her household and under her authority. Her servant spoke boldly to her, confident she would be able to change the circumstances Nabal had brought upon them.
While Nabal considered himself better than everyone, Abigail humbled herself before David. She showed courage in the face of danger as she approached the future king, not only with gifts but with wisdom as well. Asking David to spare the life of her husband would not have been enough to persuade him. Instead, Abigail wisely asked David to consider his own future. Certainly, David would not want to have a guilty conscience and regret taking matters into his own hands instead of trusting God.
By appealing to David’s desire to honor God, by approaching him with wisdom and courage, and by offering David’s men that which Nabal refused to give them, Abigail influenced David to change his mind. She saved her family, returned home, and waited until the right time to share the news with Nabal. After Nabal’s sudden death, Abigail was able to quickly, respectfully, and honorably become David’s wife.
Humility is often confused with weakness or softness, but we can learn from Abigail’s example that humility often requires great courage, wisdom, strength, and sacrifice. When the world encourages us to fight for our individual rights and freedoms, honoring and respecting those in authority can be difficult. Yet, when we, like Abigail, respond with love and generosity instead of harsh words or selfishness, God may use us as the catalyst for the change our community needs.
