During David’s rule in book of 1 Samuel, there was an interesting couple living in the land of Moan. Their business was prospering and they were very wealthy, but unfortunately the husband was an imbecile. His name was Nabal (meaning “fool”) and his wife was Abigail (meaning “Father’s joy”). The Bible describes this couple by saying, “The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved.”[1] (If you chuckle reading that line, you’re not alone.) As funny as it sounds, I can only imagine how difficult life could’ve been for her, trying to live in a manner pleasing to God while married to someone like this. If you wonder why someone like her would’ve married someone so problematic, remember that women in this time and culture had little to no choice in their own marital situation. Nabal’s foolishness caused a lot of strife for Abigail, but her life gave us a powerful example of excellence amidst unjust and trying circumstances.
At one point in time, some of Nabal’s shepherds had been in David’s fields, because his business was in different parts of the region. While there, David’s shepherds took good care of Nabal’s, making sure they lacked nothing. So a time came when David wanted to be repaid, and he sent ten young men to Nabal to ask for what he wanted, reminding Nabal he owed him. Being brash and unreasonable, Nabal refused. So David called for battle, strapping on his sword and telling four hundred of his men to do the same (pretty dramatic if you ask me, but then again, David was called “a man of war.”) One of Nabal’s shepherds went to Abigail, knowing Nabal was “such a worthless man that one cannot even speak to him.”[2] This shepherd warned her of the army coming to destroy everything Nabal owned, and kill everyone under him.
Instead of panicking, or running to Nabal to get him to fix what he’d caused, she immediately took action. Without a word to Nabal, she hurried to load up the pack mules with hundreds of the finest items they owned, preparing to intercept David on his way. “She said to her men, ‘go on before me, I will come after you.’”[3] She rode down under the cover of the mountain, and was met with king David and four hundred soldiers coming towards her. I can’t imagine how terrifying that must’ve been, but she charged forward to save what was at stake. Being discerning, she saw far beyond just losing Nabal or their possessions. She recognized David was acting impulsively out of hot anger, and was likely about to do something he’d regret. Not only would everyone under Nabal have been killed, but David would have had their blood on his hands.
When Abigail went to meet David, she fell at his feet to ask forgiveness on behalf of her husband. This kind of humility is confounding, and almost offensive. She lowered herself for the sake of someone who was so far from deserving, for the very person who caused the situation. She could’ve easily stayed home to protect herself from the injustice of being jeopardized by someone else’s wrongdoing. Instead, she explained that Nabal was caught in folly and needed mercy, and even went as far as to tell David to place Nabal’s guilt on her instead.
Then, she presented her case: If David would receive these many gifts from her (which were probably all the things he wanted to begin with) as a peace offering, he could be spared from the bloodguilt of many men. She talked him down from the ledge, “Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make you a sure house, because you are fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.”[4] She went on to remind him of the protection of God, that He is the only true avenger, that David didn’t need to worry about the plans of his enemies. This woman was incredibly wise, tactful, bold, and humble. She was willing to go low in order to cover the offenses of another, when she’d done nothing wrong. She put herself in grave danger to save the lives of many men, to take the risk of riding towards an army not knowing if her plan would even work. She was cunning and discerning in seeing both Nabal and David’s mistakes, and presenting a better alternative. Best of all, it worked.
David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.”[5]
Although this story is a more extreme example than what many of us face day to day, it has some gold to offer us. Many of us have experienced things going terribly wrong, and having no option but to lean on God for wisdom in how to navigate an impossible situation. When you’re watching catastrophic circumstances roll in like a storm, or getting news of impending doom, what is your first response? Is it panic? Is it trust? Or questioning the heart of God? If the plan He gives involves humbling yourself, are you willing to let that be the solution? Would you be lowered on behalf of another, to be a conduit of His great mercy? Will we trust God’s promises to exalt the humble and lift up the lowly?
I believe Abigail’s immediate confidence came from discernment she had probably been cultivating for a long time. We see how God covered her, favored her, and saved her. We see how He delighted in her humility, willingness, and boldness. Even facing a militant king who never had to listen to her, she walked confidently in wisdom—and even the king obeyed her. Up against the most daunting, mounting circumstances, God is faithful to honor the righteous and protect His children.[6]
Autumn Crew is the Managing Editor of FAI Publishing. She lives in the Middle East and serves a number of disciple-making initiatives. She can be reached at autumncrew@faimission.org.
[1] 1 Samuel 25:3
[2] 1 Samuel 25:17
[3] 1 Samuel 25:19
[4] 1 Samuel 25:28
[5] 1 Samuel 25:32-35
[6] Psalm 37:25