Lessons in Courage from Abigail

Use your talents and wisdom to find the best solution

1 Samuel 25: 1-42

The entire chapter of 1 Samuel 25 is interesting and full of lessons. It shows how bad things can be turned into good things, if we make a plan, use our talents and step into our courage to create a new, better solution. 

1 Samuel 25 tells a story about a wealthy man name Nabal and his wife, Abigail. She was intelligent and beautiful, but Nabal was ‘harsh and evil’ in his dealings with her and with others. When Nabal was sheering and butchering sheep, David sent ten of his men and told them to say this to Nabel:

“We come in the name of David. Long life to you, and peace to you, to your family, and to all that is yours"….“We protected you and we haven’t stolen from you. Please feed my men and my servants.” 

Nabal refused and rebuked them, saying,

"Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters. Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know them and I don’t where they are from.”

Well, that rebuke made David mad. He decided to raid Nabal’s flocks and kill all his workers.

But when one of Nabal’s young men told Abigail what had happened - and what was about to happen at the hands of David’s men - she gathered together a feast and met David and his 400 men as he approached.

She got off her donkey, fell on her face in front of David, blessed him and said,

"My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal. Accept these gifts your servant has brought… When the Lord does what He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel, may you remember me, your servant.”

David was so impressed with Abigail, he told her there would be no needless bloodshed; Nabal and all his workers were spared. When Abigail returned to Nabal, she found her husband was drunk. After he sobered up, she told him about her encounter with David. The next day, Nabal had a heart attack, then a stroke. He became paralyzed and died 10 days later. 

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him. She got up quickly and, accompanied with her five female servants, followed David’s messengers on her donkey and became David’s wife.

Abigail is the central focus of this chapter. What was she able to do? 

• She saw the foolishness of her husband and took control of the situation.

• She made a decision, formed a plan, took action…and trusted the plan would work.

• She used her talents - wisdom and powers of persuasion - to create a peaceful solution. 

• She did this at great risk for her own safety from both men - either could have violently rebuked or killed by either of them for her efforts. 

• She asked to be remembered for her leadership; by asking, she put herself in a position to receive.

• When the opportunity arrived to marry David, she again took immediate and decisive action. She knew he was the right man for her (she probably knew it from the first moment they met!) 

• Her courage no doubt changed the course of history.

Where can we – both men and women - use Abigail’s actions in our life today? 

• Think about a situation where you clearly see the 'foolishness of others.’ 

• Make a plan to take control of the situation.

• Use your talents, your wisdom, your powers of persuasion, and your courage to create a solution or a resolution to the current situation.

Is an opportunity presenting itself that you are hesitating about? Take decisive action! Don’t forget to *ask* for what YOU want for your efforts!

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, You give us lessons for today from Your Word, even stories from more than 2000 years ago apply to our current situations. Humans haven’t changed much since the first humans You created. You give us talents, vision and wisdom. Allow us to use the Lessons from Abigail to resolve situations in our life that seem dangerous and insurmountable.

Speak courage into our hearts to improve our personal situations and overcome the difficulties in our world today. Help us form a plan for the best, most peaceful and most pervasive resolution. We ASK so that we may RECEIVE. Grant us our petitions, Lord. Give us what we desire, or something better. Thy will be done. In Jesus’ name. Amen 

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