Abigail has come out to meet David with abundant supplies for himself and his men. She hopes to avert the disaster he's planning against her husband and all the males of the family. Her wicked husband Nabal refused to help David in his time of need even though David and his men had helped Nabal's shepherds. Not only that, but Nabal insulted David and pretended not to even know who he is other than an unfaithful subject of King Saul's which is what he meant when he said, "Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days." In saying this he insulted David's integrity and cast aspersions on his character as if David really is guilty of the treason of which he is accused by the irrational Saul.
In yesterday's passage Abigail apologized for her husband's behavior and acknowledged his stinginess and foolishness but asked David not to hold any of that against the family or its servants. Nabal alone is guilty and God will deal with him but David must not do violence to this man or to any of his innocent male relatives or his male servants. In the remainder of Abigail's speech today we'll find her wisely advising David that he does not want such guilt upon his conscience. He does not want the reputation of a violent and wicked man. Killing all the men of a household in anger and in wounded pride is something an unstable man like King Saul would do but it is not fitting behavior for a man like David who loves the Lord and is of sound mind.
"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." (1 Samuel 25:28) She says, "Please allow your servant to speak freely, my lord. I know that the Lord intends to do great things for you. I understand that you are the man He has chosen to be the next king and that He will make your family line the royal line of Israel. The right to sit upon the throne will follow your descendants. The Lord will be faithful to you because you are faithful to Him---and you are faithful to Israel too, for you have done nothing but good for the nation. You are not guilty of any of the wrongdoing Saul has accused you of; no one can provide any proof to back up his claims because his claims are baseless." In reminding him that he's handled all his work and all his hardships in a godly manner up until now, she encourages him to keep on handling everything he faces in a godly manner.
David need not worry about disrespectful and greedy men like Nabal; he's a nobody compared to David. He also need not worry about the current king of Israel, though he has thousands of soldiers at his disposal, spies on his side, and mercenaries in his pocket. The Lord has promised that David will be king and the Lord never breaks a promise; therefore no one can touch a hair on David's head. He is safe no matter how dire his circumstances appear at times. "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." (1 Samuel 25:29) Abigail uses a brilliant analogy when she compares the Lord's ridding David of his enemies to hurling a stone from a slingshot. This is intended to remind David of how the Lord defended him against Goliath the giant. David was depending on the Lord for his very life and for the lives of the soldiers of Israel as he stood before a man who towered over him by several feet. David stood there in humility of spirit, knowing that if victory came it would come from the hand of God. He must take on that attitude again and let go of his wounded pride. God will avenge him upon anyone who has wronged him but he must not strike down a man and his family because his pride is hurt and his character is insulted. If he performs the violent act he has in mind, he will be tarnishing his own character. He will, ironically, become the dishonorable man Nabal accused him of being.
"When the lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing He promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, 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." (1 Samuel 25:30-31) Abigail asks David to remember her kindness toward him after he has come into his kingdom. David's friend Jonathan made a similar request earlier in the book when he asked David to remember their covenant of friendship in times to come and not to do any harm to his descendants. Even King Saul, when he temporarily felt sorry for his persecution of David, asked him not to wipe out his family line when he comes to power. Some commentators suggest Abigail is proposing that he consider her for marriage but I have serious doubts that this is what she means. For one thing, she is already married and has no way of knowing how long her husband will live. She seems to be aware that the Lord will judge her husband but I am not sure she has any idea what form that judgment will take or when it will happen. For another thing, she doesn't strike me as the type of woman to put herself forward in this manner. She seems too dignified and classy to say something like, "When you are avenged on your enemies, look me up. I may be available by then." No, in my opinion she is simply asking what anyone who has done a good deed for the future king might ask: to have him think well of her and the members of her household and to extend kindness and protection to them when he is in a position to do them good.
David, to his credit, isn't too prideful to take advice from a woman in an era when women were often expected to be seen and not heard. He isn't embarrassed to accept a woman's counsel in the sight of all his men. Her advice is godly advice and it doesn't matter to him whether godly advice comes from a man or a woman, from an elder or a youth. He sets a good example for his men, not only in how to be respectful toward women but how to be respectful toward the Lord, for David knows the Lord sent Abigail to correct his course. "David said to Abigail, 'Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.'" (1 Samuel 25:32-33)
It's clear from David's words that he no longer intends to go through with his rash vow to wipe out Nabal and all the males of his household and family. He blesses Abigail in the name of the Lord for being a woman of the Lord. He is grateful to her for her obedience to the Lord in making haste to come out and stop him from committing a grievous slaughter. He's glad he will never have to live with the knowledge that he performed a deed unfitting for a child of God.
Tomorrow we will see what happens to Nabal and we'll see how Abigail's circumstances turn around for the better.
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