Life is defined by moments. Those single, stretches of time when you must decide, moments when you step up…or you don’t. Those moments when the stress of time leave you knowing that after that moment your life will never be the same. Life altering, future deciding, heart wrenching moments make you.
In perhaps the most well-known verse in Esther, her uncle challenges the young woman with the truth of the moment. “Who knows that you were not here for just such a moment.” Mordecai let her know that God was going to work. He was going to save His people. But that very moment was her moment to decide if God could use her or not.
Esther is not the subject of today’s blog about great women of faith. But the call issued to her is a call we see in place for today’s character. Her challenge is the same as Esther’s and the same as yours.
Our study today focuses on a woman mentioned only briefly. Her story is found in only one chapter in the Bible, with a few other mentions only of her name. But she stepped up at just the right moment and changed. Examine her story with an eye towards the reality that we may, likewise, be called to step up.
The background is found in 1 Samuel 25:1
Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.
Samuel, the great prophet has died. His ministry has spanned decades. He has been a mighty voice of God. He anointed Saul, Israel’s first king and then David. He advised kings and priests. God used him as a mighty voice. The nation grieved for their prophet.
This comes during a season of peace for the young king. Saul has called of his incessant desire to kill David. He has promised peace, although that peace has proven to be short-lived. He will be back, chasing David around the wilderness.
As David enjoys the season of peace he is surrounded by a crowd of six hundred “mighty men.” This band of misfits gathered around David and became a powerful force. They protected David and travelled with him everywhere.
2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
The travelling party moves to Judah where they encounter this odd couple. They are as different as their names suggest. The husband’s name is Nabal. His name means base fellow, churl, ill-behaved, or fool. He is from the family of Caleb, but he certainly does not live up to the bold and committed faith of his forebear. He inherited the land, but not the characteristics.
Abigail is intelligent and beautiful. She captures the attention of any man that looks at her. She steps up as a leader when her husband does not. Nabal does not deserve his wife.
Their family has done well economically. He is extraordinarily rich as evident by his servants and his animals. His wealth has affected his attitude.
Into this situation David appears. His request is found in verses 4-9.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 7 “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore, be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’” 9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.
The timing of David’s request is a joyous one. This was “Sheep Shearing Day.” This was a time of celebration and feasting throughout the land.
This was also often a time when people would give an offering to those who protected their sheep. They extend an offering of peace.
They did not make a large request. They didn’t ask for steak or lobster. They only asked if some offerings could be given, whatever they could find.
The rationale was legitimate. David and his men had protected the flock of Nabal. They had provided security, not allowing one sheep to be harmed. The shepherds were also protected from harm.
Nabal’s reaction was pointed and direct.
10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this, David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
Nabal feigned ignorance of both David and his men. He puts them into the category of vagabond and runaway. They were like slaves on the run. He would not even offer them bread and water, much less meat from the slaughter.
David was understandably angry.
12 David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So, they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
David’s response was quick and direct. He told four hundred of his men to get ready immediately. They were to be ready to battle. He blew up on the words of this fool.
Into the fray steps Abigail. She has brains and beauty and puts both to work immediately. She hears about the struggle from one of the servants. She has more sense than her husband. She displays virtue and class.
14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”
Without a word she gets to work.
18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs[b] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say.
25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.
26 And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.
28 “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live.
29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.
30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”
She prepares a great feast for them. To dismount in the face of a superior is to place yourself in that humble position. Pride does not hinder her at all. Six times she speaks of herself as a maidservant. Eight times she speaks of David with the title of “my lord.”
She assumes the guilt of her husband. She takes it upon herself. She says, “I didn’t see the men.” She also denounces his actions. She attributes his actions to folly and not to spite. She also asks forgiveness.
Then she appeals to his self-interest. Your name will be hindered. But if David shows grace God will richly bless them. She mentions God’s name seven times.
He will move forward without the shedding of blood on his conscience.
Imagine the moment. She makes her case and then bows down. Everyone stares at David and waits for the next move. How will He respond next?
David responds with grace.
32 David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.”
His hard heart softens quickly. He extends grace and forgiveness. Was he more engaged by her appearance, her words, or her meal? Of course we cannot know, but certainly all three have a bearing on his next actions.
She quickly went home to confront her husband.
36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So, she told him nothing at all until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.
When Abigail arrived home, she found her husband drunk. He has been partying with his men and is incoherent. She bites her time and bides her time. She will confront him in the morning.
Early the next morning Nabal is awake when she tells him of the experience. She lets him know that she has saved his life and the lives of his family and servants.
Nabal’s heart gave out and he lay comatose. After ten days in that state Nabal dies.
The rest of the story is like a Hollywood script.
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.” 41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife.
David marries Abigail. What a transformation.
Four words describe lessons we can learn from this story. These are marks left by a true hero.
- WISDOM-Apologies can disarm arguments. Contrition can defuse rage.
- INTERCESSION
- GRACE-Don’t seek revenge. Leave that to God. She displayed grace and mercy.
- PROVISION
